This is the second article in the Getting Started series. See the first article to learn how to assemble the drip irrigation parts at the faucet.

It's time to roll out the tubing (T2100) for the mainline and any branch lines and to connect them together.

Tubing comes in a roll. If you try to straighten the tubing straight from the roll, it will resist and may kink. It's best to loosely unroll the tubing across the lawn and leave it to warm in the sun for a few hours. As the black tubing absorbs the heat from the sun, it will relax and straighten. It will continue to relax over time and will eventually conform nicely to the ups and downs of your lawn and gardens.

Insert one end of the mainline drip irrigation tubing about one inch into the end of the compression adaptor (FC16) at the lower end of the drip irrigation assembly at the faucet. See Fittings - Adaptors in our online store.

If you need two lengths of 1/2" tubing instead of one, use our FC18 adaptor which has two outlets.

Mark the tubing with a small piece of tape at the one inch mark so that you can tell how far the tubing has slid into the adaptor. Use a twisting motion as you push the tubing into the adaptor.

Next we will lay out the 1/2" tubing across the lawn or flower beds.

If you have both 1/2" tubing and 1/2" dripline , you can tell which tubing is which by looking for holes along the drip irrigation system tubing. If you find holes, the tubing is 1/2" dripline. If there are no holes, the tubing is 1/2" tubing, and suitable for the mainline.

Keep it clean

Cover all open ends of all lengths of tubing to keep dirt out. Masking tape, electrical tape or packing tape all work well. The cover is only temporary until you are ready to connect the lengths of tubing.

Any dirt inside the tubing can plug the small holes in drippers or dripline. It's best to play safe and keep the dirt out rather than to try to flush the dirt out later.

Place the tubing

Straighten the tubing and place it so that it reaches each part of the yard that is included in this drip irrigation system. Use a coupler to join lengths of tubing if necessary. Use a Figure 8 End Stop (OE7) to close the far end of the mainline and to keep dirt out.

Use shepherd stakes (OE4) to pin the tubing in place on the lawn and gardens. Especially important when the tubing is not completely relaxed. Later you may be able to remove some of the shepherd stakes when the tubing has relaxed completely. Join any branch lines with elbows or tee connectors.

You can bury the tubing later where it crosses lawn but for now leave it on the surface until all tubing and drippers are in place in all drip irrigation systems. See the article on burying tubing.

There are two types of connectors, compression and barbed. Compression connectors fit over the outside of tubing and barbed connectors fit inside tubing.

Compression connectors are very dependable and easy to fit. Use a rocking motion to twist the connector as you slide it on the tubing. The disadvantages to compression connectors are the higher cost and the difficulty of pulling tubing back out of the connector to reuse the connector elsewhere. It can be done with great effort but the end of the tubing will need trimming.

Barbed connectors are lower cost and will make a dependable connection if assembled correctly in drip irrigation systems. The secret is to warm the tubing with warm water at 140 degrees F and insert the connector so that all barbs are well into the tubing. There is no need for clamps of any kind as long as the system pressure is less than 30 PSI and as long as the connections do not support weight.

If you wish to reuse a barbed connector, use a very sharp knife and make a lengthwise cut along the tubing at the connector. Try to avoid a cut through the barbs on the connector. The barbed connector can now be pulled free. Trim the end of the tubing to reuse.

After all 1/2" branch lines are connected to the 1/2" mainline, join any 1/4" branch lines using 1/4" barbed connectors (FB10). You will need to punch a hole in the 1/2" tubing for each 1/4" barbed connector. Use a Standard Punch (TL2) or if you are using our Deluxe Punch (TL3), use a quick pull on the handle to cut each hole. A slow pull gives the tubing time to deform and an incomplete hole can result.

Time to flush

Remove all Figure 8 end stops (OE7) and temporary covers from the ends of drip irrigation system tubing, turn on the water and flush all tubing until the water runs clean. If you kept dirt from getting into the tubing at the first, this flushing will be merely a formality.

Now all your tubing is in place and all dirt is flushed clean. You are ready for the next step - attaching drippers and sprayers.

Go to Part 3, Installing Drippers