Can I use a soak hose/porous hose?
Yes, you can. The WaterMate Pro pump is capable of powering at least 15m of hose. It will cycle on/off once the hose has reached pressure.
Can I use misters or foggers?
Yes, you can. The WaterMate Pro pump is capable of powering at least 20 mister outlets per zone.
Can I use a tap instead of the pump?
Yes! WaterMate will work fine with a tap, so you won’t need a pump. Select the garden hose choice when you order. The hose (which must be left turned on) simply connects to the dual watering zone valves which act as an electric tap.
I have mains power in my greenhouse, can I use that?
Yes, you can. We provide an alternative control unit which does not need the solar panel. We also have a Mains 4-Season upgraded version, which comes with extra outputs for additional pumps, heater cables and/or grow lights.
Read more about the 4-season model.
Is WaterMate a greenhouse drip irrigation system?
Yes, in that you can fit micro irrigation drippers to the hoses, but it is not gravity fed. It’s a high pressure system which helps prevent the nozzles clogging – a common problem with low pressure or gravity fed drip watering systems. The benefits of drip irrigation include the ability to deliver water only to the roots of a plant – great for watering those that don’t like wet leaves, and helps you save water.
How long can the pipes be?
The WaterMate Pro pump can provide water for many tens of metres of pipe, and up to 5m of vertical head. If you add too many drippers and water outlets to the line, the flow rate per outlet will drop. Too long a pipe and your first outlets will start working a long time before your last ones, leading to overwatered plants at the start and under watered plants at the end. Try to set up your irrigation system in a ring.
We provide 4m of inlet hose (between the water tank and the pump) but the system will run with at least 10m of inlet hose and a 4m vertical head. The pump is self priming.
Why can't I find the app on iTunes or Google Play?
The Harvst control app is a ‘web app’ which means it operates directly through an internet browser such as Safari, Chrome or Firefox. This lets you use any device, from anywhere.
Can I override the automatic watering manually?
Yes. If you’re in the greenhouse or polytunnel, you can either use your smartphone or you can use the button on the control unit if you don’t have your phone with you.
Can I manage the watering system while I am away on holiday?
Yes, if your greenhouse or polytunnel is within range of a WiFi network. The control unit connects to the internet every 30 minutes to send a data update, and collects any changes to settings you have made.
How & where do I mount the solar panel?
We provide a versatile solar panel mounting bracket, which is screwed to a wall or post. You can place the solar panel in the optimum position for sunshine (outside the polytunnel or greenhouse is best) up to 3m away from the control unit. Solar panel extension cables are available.
Read about mounting the solar panel.
What about air locks? Is it reliable?
The powerful self priming pump does not suffer from air locks, so if your water tank runs out and then refills later, the system will have no problems restarting, without you needing to prime it.
Is the pump noisy?
It’s remarkably quiet for such a powerful pump. It’s mounted on rubber feet, and if you place it in a suitable location you probably won’t hear it running at all!
What about frost damage and decommissioning it for winter?
WaterMate has automatic frost damage protection. It will not run the pump if the temperature falls below 1 degree centigrade.
Are replacement parts available?
Yes, all components are available as replacements or upgrades. There is a 1 year manufacturers warranty on all parts.
Do I need to have WiFi to use the WaterMate?
No! WaterMate will run fine without WiFi. The system will transmit its own WiFi signal, which you can connect to when you are within a few metres of the control unit.