Insert Elbows

Start by cutting your irrigation tube cleanly using a pipe cutter or sharp utility knife. Next, push the barbed ends of the elbow firmly into the tubing. If the connection isn’t tight enough, secure it with hose clamps or crimp rings for added stability. Remember to test the system for leaks before letting it run.

Clamps aren’t always necessary, but are generally recommended for connections that experience higher pressure. When an elbow’s barbed ends are pushed fully into polyethylene tubing, they create a tight friction fit. For low-pressure drip irrigation systems, this is usually sufficient. However, adding compatible tubing clamps can further prevent leaks.

Insert elbows can be used on underground irrigation lines as long as they’re rated for burial. Poly elbows are commonly used with polyethylene pipe to make 90-degree turns without sharply bending or kinking the line. Be sure to install the elbow in an area where roots, rocks, or future digging can’t damage the connection.

Elbow pipe fittings are designed to handle the pressures of most irrigation systems. However, if you have a large-scale or high-pressure system, make sure that you secure your connections with clamps. While the barbed ends of a poly elbow provide a tight fit, using clamps ensures a leak-free and secure connection.