FAQs

Pope Clear Vinyl Tubing is designed to be used with cold temperatures, however it can withstand a maximum temperature of up to 23 degrees Celsius.

Pope Clear Vinyl Tubing is rated for low pressure applications and the pressure rating (at 23˚C) dependent on the Internal Diameter (ID) of the tubing.

Tubing size (ID)
3mm 300kPa
5mm, 6mm, 8mm 250kPa
10mm, 13mm 200 kPa
16mm, 19mm 150 kPa
25mm, 32mm & 38mm 100 kPa

Clear Vinyl Tubing is suitable for low pressure transfer of air, water or other liquids. It can be used to easily identify contents, foreign objects or blockages inside the tube.

It is ideal for:        

• Air-conditioning or washing machine water run-off
• Connect run-off water to selected sprinkler systems        
• Covering chain        
• Siphon water from pools and ponds
• Extra piping for caravans
• Water filtration systems

Pope Clear Vinyl Tubing is manufactured with food-grade raw materials; however, the finished product has not been tested to comply with AS4020 (testing of products for use in contact with drinking water) or AS2070 (Plastics materials for food contact use).

Both drippers and tricklers are used in low pressure irrigation systems, but they serve slightly different purposes:

Drippers

• Deliver water slowly and directly to the soil in a concentrated area
• Ideal for targeted watering at the root zone - placed at the base of plants
• Efficient as it uses less water but needs to run longer
• Best for individual plants or pots

Tricklers

• Emit water at a faster rate over a wider area
• Place between groups of plants or in garden beds
• Provide visible watering, making it easier to monitor
• Quick coverage with higher flow

Use our drip calculator to determine how many drippers or tricklers you need for your garden.

In a non-compensating system, water pressure can vary across the line (e.g., higher at the start, lower at the end), causing uneven watering. A pressure compensating (PC) device automatically adjusts to pressure changes, delivering uniform flow across all emitters.

These devices have a flexible diaphragm or internal mechanism that responds to pressure changes. When pressure increases, the diaphragm restricts flow; when pressure drops, it opens up—keeping the output steady.

The benefits of a PC emitters are that they deliver even watering across long runs or uneven terrain, improved watering efficiency and better plant health due to consistent moisture levels.

Here are descriptions of what the most common watering patterns are used for:

• Shower - Is a gentle wide spray with a shower head. Best used for watering flower beds, delicate plants, pots, rinsing car after washing.
• Jet - A high-pressure steady water flow. Best used for cleaning down driveways, patios, bird baths, cars, tyres and gardening tools.
• Mist - A very fine diffused spray. Best used for watering seedlings, cooling down foliage and humidifying.
• Flat - A horizontal fan spray. Best used for controlled watering of plants or hedges.
• Soaker - A low-pressure steady water flow. Best used for deep watering of garden beds or trees, filling dog bowl or bird bath.
• Cone - A circular spray pattern with even and gentle coverage. Best used for watering seedlings, flower beds, covering medium-sized areas evenly.
• Center - A focused spray from the middle, larger than a jet. Best used for delivering a full stream of water targeted at specific plants.
• Vertical - A vertical fan spray. Best used for watering narrow beds or borders.

• BSP standards for British Standard Pipe, which is a widely used thread standard for hose fittings and plumbing internationally. Threads are mostly straight for garden applications and sealing is typically done with an o-ring or washer.
• NPT standards for National Pipe Thread. It is a standardised thread type that has a tapered thread and is common in North America.
• GHT stands for Garden Hose Thread, which is a standardised thread type used primarily for garden hoses and related accessories in North America. This thread is straight, unlike NPT which is tapered.

None of these thread types are compatible due to the thread pitches and shapes are
different.

The kink rating indicates how well a hose resists kinking and twisting during use. A higher kink rating means the hose is less likely to kink, making it easier to handle and more reliable.

This rating is determined by several factors, including:

• Wall thickness: The layers of hose and reinforcement create the wall thickness. A thinner wall can make a hose less expensive, lighter and more flexible but also more likely to kink.
• Material type: PVC, rubber, and copolymer blends each offer different levels of flexibility and durability.
• Number of layers: More layers generally improve strength and kink resistance.
• Reinforcement style: Knitted reinforcement is typically more kink resistant than braided.
• Material hardness: Softer materials increase flexibility but are more prone to kinking; harder materials offer better kink resistance.

