pressure on garden hose line?

[Dan Lester]

I am outfitting a garden bed with a drip line. This will require a pressure regulator to drop line pressure down to 20-30psi. I have that regulator. But the drip system will be connected to the faucet with a high quality rubber hose. The question is where to put the pressure regulator. Do I put it on the faucet, or on the end of the hose where it connects to the drip line? If on the end of the hose, the hose will see 60psi continually. Is that safe? If I put it on the faucet, my hose will only get 20-30psi, which is a little weak for other uses.

[Alpha]

From what I’ve found using online resources, the pressure regulator is usually placed right before the drip line, after the hose. This protects the drip system by reducing pressure to the 20–30 psi range that drip components are designed for. Most good quality rubber hoses can handle typical household pressure around 60 psi, so leaving the hose upstream is generally fine. It’s still a good idea to check your hose’s rated pressure to be sure.

[Dan Lester]

Thanks. That if you have a quality hose, there won't be a problem. A cheap vinyl hose may bust. But if you put the regulator on the faucet, the drip line will still be protected, no?

[Alpha]

You’re welcome! Putting the regulator at the faucet should still protect the drip line. Everything downstream will be at the reduced, safe pressure. The main consideration is that your hose will also run at lower pressure, which may reduce water flow for other uses. Alternatively, putting the regulator at the end of the hose (before the drip line) keeps the hose at full pressure. Most quality hoses can handle normal household pressure around 60 psi, so this is typically fine. It’s important to check your hose’s rated pressure, since the risk of bursting depends on the pressure rating rather than the material.

[Dan Lester]

Your point about looking up working pressures of hoses is a good one. Mine seem to be good to 300psi, so I should have absolutely no problem keeping it under line pressure. That was my point about putting the regulator on the faucet. The whole line would be protected if I did that, but if I disconnect the hose from the drip line to use it for something else, the flow rate won't be as good. So putting the regulator between the hose and the drip line is optimal, as long as the hose will survive.