Whether you’re into gardening or not, a garden hose is an essential item you should have at home as it serves many purposes, from cleaning to watering.
On average, a quality garden hose should last for up to ten years. It is versatile, which is why it is considered an indispensable investment for every household. However, many users have to replace their garden hose every year or two due to certain issues, such as cracks, leaks, or damages on its parts.
Ways to Making Your Garden Hose Last
Replacing your expandable hose each year is not only stressful and annoying, but it can also be very costly. The good news is that there are certain things you can do to make it last. Read on to learn some proven ways to extend the life of your garden hose.
1. Put your garden hose away after use
Leaving your hose out for long periods is one of the causes of damage to its exterior. Although it may be fine to leave it out for a day or two, sun exposure can eventually degrade its materials. Putting it away after every use can help prevent kinks and subsequent cracks.
If you plan to use your hose the next day, it can be tempting just to leave it lying on the ground for your convenience. But doing so could expose your garden hose to extreme temperatures and moisture, which could lead to cracking or premature rotting. You would also want to avoid it being run over by a lawnmower or driving over it with your car or bike.
2. Store it indoors
Always have a designated storage area for your garden hose, like the tool shed or your garage. You can also loop it over a bracket fastened to a fence post or wall. Just avoid hanging it on a piece of nail to prevent a hose twist.
If you want a more convenient solution, you can get yourself a garden hose reel as they offer one of the best storage mechanisms and make it quick and easy to roll up the hose after use. They also minimize tangles, which could eventually damage your garden hose.
But before placing it in storage, it is a good idea to drain the water from the hose, especially during winter, to ensure no residual water freezes. Water left sitting in your hose can lead to issues over time. Plus, the freezing and thawing can weaken the hose’s fabric.
3. Be careful when coiling and uncoiling the hose
Kinking is one of the most dreaded issues owners have to face when using a garden hose. Not only does it reduce or stop a smooth water flow, but it can also cause water discoloration. In some cases, kinks become so bad that they lead to cracks and other unnecessary damages to the hose.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve got the most expensive garden hose or the best quality one. If you do not treat it correctly, it may still kink up easily. Improper storage and handling are the common reasons garden hoses kink often. This is why you need to pay attention to kinks whenever you coil and uncoil your garden hose.
To fix this issue, straighten your hose around the garden or the walkway. It should be stretched along the path under the sun for maximum flexibility so that you can easily entangle and uncoil your hose. But make sure it’s not exposed under the sun for too long.
4. Avoid dragging your hose by the nozzle
A garden hose is one of the most easy-to-use tools you can have at home. But if you have a long one and it becomes twisted, working with it can seem like wrestling a wild beast. It can also be awkward or heavy to carry.
If you want to ensure your hose’s longevity, you need to follow the best practices, including not dragging it by the hose nozzle. It may seem like the easiest way to handle it, especially if you have to take it out frequently, but it can do more harm than good.
Over time, dragging it can destabilize the connector area between the hose itself and the nozzle. It is a primary cause of leaks, so it is better to pull the hose instead of the nozzle if you need to move it around.
Factors Affecting the Life Expectancy of Your Garden Hose
If you want to have a garden hose or are planning to replace your old one, you want to ensure that it lasts for a long time. While there are certain things you can do to take full advantage of its service for years, you cannot disregard some factors that could also affect its life expectancy.
Materials
Garden hoses are available in different materials, including rubber and vinyl. Basic vinyl hoses are lightweight and less expensive than rubber. However, they are more prone to splitting, cracking, and kinking than runner hoses.
Since rubber is more robust than a vinyl hose, it is designed to be longer-lasting, although it also carries a higher price tag. Rubber hoses are often for heavy-duty uses as they are more resistant to cracking and deterioration than vinyl.
Flexibility
We have already established that kinking shortens the life of your garden hose and leads to splitting. This is why you need a flexible garden hose so that it doesn’t easily get twisted even after long-term use.
Of course, it is natural for a garden hose to kink, even those claimed to be ‘kink-free.’ But a flexible hose will store easily, stretch impressively, and still allow water flow even when knotted, twisted, or folded.
Length
When choosing a garden hose that lasts long, the longer is not always the better. It will be harder to store and move around, and you are more likely to snag or twist it. Garden hoses are typically available from 25-foot to 100-foot lengths. While it can be tempting to purchase a long one for all of your household needs, you might end up spending more than you should. They can be more difficult to drain and cost more.
Temperature
Freezing temperatures and excessive heat can lead to cracking, discoloration, or hardness of your garden hose. Even if the hose is completely drained, changes in temperature will also cause the material to age faster than expected. Therefore, if you constantly expose your garden hose to extreme temperatures, it will only last a few seasons.
Conclusion
In reality, most garden hoses you can find on the market today are designed to last long. It is often about how you use and care for this household item that determines its life expectancy. Therefore, make sure you always treat it with care and practice proper maintenance. That way, you won’t have to buy a new one each year.