When designing or upgrading an irrigation system, homeowners and landscapers face a pivotal decision: should they use flexible piping like the Toro Pipe or stick with traditional rigid PVC? While both options serve the same purpose—delivering water efficiently to your lawn or garden—their differences in flexibility, cost, installation, and long-term maintenance can significantly impact the success and longevity of your project.
Understanding how these systems differ and when to use each will save you time, money, and a few headaches along the way. In this guide, we’ll dig into how Toro Funny Pipe stacks up against traditional PVC, helping you choose the right fit for your unique layout and irrigation goals.
🚿 What is Toro Funny Pipe?
Toro Funny Pipe, also known as swing pipe, is a flexible polyethylene tubing designed for short-run sprinkler head installations. It allows users to easily connect pop-up sprinklers to lateral PVC lines without cutting and cementing rigid pipes. Toro’s version of this pipe is particularly known for its durability, UV resistance, and kink-free design—even in tight spaces or angled layouts.
Because of its bendability and compatibility with Toro’s fittings and sprinkler heads, it simplifies complex layouts and allows for easy repositioning. That’s especially helpful in curved garden beds, narrow strips of turf, or locations where digging deep trenches isn’t ideal.
🔩 Traditional PVC: A Quick Overview
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping has long been the gold standard for main irrigation lines. It is rigid, durable, and available in various pressure ratings. Commonly used for both residential and commercial systems, PVC excels in straight runs and structured layouts where a high level of water pressure is required.
PVC systems are assembled using primer and cement, creating permanent connections. While this offers reliability, it also means less flexibility—literally and figuratively. Once glued into place, components are not adjustable without cutting and reassembling.
💡 Key Differences Between Toro Funny Pipe and PVC
Let’s break down how each option performs across several critical factors:
1. Ease of Installation
- Toro Funny Pipe: Exceptionally easy to install. It doesn’t require glue, primer, or precision cuts. A simple push-fit or threaded fitting connects it to sprinkler heads or barbed connectors. Ideal for DIYers or anyone working on a tight schedule.
- PVC: Installation involves cutting, priming, gluing, and waiting for the cement to cure. Mistakes are harder to fix since the glue creates permanent bonds.
Winner: Toro Funny Pipe, especially for irregular layouts or quick repairs.
2. Flexibility & Layout Versatility of Toro Funny Pipe
- Toro Funny Pipe: Shines in areas where maneuverability is key. It easily weaves around rocks, roots, or existing landscaping without requiring elbows or joints.
- PVC: Better for long, straight runs. Every change in direction requires an elbow fitting, which adds time and material cost.
Winner: Toro Funny Pipe for complex or customized lawn zones.
3. Durability and Longevity
- Toro Funny Pipe: Made from high-quality polyethylene, it’s highly resistant to UV exposure, freezing, and cracking. However, it’s more vulnerable to surface punctures (e.g., shovel strikes).
- PVC: Offers a thicker, rigid wall that resists physical damage better underground but is more prone to cracking with temperature changes or impact stress.
Winner: Depends on application. PVC is more damage-resistant, but Toro Funny Pipe flexes better with shifting soil or seasonal temperature swings.
4. Water Pressure Tolerance
- Toro: Typically rated up to 80–100 PSI depending on diameter and brand. Suitable for small runs between a lateral line and sprinkler heads.
- PVC: Comes in various ratings (e.g., Schedule 40 or 80), withstanding pressures up to 200 PSI and beyond—ideal for high-pressure zones or mainlines.
Winner: PVC is the clear choice for high-pressure applications or long lateral runs.
5. Cost and Materials
- Toro Funny Pipe: Slightly more expensive per foot, but it may reduce total cost due to fewer fittings and faster installation.
- PVC: More affordable by the foot, but you’ll also need elbows, glue, primer, and possibly a saw—especially for non-linear layouts.
Winner: Toro Funny Pipe may win in total project cost for small to medium-sized zones.
6. Repair and Maintenance
- Toro Funny Pipe: Easy to disconnect and replace damaged sections. Cuts cleanly with garden scissors or tubing cutters.
- PVC: Repairing requires cutting out sections and using couplers with new glued joints. More labor-intensive.
Winner: Toro Funny Pipe for everyday homeowners who prefer minimal fuss.
🧠 When Should You Use Each?
Here’s a simple decision matrix:
| Project Type | Best Pipe Type | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Installing pop-up sprinklers in a curved bed | Toro Funny Pipe | Flexes into shape, no digging |
| Running 100+ feet of main irrigation line | PVC | Handles high pressure and cost-effective |
| Repairing or upgrading a zone | Toro Funny Pipe | Quick, tool-free fixes |
| Building a system with uniform lawn strips | PVC | Clean, structured installations |
🛠 Pro Tips for Smart Installation
- Mix and match: Use PVC for main lines and Toro for final connections to sprinkler heads.
- Protect exposed sections: Bury Funny Pipe at proper depth to avoid mower or tool damage.
- Use proper fittings: Stick to compatible Toro fittings to prevent leaks or blowouts.
- Don’t exceed recommended lengths: Funny Pipe works best in short runs (12–36 inches). For longer distances, stick with PVC or poly tubing.
🌱 Final Verdict on Toro Funny Pipe
If you’re building a brand-new irrigation system with straight runs and high pressure, PVC remains a reliable and budget-friendly choice. But when it comes to installations that demand flexibility, speed, or adaptability—particularly around sprinkler heads—the Toro Funny Pipe delivers unmatched convenience.
Combining both in a hybrid system often yields the best results: robust PVC mains feeding into flexible swing joints that allow precise sprinkler positioning. This approach reduces stress on fittings, minimizes leakage risk, and makes future adjustments a breeze.
Whichever path you choose, the real win is setting your lawn up for consistent, efficient watering—and fewer weekend headaches.
