Although this hose is made to be lightweight and flexible, it is made with sturdy materials that guarantee durable leak-free use for light watering applications.
In addition, the expanded length of over 50 feet provides enough length for watering your plants in the garden, grass in the lawn or even for washing your car.
A guide to choosing the right hose for your needs
- If you are looking for a hose that is easy to handle, then choose a vinyl hose. A vinyl hose is suitable for use especially in mild climates and is the ideal choice for watering your garden or grass lawn. They are easy to handle and very light and cost less than reinforced or rubber hoses. However, if all you need a hose for is basic watering, then they are the most suitable option.
- Choose a rubber hose if you are looking for something durable. Although rubber hoses are heavier, harder to handle and more costly than vinyl hoses, they will last longer and are suited for use in extreme weather conditions.
- You may need to go for a reinforced hose if you intend to use it commercially or if your yard is littered with furniture, lots of equipment and sharp objects. A reinforced hose features several layers and a mesh covering which help protect against puncture and snags that may come with commercial use.
- Do you intend to use hot water with your hose? Then you need to look for an industrial hose. Industrial hoses feature a rubber construction with an abrasion resistant covering that makes them very robust. Additionally, these types of hoses offer high burst strength and can, therefore, be used with hot water.
- For regular lawn watering, choose a soaker or sprinkler hose. These types of hoses feature evenly spaced holes that leak to water the surrounding lawn or garden. The difference between sprinkler hoses and soaker hoses is that sprinkler hoses shoot water into the air while soaker hoses have their perforated side facing down or sideways and water trickles down to the ground.
- If your watering needs are light, then an expandable hose may serve you best. These types of hoses stretch when water runs through them and then shrink when they are not in use. In addition to being a great choice for light watering needs, they easily fit into small spaces making their storage easy. However, they are very susceptible to punctures and tears and need to be fully drained before storing them.
- Many garden hoses create an ideal environment for the growth of mold, bacteria, yeast and fungus. If you are going to use your hose in the swimming pool, drink from it or have kids who may run through the sprinkler, then you need to choose a hose which has anti-microbial protection.
Features to look for before choosing a hose for your watering needs
Length
The length of the hose you choose depends on the size of the lawn or garden you intend to use it in. Most garden hoses feature lengths ranging from 10 feet to over 100 feet. For most average gardens, a hose about 25 feet should be able to serve you well. However, if you have a bigger property then you may need to go for a longer hose. You can also decide to connect 2 hoses if a single one cannot cover the distance.
Diameter
Your pressure needs will solely determine the diameter of the hose you choose to buy. If you need water at high pressure you have to go for a hose with a small diameter. If the diameter is wide, you lose pressure over a distance and this might not serve you well if you needed the water at high pressure like for washing your car.
Fittings
When it comes to functioning effectively, you will need solid and crush-proof fittings to use with your hose such as cast brass fittings. These will ensure that you don’t get to replace your hose because the fittings got damaged. Cast brass fittings are also an indicator that the hose is of high quality.
Nozzles
Nozzles determine how the water is delivered at the destination. For the most flexible watering, you need to choose an adjustable nozzle. Brass nozzles are always a good choice as they fit better than plastic nozzles and also help reduce leaks.
Kinking
Before buying a hose, it is best to test if it kinks. Although many hoses are advertised as kink-free, that is not always the case. A good quality hose will simply bend while low-quality hoses kink.
Caring for your hose
- To prevent damage to your hose, you need to coil it on a reel. This also helps prevents kinks and bends from forming on the hose. Choose a hose that can support the length and weight of use and mount it in an easily accessible place where you need to use your hose from regularly.
- If you live in an area with extremely low temperatures, ensure you completely drain your hose before temperatures drop to freezing point. Allow gravity to drain the hose by using an elevated surface on one end and the ground on the other.
- Store your hose indoors during the cold season. Extremely cold temperatures can cause the hose to shrink which may cause cracks and damage to the hose. A basement or garage can be an ideal location to store your hose until warm weather returns.