Manufacturer: | The Drip Store |
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"Gravity feed" refers to using gravity to create water pressure. This principle is at play in all kinds of water-based applications, from routing water off your roof into a gutter to moving water long distances through canals. It is also applicable to drip systems, but there is a complication: most drip systems require a minimum amount of pressure (typically 7-10 psi) to operate properly. Since gravity is a fairly weak force, this means that you need a large water container, a container that's very high up - or both - in order to get the right pressure to run a traditional drip system.
Our gravity feed kits are designed to build what we call a Modified Open Flow System, which solves this problem. "Open Flow" is a fancy name for the most basic type of drip system, specifically one without any drippers or other items that require a minimum pressure to operate. We modify this idea by adding 1/4" ball valves. While they are not as accurate as regular drippers, they also don't require a minimum pressure to function. By adjusting the knob on the ball valves, you are able to increase or decrease how much water comes out of each valve. This helps to evenly distribute water to all valves on the system. While it doesn't exactly replicate a "true" drip system, this method will get you as close as possible without requiring the minimum pressure that most home gravity feed systems have a hard time reaching.