Valves and Irrigation Accessories

Valves and Irrigation Accessories buying guide

Veldkraft lists 1 730 valves and irrigation accessories, priced from R2 to R7 814, from brands including Emjay, K-brand, Torrenti, Vetplast. Orders are delivered to all nine provinces and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.

What does an irrigation system need?

An irrigation system needs valves to control the water, fittings to join the pipe and emitters to deliver it. This category covers all three: Torrenti ball, check, foot and float valves, Vetplast insert fittings, brass couplings, Rain sprays, Storm Agri micro sprinklers and dragline hose. The micro units come in boxes of 250 for orchards, tunnels and nurseries. Other brands include Unirain, Uni Flo, Sweetwater and Stockman.

Ball, check, foot or float valve?

Each valve type does one job. A ball valve opens or closes a line with a quarter turn; full bore types leave the whole pipe diameter open, while reduced bore types restrict flow slightly. A check valve lets water flow one way and stops it running back. A foot valve sits at the bottom of a pump's suction pipe to hold the prime and screen out debris. A float valve shuts off a tank or trough when full.

Brass or PVC valves?

Pick the material to suit the pipe and where the valve sits. Brass valves and couplings are threaded, strong and stand up to sun and knocks, which suits pump outlets, tank connections and troughs. PVC solvent weld ball valves glue straight into PVC pipe, do not corrode and usually cost less in large sizes. Low-pressure float valves have a wide seat for gravity-fed tanks and troughs. Check the pressure class against what your pump delivers.

Match fittings to pipe size and thread

Fittings are sized by the nominal pipe diameter in millimetres, so read the size printed on the pipe. Insert fittings push inside polyethylene pipe, are usually secured with a hose clamp, and join the mainlines and submains that feed sprinkler and drip irrigation lines. Reducing tees and couplings join two sizes, such as 40 by 32 mm. Threaded ends are given in inches, such as 1/2 or 3/4 inch, so check the mating thread too.

Choosing sprinklers and sprays

Choose emitters by the area each must cover and the flow your supply can give. Micro sprinklers water individual trees, tunnel beds and nursery stock, and the nozzle colour usually marks a different flow rate, so check the rate for each colour. Sprays cover beds and lawns at a stated radius, such as the Rain S020 spray at 5.7 metres. Space heads so each throw reaches the next one for even watering.

Plan zones around your water supply

Divide the area into zones that your pump or supply can run one at a time. Add up the flow of every emitter in a zone and keep the total below what the pump delivers at the pressure the sprinklers need. Fit a ball valve on each zone for shut-off and a check valve where water could drain back. Heavy-duty 20 mm dragline hose in 50 m rolls lets you move sprinklers across pasture and fields.

Valves and Irrigation Accessories: common questions

What is the difference between a full bore and reduced bore ball valve?

A full bore ball valve has an opening the same size as the pipe, so water flows through with almost no restriction. A reduced bore valve has a smaller opening, costs less and is fine for most garden and tank lines, but it adds some friction. Choose full bore on pump suction lines, mainlines and anywhere flow matters.

What does a foot valve do?

A foot valve fits on the end of a surface pump's suction pipe, below the water level. Its non-return flap keeps water in the pipe when the pump stops, so the pump stays primed, and its strainer keeps out leaves and stones. Size the foot valve to the suction pipe, such as 40 mm.

How much do irrigation valves and fittings cost in South Africa?

Veldkraft lists 1 730 valves and irrigation accessories priced from R2 to R7 814. Small insert couplings sit at the low end, with large brass valves and bulk sprinkler boxes higher up. Price rises with pipe diameter, brass instead of PVC, pressure rating and pack size.

How far apart should sprinklers be?

Space sprinklers so the spray from each reaches the next head, often called head-to-head spacing. In practice the distance between heads is about equal to the throw radius listed for the head. Wider spacing leaves dry patches between heads, especially in wind. Check the radius at your actual operating pressure, because low pressure shortens the throw.

Which float valve do I need for a tank or trough?

Match the float valve to the supply pressure and the inlet size. Low-pressure brass float valves, such as the 15 mm and 50 mm Torrenti models, suit tanks and troughs fed by gravity or a low head, because their wide seat lets water through at low pressure. A larger valve refills faster, which helps where many animals drink at once.

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