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CathyRose
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« on: May 04, 2012, 01:17:08 PM » |
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Okay guys, any tips here? DH and I are putting our AWS together and he is having a dickens of a time pushing the small tubing to the nozzles on the sensors.
We are using Synthetic grease as directed but our hands are getting torn up! Any suggestions or tips?
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movrshakr
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« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2012, 01:18:39 PM » |
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Many people here have said that dipping the tube into very hot water facilitates the installation.
Be very careful to not scald yourself.
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CathyRose
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« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2012, 01:20:50 PM » |
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Gosh, thanks, you are a life saver. Going to give that a try right now!
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dkaufmann
Sr. Member
Posts: 128
NW Wisconsin - Zone 4a
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« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2012, 01:43:44 PM » |
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We also found that if you put both the hose end and the barb end in the hot water it becomes easier to push them together. Don't need oil then.
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ErnieHodge
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« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2012, 03:22:30 PM » |
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Cathy,
I use a hair dryer to warm the end of the tubing and it works great. Just be careful to not get it to hot.
I usually heat the tubing about 45 seconds keeping the hair dryer about 4 inches away from the tubing. No grease needed.
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Ernie Hodge
Remember, a rose is just a weed in a corn patch.
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kathy
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 3568
Horticulturalist. Zone 5, almost 4
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« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2012, 03:26:35 PM » |
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Also, using the dish washing type laytex gloves also helps.
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kath, gardening is my game, EarthBox is my fame.
BER...happens.
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cushman350
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« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2012, 05:08:33 PM » |
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Just a thought, if you have some small needlenose pliers. The hot water usually works.
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« Last Edit: May 04, 2012, 05:13:47 PM by cushman350 »
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INFESTED DIGESTED COMPOSTED
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CathyRose
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« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2012, 06:39:29 PM » |
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Thank everyone! The hot water worked like a charm. We now have a working AWS, whoo hoo! This is going to be such a help when it gets really hot this summer.
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baileyj
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« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2012, 10:29:50 PM » |
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CathyRose,
I am learning from this...I have a AWS for 12 I have not used yet...(bought about 5 years ago and afraid to use)
So this gives me more confidence.......
Next weekend...
Judi
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Deb
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« Reply #9 on: May 07, 2012, 05:14:03 AM » |
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I keep changing my layout and know if I had the AWS hooked up I'll find I cut it in the wrong places and would have to do it again. It would be nice to have one of my garden areas stabilize so I could feel safe in hooking up my AWS system. (also about 5 years old - did they have a sale around then?)
Deb
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ErnieHodge
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« Reply #10 on: May 07, 2012, 07:09:43 AM » |
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Earthbox does sell extra parts, tubing and fittings. It's really not expensive to have an extra roll of 1/4" tubing and some straight fittings on hand if you need to make a change. That's really all you need. You reuse your 1/8" fittings and the tubing that's attached to them so all you have to do is reconfigure the 1/4" tubing. I'm really happy with my AWS and don't want to go back to manually watering. If you have an AWS hook it up and 'spoil' your self.  |
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Ernie Hodge
Remember, a rose is just a weed in a corn patch.
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butterflygirl67
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« Reply #11 on: May 07, 2012, 07:21:04 AM » |
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I agree with Ernie. The AWS makes a huge difference. It really isn't that hard to move stuff around and change things. I've done it a couple of times and have set it up and made changes additions all by myself. You can order some extra tubing and connectors from Earthbox. It is good to have extras on hand just in case.
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26 EBs (holy crap!!); third year
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movrshakr
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« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2012, 07:47:53 AM » |
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I can't believe some of you have an AWS around uninstalled! It is the greatest thing since sliced tomatoes!
Remember to add a filter.
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« Last Edit: May 07, 2012, 07:49:33 AM by movrshakr »
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writeone
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« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2012, 09:07:29 AM » |
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I've not set mine up either. I've been waiting to see how the plants do wiht my new placement.
I did check with Lowes home store. they have the same tubing for much less and an irrigation guy whoes great at answering questions. For example, he warned me that I need a large hose to go from my outside water source thats about 35 feet from my garden. The small hose will not keep the pressure needed. I found a high quality 120' hose that is the perfect length to run by the house and along the fence so it's off the beaten path. I'm also planning to putting insulation around the hose where it's in direct sun. That is to keep the water temp cooler and to protect the hose from sun damage.
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butterflygirl67
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« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2012, 09:18:26 AM » |
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I've not set mine up either. I've been waiting to see how the plants do wiht my new placement.
I did check with Lowes home store. they have the same tubing for much less and an irrigation guy whoes great at answering questions. For example, he warned me that I need a large hose to go from my outside water source thats about 35 feet from my garden. The small hose will not keep the pressure needed. I found a high quality 120' hose that is the perfect length to run by the house and along the fence so it's off the beaten path. I'm also planning to putting insulation around the hose where it's in direct sun. That is to keep the water temp cooler and to protect the hose from sun damage.
Why do you need the hose? I have tubing that runs all down one side of my house to boxes I have on the porch and have a splitter on the faucet. |
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26 EBs (holy crap!!); third year
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