What are my options for fixing this chewed up drip irrigation setup?

hmmm paint the pvc pipe where it's connected or all of it? I've never heard of that before.

I've never deliberately buried any of my tubing because every fall the leaves get used as mulch which eventually composts. I'm no expert at this by far, either. Just learned to do it based on what I needed at the time and what I could find to make it work. I know there is one old dripper hose that got buried from mulch and roots that I couldn't pull out if I paid the hulk to do it. LOL I just cut that line off and ran new line that I could get to. I guess that's a females solution, but I don't have the strength to pull and tug at those things very well. They get the best of me.

Hi Natural, smoking-gun, girl,

I'm was pretty sure the 3/4" and 1/2" drip tubes along the entire

To follow through on your suggestion, I took a look by turning the irrigation valve on, and this started spurting out of the tube end:

There were only a few leaks, some of which look chewed, others holed:

But, the drip attachment thing seemed to be working fine nonetheless:

The problem is this 20 (or so) foot length couldn't possibly feed the entire length of the oleander bushes:

So I rooted about and found a 3/4" and a 1/2" broken tube under the oleander canopy, so I put a garden hose connection onto each of those:

An audible waterfall-like hiss came out of the larger tubing, so, I was able to ascertain it was badly mauled only about 15 feet from where the garden hose fed it:

But, nothing came out of the smaller hose, that I could find:

QUESTION: Do you think animals chewed up these tubes? (Are they susceptible to animals chewing on them?)

I had done that, a while ago, and this is what had resulted:

But, by digging perpendicular to the bushes, I was able to uncover two lines, one big and one small, which only had one open chewed up end. So I put a garden hose connection on them:

It's a LOT of work to replace them, so, I am beginning to think I will connect the bigger one to the irrigation valve which seems to be feeding the missing end:

For that, I'll need to patch a few holes in the existing tube already connected to the irrigation line:

So, how does this sound for the 'easiest' plan of action:

a) Take the existing 3/4" tubing which is already tied to the sprinkler system and connect it to the 3/4" tubing that is under the oleander canopy.

b) One by one, patch the leaks, starting at the first, and moving onward as they show themselves.

c) Then, figure out why there is a 1/2" tubing, which must have connected somehow to the irrigation system; but I don't know how yet.

That may be the simplest answer, but, I still need to tie (somehow) to the irrigation valves.

BTW, my tubes look like they were chewed on by an animal.

Do they hold up to animal teeth?

We have lots of coyote, quail, bunnies, deer, bobcats, squirrels, mice, etc.

It's amazing how the glue lubricates it so that the pipe fits on perfectly, and, yet it wants to pop back out - so I agree with holding it for a quarter minute or so.

Yeah, but we need *that* stuff for fixing holes with just two couplings and a center-pipe!

Or ... you use it in the four 90s method (which seems like overkill):

Those leaks look like where 1/4" tubing might have been connected at one time and broke off. If it were "me", I'd just cut out the bad section and insert a repair pc... I'm lazy.. I don't want to replace the entire thing if I don't have to. If the hole is a circle, you might could just plug it with hole plugs you can buy, too.

I'm not really sure about that issue... I haven't had anything like that happen with my set up yet.

As Oren said, any and all white PVC that is sticking out of ground is typically painted (usually black, but only because it absorbs heat and is a cheap paint). For example, here is my pool equipment; only the newly repaired pipe is not yet painted black:

As Oren said, you're supposed to use acrylic (or latex) based paints; but, in my case, I couldn't find any in the house, and, when I asked pool guys, they said the petroleum is only there while it's wet, and that they use whatever is on the truck, so, *maybe* it doesn't really matter:

Note: For a larger size picture, substitute "img" for "640".

Well, this was the theory, but, about 30 feet from the valve box, I ran into a chewed up poly that had no counterpart nearby.

So, I'm pretty sure it's there ... but I have to go mining to find it.

I feel like an archaeologist lately.

OK. That's what I'll do. I've never really worked with this type of tubing before. I will try to tape the ends together, but, I have about

Seems to me the simplest repair is to cut out the bad spots and insert a piece of pipe nipple of the right size & a splotch of the right glue.

I haven't tried it exactly like that before. What I did was buy the plastic straight connectors and use those.

Here is a page of different ones:

There are straight ones, T and L fittings, too, for the different size tubing.

Thanks for that pointer. I'll head on over to Home Depot and pick up a few as I think all I need to do is repair this one major leak, plus tie the tubing to the sprinkler, and, then, it should work.

I'll let you know how it goes - but it's too dark to do anything tonight. (Had to work on the pool for hours - but that's another story altogether.)

Is this foxtail grass sprouting up all over my lawn?

Some are round holes, and others are cracks, yet others have multiple puncture wounds, so, I'd say the line has been abused by rakes, high water pressure (80psi) and animals.

One thing I noticed in the videos was that many people put a 30 psi or even lower pressure regulator on their drip tubes.

Since my well system puts out 80psi, I should probably invest in one of those - do you think?

buy extras! you'll eventually need them along with various fittings that you don't really need now. I always buy extras so I won't have to go back. Problem is, I never seen to buy the ones I actually NEED later on! LOL

Once upon a time we had a 27 foot above ground round pool. They do make for interesting stories. I wish we still had it because it's been so hot here.

no. i get javelina, deer, and packrat holes in mine frequently. i'm not sure, but i think rabbits get to mine also, although i haven't caught them at it.

ace it with something better. But what? One end is merely bent over and nai led to these boards:

Well, I don't really know.

All I know, working backward, is that for "most" of the 300 foot run, there is a 1/2" and a 5/8" poly pipe feeding the oleander:

Every once in a while, you can see them both on the surface:

As those two poly tubes get within 30 or 40 feet of the irrigation valves, they suddenly pop up out of ground (I had put the garden hose connections on):

I didn't dig up the irrigation valve, so, I have no idea how it's hooked up, but, the 5/8" poly tubing which was broken at this point, appears to continue along the oleander until it gets near the irrigation valve. A foot away from the valve, it dives down, presumably to the valve (which works, and sends water through the broken tubing):

Note: I dug around for a half hour looking for where the 1/2" poly tubing connects to the irrigation system - and finally gave up on that endeavor. Also, I can't tell if there is a pressure regulator on the valve itself, as it might be buried, for all I know.

I guess I should pick up a pressure tester for garden equipment, to be sure.