All vegetables require regular watering. The easiest way to put a barrel in the sun and pour water into it. You can water with a watering can and bucket, but, unfortunately, this is difficult. You can use a special pump for irrigation from the barrel and hoses. Such equipment will greatly facilitate your life.
Barrel watering pump
The easiest and easiest solution for irrigation from a barrel will be the choice of a special pump. There are not many varieties, so the choice will be easy to figure out. The most popular is the Karcher pump for irrigation from a barrel.
A special bracket is installed on such a pump. This tube allows you to attach it to the barrel and in the place where the hose is attached. The barrel irrigation pump is submersible. Thanks to special protection against dry running, the pump automatically shuts off when the barrel is empty.
Such a pump for irrigation from a barrel has one significant drawback: the price is too high, which not everyone can afford.
Which pump to choose: barrel or regular
Experienced gardeners know that one of the main devices when growing plants is a special device for irrigation. Some cultures do not tolerate cold water, they start to hurt. In this case, it is recommended to put a barrel on the site for settling and heating the water. In order not to wear it with buckets and a watering can, they invented a pump for irrigation from a barrel.
One of the main differences between a barrel pump and other devices is:
- lower price compared to others;
- the ability to pump fluid from any container;
- strong pressure;
- such a pump does not take up much space.
What are the criteria for choosing a barrel pump?
When choosing a pump for watering a garden from a barrel, you need to pay special attention to the following characteristics:
- what is its performance;
- whether it is equipped with dry running protection;
- can pump contaminated fluid.
Speaking of productivity, they take into account how many liters of water a pump can pump in one unit of time. It is advisable to choose models with low productivity, for example 40 l / min. A more powerful submersible pump for irrigation from the barrel is able to pump liquid in a few minutes, which is not very convenient.
When the drum is empty, the dry run protection is activated. If the hydraulic machine continues to work and there is no water, then it will soon fail. Basically, on the site use pumps for irrigation from a barrel of 200 liters. This is a very small capacity. Indeed, even with low productivity, watering will be carried out in a matter of minutes. Therefore, it is quite simple to miss the moment when the liquid runs out. If the pump is equipped with protection, it will shut itself off when the tank is empty. In the photo posted in the article, the pump for irrigation of the garden from the barrel "Karcher".
You should also pay attention to an equally important factor: whether the pump can pump dirty water. Many hydraulic machines are not recommended for use with dirty water. Often in the garden areas with repeated watering, a small precipitate remains at the bottom of the barrel. Also in such tanks you can add special organic and mineral fertilizers. As a result, the water is no longer completely clean. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a pump that is designed for this.
Pump types
Depending on the scope of use, there are several main types:
- Well.
- Drainage.
- Superficial.
Well
This is also called a submersible pump for irrigation from a barrel. Such devices are quite demanding on the purity of water. Their cost is low, so they are ideal for pumping water from barrels. Provided that it is clean.
Domestic pump without a float
Not all submersible pumps have protection against idling. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to this factor. Based on practice, experienced gardeners recommend purchasing models with exactly this function.
Such a unit can also be purchased if there is a well in the yard. This makes it possible to use the pump for different purposes. For example, not only for irrigation from a barrel, but also in order to draw water from a well.
Drainage
Such pumps are used to pump contaminated liquids. Basically, it is purchased for pumping water from basements and ditches. The main advantage of the hydraulic machine - the ability to pump out contaminated water - makes it almost indispensable in the household.
Many pumps in this category have protection against idling. They differ from other types in the absence of an arm and a small pressure. But if watering is carried out from a barrel, then this is not so important and is not a drawback.
At a price they are much cheaper than other types of pumps. Therefore, if you want to save money, and watering will be carried out from a barrel, you can purchase a drainage pump.
Pump station or surface pump
This is least suitable for irrigation from a barrel. The main reason is the need to install it on the surface of the tank so that it does not touch the water.
Such a pump is often used in areas where water is extracted from ponds or to increase pressure.
The main feature is the mandatory installation of a check valve. To pump water from the barrel, a hose is fixed to the inlet, and a check valve is installed at the other end.
If the non-return valve is not installed, it can quickly fail, since almost all of its time will pump air. Also, watering will take a lot of time and bring a lot of trouble.
Barrel drip pumps
In some cases, it is extremely undesirable to water in the usual way, since young plants can die from an excess of moisture. In this case, on the site, you can use the pump for drip irrigation from the barrel.
The pump is installed in a barrel of a small size, a pipeline is attached to it. Pipes are distributed over all beds. Only you need to ensure that there is no strong pressure.
Each pipe must have special taps that allow you to adjust or stop the flow of water at any time.
Water flows throughout the irrigation system, moistens the soil at the root. In this case, you can water the plantings not only in open ground, but also in the greenhouse. It is also not necessary to constantly be near and monitor the work. Especially such watering helps in those regions where the climate is hot and there is practically no rain. This saves water and provides plants with moisture.
How to use a pump
For watering the garden from a barrel, a barrel pump is an ideal option for small areas and flower beds. Most vegetables do not tolerate cold water. When it is not possible to install a special system on the site, watering from a barrel is an excellent solution.
The operation of the device depends on the implementation of several rules:
- Installation of a special container in which water will be poured and stored.
- It can be filled with tap water or wait until it is filled with rainwater.
- The pump must be lowered to the bottom or, as required by the instructions, mounted on the surface of the tank.
- Then you should attach the remote control from the pump to the barrel.
- It is advisable to attach specially prepared hoses to the pump; a watering can is installed on them.
- Connect to the mains.
Operating principle
A hydraulic device immersed in water or installed above the surface begins to draw water from the barrel and, at various pressures that can be created by any means, starts supplying water under pressure to the water supply system or irrigation system. Most models have a special float sensor, which is able to determine the need for filling the barrel with liquid.
Submersible pumps for watering the garden from the barrel "Karcher" are installed on the bottom of the tank. They are equipped with special protection against idling, i.e. in the absence of water. That is why many gardeners prefer the technique of this brand.
Connection and maintenance
Watering pumps are easy enough to use. Even inexperienced users will be able to assemble the unit within half an hour and immediately try it in action.
There is a special procedure for connecting:
- A telescopic tube or hose must be connected to the hydraulic machine to connect to the boom.
- Lower the pump to the bottom of the tank using a special long hose. In this case, the rod should be fixed on the surface or on the edge of the barrel.
- A prepared hose for irrigation is attached to the rod through the nozzle, from the opposite side of which special equipment for spraying can be installed.
- An electric wire with a switch is brought to the body of the rod.
- Before starting work, the hydraulic machine is connected to electricity. You can turn it on immediately after the pump is loaded to the bottom of the tank.
- After the water runs out, some types of units are able to turn off automatically.
- If the pump does not have protection, you must constantly make sure that it does not work idle. So he can quickly fail.
- After shutting down, the unit must be thoroughly dried, rewound and store the hoses in a dry, enclosed area.
- It is better to purchase special barrel pumps from well-known and trusted suppliers. They must provide all documentation and issue a warranty card.
- When purchasing goods for the garden, you need to make sure that they are in good condition, to check if all spare parts are available.