Quick guide:
🔻 Low kink resistance = more likely to kink
🔺 High kink resistance = less likely to kink

Pope hoses are categorised by duty level—light, medium, or heavy—which indicates how robustly the hose is built and what conditions it can handle.

• Light Duty: These hoses have thinner walls, making them lightweight and easy to maneuver. However, they are more prone to kinking and are best suited for light watering tasks around the garden.
• Medium Duty: A good balance between flexibility and durability. These hoses can handle moderate water pressure and are less likely to kink than light duty hoses.
• Heavy Duty: Built with thicker walls these hoses are designed for tough conditions. They resist kinking and can withstand higher water pressure, making them ideal for frequent use or larger gardens.

A soaker hose is made from extruded flexible PVC, designed to lie flat on the ground and features evenly spaced holes that spray water in multiple directions. Soaker hoses are ideal for garden beds, lawns, driveways and nature strips and can be used with spray pattern up for sprinkling and down for deep soaking.

A weeper hose is made from recycled rubber and releases water slowly through thousands of tiny pores, delivering moisture directly to the plant root zone. The Pope Water Weeper includes a flow regulator, allowing easy adjustment of water output to suit your garden’s needs. It’s an efficient and economical choice, minimizing water loss due to evaporation. Weeper hoses are especially well-suited for garden beds and borders.

Both soaker hoses and weeper hoses are simple to use – just roll them out along your garden and connect them to a garden hose.

It is ideal to water lawns about one inch of water per week. To determine how long you need to water to get one inch, place a plastic container in your garden and set a timer. On average, it will take 30 minutes to get a half inch of water.

So, 20 minutes, three times per week will give a lawn about an inch of water. This formula works best with healthy, well-cultivated soil. Healthy soil provides excellent drainage while also providing just the right amount of water retention at the root zone, where grass needs it most. Poor soil with inadequate drainage will cause soil to become waterlogged, while soil devoid of organic matter will cause water to drain, leaving soil unnecessarily dry.

The best time to water your garden is early morning ideally between 5-9am.  This allows the water to soak into the soil before the heat of the day causes evaporation. Soil is more receptive in the morning, especially after cooler nights, allowing for deeper penetration of water.

It is also beneficial to prevent diseases on plants such as powdery mildew and root rot, as the leaves have time to dry out during the day. Watering in the morning supports the plant’s natural growth cycle, which is most active during daylight.

If your pop-up sprinklers aren’t functioning as expected, here are a few common issues to check:

• Debris in the Line
  During installation, dirt or debris may have entered the system. Try removing the nozzle from the pop-up and flushing the line to clear any blockages. It is recommended to install an in-line filter at the beginning of the line to help prevent debris getting into the pop-up sprinklers.
• Water Pressure Issues
  Make sure your system has enough pressure to support the number of pop-ups installed. If pressure is low, consider reducing the number of sprinklers on each line. You may need to separate your system into zones to ensure each pop-up is getting the required pressure and flow.
• Damaged Components
  For existing systems, inspect the sprinkler heads and poly tubing for cracks, leaks, or other damage. One of the most common reasons is a broken sprinkler head. If it is cracked or has broken pieces it will need to be replaced to restore proper function. Consider using a sprinkler surround or sinking the sprinkler lower into the ground to ensure your mower doesn't hit the sprinkler head.

In a non-compensating system, water pressure can vary across the line (e.g., higher at the start, lower at the end), causing uneven watering. A pressure compensating (PC) device automatically adjusts to pressure changes, delivering uniform flow across all emitters.

These devices have a flexible diaphragm or internal mechanism that responds to pressure changes. When pressure increases, the diaphragm restricts flow; when pressure drops, it opens up—keeping the output steady.

The benefits of a PC emitters are that they deliver even watering across long runs or uneven terrain, improved watering efficiency and better plant health due to consistent moisture levels.

Both drippers and tricklers are used in low pressure irrigation systems, but they serve slightly different purposes:

Drippers

• Deliver water slowly and directly to the soil in a concentrated area
• Ideal for targeted watering at the root zone - placed at the base of plants
• Efficient as it uses less water but needs to run longer
• Best for individual plants or pots

Tricklers

• Emit water at a faster rate over a wider area
• Place between groups of plants or in garden beds
• Provide visible watering, making it easier to monitor
• Quick coverage with higher flow

Use our drip calculator to determine how many drippers or tricklers you need for your garden.

