Congratulations on your purchase of a Standard Automated Vacation Watering Kit from Drip Depot!

Please take a few minutes to read through these instructions and familiarize yourself with all the parts. For assistance with part names and details, you can print the list of parts included in your kit from the Kit item page on our website.

Drip Depot Irrigation kits are modular in design, as no two gardens are completely alike. Should you have any questions while installing your kit please feel free to email our Customer Support team or review some of the many resources in our Education Center, found under the "Learn" tab in the menu bar on our website.

The Automated Vacation Watering Kits include a battery powered hose end water timer for automating the system while you are away. These kits are for outdoor use with patio container plants or small patio gardens. The kits utilize ¼” tubing as the mainline so distance is limited to 30’ from water source to last plant or container in the run. Should your containers be farther than 30’ apart or placed in separate directions from your water source you can split the mainline in two directions. Place a short section of ¼” tubing on the barbed tubing adapter and insert one barbed tee to run tubing in two different directions. Each run is limited to a maximum of 30’ and the total flow rate of your system is still limited to 30 GPH.

Install your Head Assembly - Drip Depot Kits come standard with garden hose thread components for easy connection to your outdoor spigot or garden hose. Hand tighten only, no teflon tape or pipe dope required with hose threaded connections.

1. The timer is the first item installed on the outdoor water spigot. We recommend reviewing the timer installation instructions to become familiar with operation and programming functions. Install the battery(s) per manufacturer instructions.

2. Install the Backflow Preventer also known as a Hose Thread Vacuum Breaker, included in your kit, to the outlet connection of your hose end water timer. Ensure this item has the rubber washer seated completely down inside the female threaded connection prior to installation.

3. Next, install the Filter, included in your kit, to the vacuum breaker or backflow prevention device. Please ensure the rubber washer is seated completely down inside the female threaded connection prior to installation.

4. The Pressure Regulator is installed after the filter. Again, ensure the rubber washer is seated completely down inside the female threaded connection prior to installation. Please note the directional flow arrow on most pressure regulators for proper installation.

5. Lastly, the Female Hose Thread Tubing Adapter is installed on the outflow side of the pressure regulator. A helpful tip is to connect your tubing to the tubing adapter prior to connecting to your head assembly components. Most tubing adapters have a female swivel end for ease of installation.

Installing Tubing and Emitters - Determine the best layout for your ¼” mainline to reach all your containers or plants. Keep in mind the ¼” micro-tubing has a 30’ maximum single run length.

1. Connect the ¼” tubing to your head assembly. Run the tubing to your first plant or container.

2. At each container or plant you will cut the mainline and insert a Barbed Tee fitting. Then cut another section of the ¼” micro-tubing to reach from mainline tee fitting into the container. Attach one end of this tubing section to the barbed tee and the other end to the barbed inlet of the dripper.

3. Snap the dripper line into the  stabilizer Stake to secure, then insert the stake into the container near the base of the plant.

4. Connect the mainline ¼” tubing to the remaining barb on the barb tee and continue to the next container.

5. Repeat these steps until you reach the last container. With the last container you can just connect the dripper into the end of the ¼” micro-tubing, snap into the drip stake and insert into the container.

Tips:

1. Containers over 12” in diameter may require more than one dripper for adequate coverage.

2. To avoid over-watering or wasting water, containers are often watered for shorter time periods but more frequently than inground plants.

3. Remember the 30/30 Rule for ¼” tubing: maximum 30’ run lengths and 30 GPH (gallons per hour) total flow. See the Tubing Buying Guide for details of tubing capacity.

4. If you live in an area where the temperatures drop down to below 37 degrees Fahrenheit you must winterize your system. See our Winterizing Instructions.