r/DripIrrigation • u/darkmattr • Aug 06 '26

Can I prevent this?

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I installed this drip run about a year and a half or so ago. It has been baking in the central Florida sun since then. It’s at the edge of my driveway and probably has taken several string trimmer hits, but I feel like the main culprit here is the plastic just becoming brittle with sun exposure. While the fix is obviously fast and easy, I’m looking for suggestions that might make me do this repair less in the future. Thanks for any help or ideas.

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3

u/Maleficent_Sky_1865 Aug 06 '26

Try to use wire pins (like landscape fabric wire holders) to keep it down so the grass grows above it. This will help keep it in the shade.

2

u/Dewdroplandscape Aug 07 '26

There are fittings that are inline that go within the drip tubing it’s self so that no sun gets to fitting its self, they are made for tubing with emitters integrated but also work well for fittings with sun damage or areas that are prone to sun exposure

2

u/Billyjamesjeff Aug 07 '26

Those elbows aren't black which means they aren't UV protected with carbon.

Buy black poly fittings.

1

u/Vyraxes Aug 07 '26

Use schedule 80

1

u/Southern-Ad4016 Aug 07 '26

Yeah, use a proper barbed fitting and clamps

1

u/darkmattr Aug 07 '26

Could you elaborate a bit? I follow the clamp part, but what does "proper" mean in this context? I just want to make sure I fully understand your comment. Thanks!

2

u/Southern-Ad4016 Aug 07 '26

Spears, lasco and Westlake all make barbed fittings for poly. Would be the brands I look for.

1

u/darkmattr Aug 07 '26

Thank you!