Congratulations on your purchase of a Standard Drip Irrigation Kit for Window Boxes 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 question while installing your new 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.

Our Drip Depot Irrigation Kit for Window Boxes utilizes ½” (.600” ID x .700” OD) poly tubing as the main supply line. This allows the mainline to be run vertically from the water source and then over the top of the window boxes. One quarter inch Drip Line with built-in emitters will be used in the window boxes for watering. The kit also includes Tubing Nail Clamps to secure the tubing in place. Additional tools required for kit installation are a hammer and something to cut the tubing, such as scissors, a box cutter or similar cutting tool. View some Sample Design Layouts for Window Box Kits.

Installing 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 is required with hose threaded connections.

1. Install the Backflow Preventer also known as a Hose Thread Vacuum Breaker, included in your kit, to the outdoor spigot. Ensure this item has the rubber washer seated completely down inside the female threaded connection prior to installation.

2. Next, install the Tee 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. The tee design creates a 90 degree turn in the head assembly.

3. 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 and filters for proper installation.

4. Lastly, the Female Hose Thread Tubing Adapter Elbow is installed on the outflow side of the pressure regulator. The elbow adapter allows another 90 degree turn in the head assembly creating the vertical transition of the tubing run. Most tubing adapters have a female swivel end for ease of installation.

*Please note: If using a hose-end water timer to automate your drip system the Head Assembly must be installed after/downstream of the timer or valve. Drip irrigation products are not rated for constant pressure use. Many municipal codes require the use of anti vandalism protection (set screw) on an outdoor water spigot backflow preventer. The J10 with locking screw may qualify when properly installed directly on the hose bibb. If used on an automatic water timer for your irrigation system we recommend not tightening the screw as the plastic threads of the timer can be permanently damaged if the backflow device is removed.

Installing the Mainline Tubing

1. Connect the tubing to the head assembly making the vertical run and cut to proper length. Secure, to the house or structure with the tubing nail clamps. See our video for help with using Tubing Nail Clamps: https://youtu.be/LPvlNi6U7ow.

2. Connect another section of tubing to this elbow and run it over the top of the window boxes securing it in place with the tubing nail clamps as before.

3. We recommend flushing the mainline before installing end caps and emitters. Allow water to run through mainline tubing to clear any debris that may be inside the tubing.

4. Install a Perma-Loc Tubing End Cap to close the end of the mainline tubing.

Installing Drip Line in the Window Boxes

1. Near one end of the first window box, punch a hole in the mainline tubing with the ¼” punch tool included in the kit.

2. Cut a section of the solid ¼” poly tubing to reach from the mainline tubing run down into the window box. Insert a barbed coupler into one end of this section of ¼” tubing and push into the hole punched in the mainline tubing. You should hear a ‘snap’ or ‘pop’ when fitting is pushed in securely.

3. Next, insert a ¼” barbed elbow fitting into the other end of the short section of ¼” tubing. Connect a section of the ¼” drip line (with emitters) into the other end of the barbed elbow fitting. Lay drip line through the window box as needed and cut to length.

4. Close the end of the ¼” drip line using the smaller end of a Goof Plug.

5. Use a couple Micro Stabilizer Stakes to secure the drip line in place inside the window box.

6. Repeat this process for each window box in your system.

Tips:

1. Placing your roll of poly tubing in the sun before installation allows the tubing to warm up and become more flexible, which makes installation easier. Also, larger rolls can be stood on edge and unrolled from the outside of the coil. It is best to anchor the end of the tubing by staking or placing a heavy object on it then unroll. Another option is lay the coil on the ground and starting with the inside end, slowly pull and twist to unroll without kinking. See our Professional Tips for more helpful suggestions.

2. Remember the 200/200 Rule for ½” poly tubing: maximum 200’ run lengths and 200 GPH (gallons per hour) total flow and the 30/30 Rule for ¼” micro tubing: maximum 30’ run lengths and 30 GPH total flow. See the Tubing Buying Guide for details of tubing capacity.

3. As with many container plantings, your window boxes may require shorter watering durations than in-ground plants and in hot weather may require multiple watering times per day.

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.