How to Plug a Hole in Drip Irrigation Mainline by The Gardening Tutor - Mary Frost

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Sometimes when using a goof plug to stop a leak in drip irrigation the leak is still there after it's plugged. Here is a tip for how to use the fat end of the plug so that the hole is really plugged and the leak is stopped. If you use this method and the hole is still leaking, you'll need to cut out the hole section of the mainline and put in a mainline connector instead. I use E Z barbed connectors instead of compression connectors. If you have sliced your mainline with a shovel or other tool, you will need to cut out the section and put in a mainline connector because goof plugs can't help with this type of injury to the line. -mary
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[@jodielang2846]

You are spot on! I just googled 'how to' this morning... Manufacturer suggested this!

[@TheGardeningTutor]

That's so cool. Thank you for letting me know jodielang. And thanks for watching! -mary

[@lourdesbarrientos5564]

------- I was 😢 because my late hubby did ALL this stuff, and here I am struggling with my bare fingers/hands to put a goof plug in.... Thank you for showing that a LADY actually CAN do this, snif snif 😢

[@JuliaKarr]

I'm a single lady and doing this myself, too! We can do it! 💪

[@trishvanriper1977]

To make the plug go in more easily, heat up a cup of water in the microwave and pour the hot water slowly over the main line where the plug is to be inserted. This will soften the area and the plug will go in easily.

[@TheGardeningTutor]

Thanks for sharing trishvanriper1977. This is true but be careful because if it's made too mushy with the hot water the plug could easily wobble going in and making a bigger hole that could leak. I do use hot water from my thermos for attaching all the tubing and mainlines though. -mary

[@lourdesbarrientos5564]

​@@TheGardeningTutor Mary, I will subscribe to your channel NOW❣️ Thank you, Lourdes

[@zigsrig]

Thank you so much! I'm trying to fix my (inherited) sprinkler system and I have no idea what these things are called. Now I know emitter and good plug!

[@zigsrig]

Goof plug! Stupid smarty-pants spell check!

[@goldendogs5398]

You were right. The small side leaked. The big side plugged it!

[@guylorman5591]

Thanks! I was lost and followed your instructions and was able to seal the lick :)

[@TheGardeningTutor]

Yay! I'm always so happy to hear that my videos help. Thank you for watching and commenting Guy. -mary

[@FishBeWithYou]

Thank you!

[@TheGardeningTutor]

You're welcome FishBeWithYou. I appreciate the thank you. -mary

[@Rdavis6593]

Thanks. Very helpful

[@TheGardeningTutor]

You're so welcome Richard. Thanks for watching and taking the time to thank me. -mary

[@frankhochman837]

Thanks, will try using the larger size on the plugs. Have always used the smaller size and often have leaks.

[@TheGardeningTutor]

Thank you for watching Frank! -mary

[@DaddyLikesitRough69]

I use the fat side too but still get steady leaks out of almost all of them. They are just drops leaking out but still steady enough to saturate the surrounding ground.

[@TheGardeningTutor]

Yes, that happens to me sometimes too Matty. Then i cut the mainline (cutting out the leak part) and install a 5/8" straight EZ Connector (it's a barbed fitting instead of a compression fitting). -mary

[@michaelsmith4904]

I keep getting leaks sprung in the mainline... in one 10 foot run of poly I've got 3 or 4 joints where I cut at the hole and put a connector in between. Now I've got two more leaks that sprung in the same area. But I was wondering if a goof plug would work. The only problem is, these are like pinhole leaks, but there are sometimes more than one of them in a row in a 1/8" or so.

[@TheGardeningTutor]

Hmmm, how frustrating this must be Michael! Sometimes critters like gopher and coyote bite at exposed mainline because they want the water that they sense inside the tubing but they leave more than a pinhole size hole. The other day at a client's garden there was a bit mark with very diagonal shape-that was a rabbit I think. If you keep getting lots of pinholes maybe the mainline tubing itself is old and needs complete replacing? Thanks for watching. Let us know how it goes! -mary

[@ataberkdemir4279]

hi my main pipeline in garden was oozen in three small pipelines which are attaches to main pipeline,I changed their gaskets and I re-montaged them but they continue to ooze.What is the problem?

[@TheGardeningTutor]

It's a little hard to picture exactly what's happening on your end but If the leaks are in the mainline (the larger tubing) it may be time to cut out the leaking parts and reconnect the cut part with a mainline barbed fitting. I'm not sure what you mean by,, "changed their gaskets and re-montaged them". You can talk with me on The Gardening Tutor facebook page and send me a photo there. -mary

[@arbocorp]

I tired this, I can't get the plug in

[@TheGardeningTutor]

Hi arbocorp, I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with this technique. Sometimes, even though I have a rock or brick behind the mainline it still wants to collapse and I have to use plies or a vice grip to hold the mainline while i push the plug in. Is the collapsing what happened when you tried it?-mary

[@arbocorp]

@@TheGardeningTutor I just tried pressing it in over and over again but it wouldn't work and I was trying not to twist it but it still wouldn't go in I guess I just don't have the strength?

[@TheGardeningTutor]

Maybe but it might be that it was just something new to you and will take a little practice. The hole may be distorted now (which would leak even if the plug can get put in) but before you cut out the hole section and put in a mainline connector try some more practice on getting the plug installed. It's important to have the rock or brick behind the mainline when installing the plug. For the mainline connector fitting: I use barbed connectors not compression fittings because the barbed are easier to put in and less likely to blow off under pressure. I'm sorry you're having trouble with this. Keep practicing, you can do it! -mary I'd like to hear how it goes.

[@TheGardeningTutor]

It's a steady pressure that you are going for instead of pushing in and out as this makes a bigger hole that will probably leak when plugged.

[@brookeerdman8338]

It’s so fricking hard. Why is it so hard to do!!! Frustrating

[@TheGardeningTutor]

I'm sorry Brookeerdman. You could pour some boiling hot water on the mailine to see if this helps but not too so much water that you make the mainline mushy. the other think I do sometimes is use channel locks to hold the mainline so it does not collapse while I'm pushing the plug in. When i use channel locks I put cloth between the locks jaws and the mainline so they do not damage the mainline. Your other option is to cut the line to remove the hole and use a mainline sized connector to put the line back together. I wish I was there with you to help. Make sure you put a brick or rock behind the mainline where you're pushing the plug in so that there is resistence. -mary

[@lourdesbarrientos5564]

@@TheGardeningTutor , guess what? I still couldn't do it. I needed a special blue hand held hole poker to get the goof plug inserted... by the gardener... I understood the concept, but I lacked the necessary strength to place the plugs. Believe me, I am trying super hard to be self sufficient. Bench presses might help??? Hugs to you! LuLu