• It’s important to consider the varieties and length of your lawn, as this will dictate the height of the preferred pop-up.
• You’ll need to ensure the pop-up is best suited to your flow consumption, which can be determined after you have completed your flow rate bucket test.
• Mapping the area to be watered to establish which spray pattern and arc will assist in selecting the right pop-up system.

Your irrigation system needs to be cleaned after your initial installation and also occasionally to remove dirt and debris.

The below explains how to disassemble a Precision pop-up without removing it from the system.

Other pop-ups may have the components arranged in a different way.

• Step 1 – Unscrew the pop-ups cap.
• Step 2 – Pull up the riser by gripping the wiper seal.
• Step 3 – Hold the wiper seal down and unscrew the nozzle. Be careful not to let the spring go.
• Step 4 – Remove the filter, wiper seal, spring and ratchet ring.
• Step 5 – Clean all debris and grit from all parts and re-assemble.
• Step 6 – Flush the system until the water runs clear.
• Step 7 – Re-assemble all parts.

No, it is possible to install an irrigation system without a timer, but the benefits of having one will be greater as part of your watering system.

• Clean the sprinkler head and the plastic screen basket so it is not clogged with dirt or other debris.
• Check your water pressure to make sure it is not too low. Make sure that the valves on your backflow device are fully open. You may need to separate the system into zones to make sure each pop-up is getting the required pressure and flow.
• Check for any leaks in the water line which can cause low water pressure and keep water from flowing to the sprinkler head.
• One of the most common reason is a broken sprinkler head, if it is cracked or has broken pieces it will need to be replaced. Consider using a sprinkler surround or sinking the sprinkler lower so your mower doesn’t hit the sprinkler head.

Yes, when installing sprinklers on slopes position heads closer together on the uphill side of the pattern because gravity will shorten the spray throw. Also, to prevent erosion and uneven watering uphill, align sprinkler heads perpendicular to the slope.

This depends on the flow rate you are able to achieve from your water source.

Calculate your flow rate using the bucket test, then reference the flow consumption of the pop-up sprinkler. E.g. If you have a 45lpm flow rate, you can run 7.5 half circle professional sprinklers as they use 6 lpm (45 / 6 = 7.5).

• Trim back grass or prune vegetation growing around the pop-up heads.
• Clean the mesh filter monthly by removing the filter and rinsing it thoroughly.
• At least once a year take apart, clean, inspect and replace any damaged parts.

If water isn’t flowing from one or more holes on your oscillator, they may be clogged. To clear them, remove the nozzle cleaning pin from the end of the oscillator, opposite the hose connection. Insert the pin into the blocked hole(s) to dislodge any debris and
restore water flow.

The Pope 2 Hour & 6 Hour Mechanical Tap Timers do not require batteries, however the Pope Digiset and Simple Set Timers do require 2 x 1.5v AA alkaline batteries (not included).

Yes. Tap timers prevent overwatering and can be programmed to water during cooler times of day, reducing evaporation.

The Product Guide and instruction videos are available on each of the individual product pages.

• Digiset Tap Timer
• Simple Set Single Outlet Tap Timer
• Simple Set Dual Outlet Tap Timer

Should you still need further assistance, please call our friendly customer support team who will able to assist you on 1300 134 880.

The length of time required to run your tap timer will depend on a few factors:

Type of Emitters used in Irrigation System

• Drippers: Typically 30-60 minutes, depending on flow rate (e.g. 2 L/hr)
• Tricklers or Jet Sprays: May need 15-30 minutes
• Pop-up Sprinklers: 10-20 minutes depending on coverage and pressure

Weather/Time of Year

Time of Day     

• Morning watering is best to reduce evaporation and disease risk
• Avoid watering during the hottest part of the day

Soil Type

• Clay soil retains water longer – shorter, less frequent watering
• Sandy soil drains quickly – longer, more frequent watering

Plant Needs

• Vegetables and annuals – may need more frequent watering
• Established shrubs and natives – often need less water

You can calculate run time like this:

Run Time (minutes) = (Desired Litres / Flow Rate (L/hr)) x 60

Example: To deliver 4 litres using a 2 L/hr dripper: (4/2) x 60 = 120 minutes