Every greenhouse is different, so you will need to adapt the guide for your own situation.
Water is distributed around the perimeter of the greenhouse using a 13mm LDPE (semi rigid) pipe which is fixed to the frame around 1m above the ground. Into this pipe, you can connect sprayers directly, or 4mm take-off hoses for drippers or other 4mm emitters.
The guide assumes you have an aluminium framed greenhouse with slotted channel, to take M6 cropped head bolts.
Tools needed (not included)
- Secateurs for cutting pipe
- 10mm spanner
- Kettle to warm water for softening pipe ends
Example : One perimeter pipe & one staging sprayer
Greenhouse installation process
- Start by choosing where you will feed the inlet pipe into the greenhouse or polytunnel. You may need to drill a hole in the aluminium at the ridge, or through the base.
- For the WaterMate Pro, mount the pump securely near where the inlet pipe comes into the greenhouse, somewhere it will not get wet. The WaterMate Mini pump is placed into the water tank which should be within 3m of the water valves (extension cables are available)
- Plan where you will run your perimeter pipe(s), and mark on your greenhouse frame where you will need pipe clips. Approximately 1m above the ground is a good start. A full ring around the greenhouse is best, coming back to a tee joint to connect to the water valves. A ring helps get water to all emitters sooner.
- Mount the water valves in a suitable location, so that at least one of the outlets can feed into your perimeter pipe. The angle bracket on the valves bolts to the inside of the greenhouse frame using an M6 cropped head bolt and nut. The head of the bolt is in the greenhouse frame.
- Fix a cropped head bolt with a nut into the slot of the greenhouse frame at each mark, leaving the bolt thread exposed; you’ll fix the P-clips to these. Some greenhouses have slightly larger slots, which do not lock the cropped head bolt, but you will still be able to tighten the nut up with care.
- Place the 13mm semi-rigid pipe around the greenhouse and secure it to the bolts with the P-clips. It’s intentionally a tight fit. If you’re struggling to close the clips, you can remove the rubber lining - it’s not strictly necessary but prevents the pipe from moving and flexing.
- Link the two ends of the perimeter pipe with a tee joint.
- Attach a length of black braided hose to the centre of the tee piece, and then to the water valves. Secure it with a jubilee clip over the raised part of the barb.
- Run a second pipe in a similar fashion for zone 2, or get creative and use it another way!
- Punch holes in the LDPE pipe and insert your emitters or take-off lines. We suggest about 50cm apart for sprayers.
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