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Re: Filtering & Soaker Hoses

In a message dated 6/9/98 12:17:21 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
millero@worldnet.att.net writes:

<< 
 I gave up on soaker hoses several years ago and converted to drip tape
 (T-Tape) because the uneven water distribution resulted in wasting too much
 water.  And messing around with in-line pressure equalizers and cleaning up
 calcium deposits was just too much trouble.  It had also occurred to me to
 use HCl but it's not something we usually have on hand so I used Lime Away.
>>

Hi Olin,

I've been using soakers for many years.  My oldest hose must be close to 10
years old now.  It still works and has never been cleaned in any way.  It
doesnt drip as much as the newer hoses,  but it never did.  When I first got
it the recommendation was to leave it on 8 hours.  Indeed.  I think the newer
ones flow much faster than those first ones ever did.  And perhaps in the
desert you may have water with a higher mineral content,  and greater
evaporation leaving even more residue behind.   

I havent had noticeable trouble with unequal water distribution.  I snake my
hoses around in my beds and they are fairly close together,  about 8 to 10
inches apart,  so maybe I just havent noticed it.  I will watch the next time
I water.

When you used LimeAway,  did you have success clearing the hoses?  If so,  how
did you do it?   Did you fill the hoses or coil them into large container with
the acid solution?  I would use dilute muriatic acid -- pool acid.  It is only
about $1, 50 per gallon,  and if I recall is really HCl.   One would have to
be careful to keep the metal ends away from the acid solution.  Oh well,  at
this rate, it's still  years before I will have to clean them.  I hope.

Janet.
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