Water forms the basis for a rich harvest in the garden. If you want to use a sprinkler for irrigation, you have to ensure a constantly high pressure. How to increase the water pressure in the garden pipe?
Table of Contents
Increase water pressure in the garden
If you want to increase the water pressure in the garden, you have to consider two parameters:
- water pressure of the withdrawal source
- water flow
The decisive question is where the water comes from:
- rain barrel
- Fountain
- water tap
measure water pressure
Before taking any action to increase the pressure, we recommend a water pressure measurement. This is possible without much effort.
10 liter water bucket method
- 1. Place a 10 liter bucket under the tap.
- 2. Turn the faucet on full.
- 3. Measure the time it takes for the water bucket to fill up with a stopwatch.
- 4. If the bucket is full after 25 seconds, the water pressure is about 5 bar. When it takes about 40 seconds, the water has a pressure of about 3.5 bar.
Manometer
Measuring the water pressure with a manometer is more accurate and convenient. This is screwed to the tap and determines the pressure at this point.
Opportunities to increase pressure
use pumps
If you pump water out of the rain barrel with a pump , you can increase the pressure with a more powerful pump. Modern electric garden pumps are light and handy.
The decisive performance characteristics of a garden pump are
- flow rate
- head
- maximum suction height
Added to this are friction losses, which are calculated at 0.1 bar per meter of horizontal line.
example
If the water in your garden has to overcome four meters of height difference and a distance of 20 meters, the pressure drop is
0.4 bar + 2 bar = 2.4 bar
For example, if a water pressure of 4 bar is required at the tapping point for a sprinkler, a pressure of 6.4 bar must be built up using a pump.
Adjustment of the pressure reducer
When the water comes out of the tap, increasing the pressure is not easy. A pressure reducer is usually installed. You can manually increase the pressure on this component. However, caution is advised. Often not all parts are suitable for higher pressure.
Ways to improve water flow
| measure | Problem | solution |
|---|---|---|
| prevent contamination | Optimizing the water flow can lead to an increase in water pressure. It is crucial that contamination is prevented. | Install a filter. Filters are available for all garden pumps. |
| Increase hose diameter | The diameter of the garden hose has a direct impact on water pressure and flow. Very narrow hoses lead to a noticeable loss of pressure. | Garden hoses usually have an inner diameter of 13 millimeters. With a hose length of 20 meters, the diameter is ideal. Longer hoses should have an inner diameter of 19 millimeters. |
| Optimize hose length | One can often observe that hobby gardeners connect very long, coiled hoses in order to cover short distances of 10 or 15 meters. The longer the hose, the higher the pressure loss. | If possible, use hoses of the appropriate length in the garden. The hose should not be longer than necessary, especially for the operation of sprinkler systems. |
| Note the diameter of the hose couplings | Sometimes it is necessary to connect several hoses. The hose couplings from different manufacturers are very tight. This creates an additional pressure loss. | Prefer hose couplings with a larger passage. |
| Clean clogged nozzles | Clogged nozzles can affect the water pressure. | Make sure that the nozzles are permeable. Clean the nozzles and use water filters if you use rain barrel water. |
| prevent kinks | A kink in the hose can impede the flow of water. | Make sure the hose is straight. Prevent damage. |
| Check for defects | A leak in the water hose can be the cause of the pressure loss. The hose material will become brittle over time, which can cause leaks. | Check the garden hose for damage before the start of the gardening season. |
