Pressure Compensating Vs. Non-Pressure Compensating

Some emitters are pressure compensating some are not. What’s the difference and why might you need a pressure compensating emitter? Adrian Sanchez here, for Sprinkler Warehouse. Let’s get started.

If you see the letters PC in the name of an emitter you’re purchasing, it doesn’t mean “Politically Correct.” Pressure compensating means that the volume of water dispensed from an emitter shouldn’t vary radically depending on water pressure. You should use pressure compensating emitters if the area you’re watering has an elevation difference of greater than five feet. In other words a fairly substantial slope or hill.

Use For Low-Pressure Irrigation Systems

Now if you were to install pressure compensating emitters in a circumstance in which you didn’t need them, say a perfectly flat yard. There should be no problem. The only time pressure compensating emitters cause issues is when you’re utilizing a very low-pressure system. For example, using a water barrel or some other gravity-fed system as the water source for your drip system.

So let’s look at a few of the options available from Sprinkler Warehouse. These are the Rain Bird PC Modules. They come in 5, 7, 10, 12, 18, and 24 gallons per hour. Now, even five gallons per hour is a pretty steady stream. I recommend if you’re using Rain Bird PC emitters pick up a pack of these diffusers. To help prevent soil erosion around the roots of your plants. They don’t slow down the rate of delivery but they do diffuse the stream a bit. Pop them on the end of your PC Emitter like so.

Here’s some of what Antelco has to offer: half, 1, and 2-gallon per hour pressure compensating button emitters. We also have a number of little stake bubblers that are also PC. This is an Antelco 360-degree Stream bubbler at a seven-point five average flow rate. Here’s a spike drip emitter. One gallon per hour. These come in two different ways. One like this ends the run of microtubing. Ones like these can be strung together. And some more offerings by Antelco. A half, 1, and 2-gallon per hour pressure compensating spike drip emitter.

And finally a handful of other brand button emitters that also pressure compensating. In addition to emitters, we have some manifolds like these. That allows for multiple streams of water. These all have various ways to accomplish the task but essentially each of these holes accepts a piece of microtubing. Each of these manifolds is pressure compensating. However, there are some that are not. The description will inform you if the manifold you’re looking at is PC.

Sprinkler Warehouse Has Everything For Your Irrigation Needs

So, your trees, lawn, flower beds, and gardens are lush and beautiful. Questions? Chat with one of our incredible customer service agents on Sprinkler Warehouse dot com. They really know their stuff and they will get you squared away. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for helpful tips, tutorials, and general sprinkler instruction. For Sprinkler Warehouse, I’m Adrian Sanchez, your Sprinkler Warehouse Pro.