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Buffalo, New York

I don't have the time nor patience for hand watering nor the money for a nice irrigation sytem so my patch will be covered with soaker hoses this year.

I have read and heard that the pressure at long length soaker hoses is terrible and wont put out the same amount of water as the beginning of the hose.

What is the maximum length per soaker hose you would use for 1 run? Will 100' (2-50' hoses) put together be ok?
My hoses are 1/2" O.D.

I am thinking of getting a 4-way splitter and having 100' per connector.

Would this be better?

6/8/2009 1:57:23 AM

Denver, CO

I run 100 feet at a time with no problems. But it will depend on your starting water pressure from the faucet. Ours is not great at about 30 PSI. 150 feet is too much for our pressure. It takes about 3 100 foot sections per plant to cover our patch area, but it works great.

An added bouns is application of water soluble fertilizers. I got a 1/2hp sears pump for $35 on Ebay two years ago. I mix 30 gallons of Neptunes or whatever in a trash can, hook up the soaker hose to the pump and apply in a very even controlled manner directly to the roots of the growing plant.

6/8/2009 12:00:05 PM

Buffalo, New York

also, do you guys turn your faucet on all the way or just enough to let the water drip out?

6/8/2009 12:20:24 PM

Preston CT

Turn it on all the way so you obtain the most Pressure...Or just by a sprinkler and a timer and water first thing in the mornning for a 1/2 hour...I did this last year with great results...

6/8/2009 1:34:59 PM

Topeka, Kansas

I've run a 4 way splitter with 4 100 foot runs on my tomatoes and it works fine. Run faucet wide open and ALWAYS replace any seals that are dripping at the connections. I'm on rural water that has really good pressure and flow, that's the key. GOOD LUCK....MO

6/8/2009 7:39:50 PM

Buffalo, New York

i have only used the soakers with little turn of the faucet on, and they srip out good.

i cant imagine how much they will drip with it on full blast.

ok, i will run 100' runs.

thanks

6/8/2009 11:50:28 PM

Okla

Soaker hoses are made for very low pressure! They sell a pressure regulator that goes just before the soaker hoses. If you see any water spraying off the hoses your pressure is to high, they are supposed to weep the water out very slowly, not spray. Soaker hoses work best if you install a pressure regulator on your faucet and keep it between 10 and 15 psi.

6/9/2009 1:53:04 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I've used 2 x 100 foot soaker hoses linked together and have never had a problem with them working all the way to the end at 200'.

6/9/2009 2:59:01 PM