With a lot of choices to choose from and little visible difference between garden tubes, it’s appealing to merely choose the most affordable one. However little distinctions can have a huge effect on for how long the hose pipe lasts and how easy it is to utilize.

A good garden hose pipe should last 5 to 10 years. Lots of homeowners who buy lower quality hoses end up replacing theirs each year due to leaks, fractures or rot. Although some problems can be repaired, it’s normally more economical to buy a great quality hose pipe to begin with.

In this short article, we review the features to think about when purchasing a new garden hose pipe so that you’ll understand what to look for in selecting a quality product.

If you’re just thinking about the various kinds of hoses and our suggestions for the best garden hose pipe, scroll down to Types of Hoses.

How to Choose the Best Garden Hose for You
There isn’t just one type of garden tube that’s ideal for everybody. What works finest for you will depend on the size of the area in which you’ll be using it, what you’ll use the hose for and where you’ll store it, along with your budget. But, in general, there are 6 things you should think about when choosing a garden tube.

Important Considerations When Buying a Garden Hose
1. Length– Longer is Not Better

Garden hoses come in 25-, 50-, 75- and 100-foot lengths. It’s tempting to buy one longer tube and utilize it for all of your watering needs around the garden.

Procedure the farthest range from your spigot and purchase a hose that goes simply beyond that. You don’t wish to pull on the tube to extend it out as that’s likely to trigger snags or leakages.

On a deck or veranda, a 25-foot garden hose pipe is generally great. Many metropolitan backyards require just a 50-foot hose, at many. If you require a longer length of pipe than 50 feet, think about purchasing two pipes and joining them together when you need to exceed 50 feet. That way you’re not lugging around a long, heavy garden pipe all the time.

2. Tube Diameter– Width = Water Flow
The most typical garden hose diameters are 3/4 inch, five-eighths inch and half inch. These measurements are based on the within size of the hose pipe, not the outside. The bigger the diameter, the more water the hose will bring.

A pipe width of five-eighths inch is normally most useful. It’s an excellent combination of water flow and pressure without being too heavy.

If tube weight is a problem for you, a half-inch pipe may be best. Half-inch garden pipes are best kept to 50 feet or less and used for light-duty gardening jobs, such as watering containers and hanging baskets.

3. Material– Rubber is Best

You’ll frequently discover garden hoses made from rubber, vinyl, or a mix of the two.

A fundamental vinyl hose pipe (generally reinforced with a radial cord) is the least pricey and most light-weight option but likewise the least sturdy. It’s more vulnerable to kinking, splitting and splitting than other materials and can break down rapidly if left in the sun or exposed to harsh weather. If spending plan is an issue and you’ll just be utilizing the hose for light responsibility gardening jobs, then a vinyl garden pipe can be a good alternative.

Rubber hoses are generally the strongest and most lasting, but also carry the greatest price and can be heavy to carry around the garden. Rubber has the included benefits of having the ability to bring hot water, being less likely to kink, and resisting cracking and ozone wear and tear (so they don’t fall apart if left in the sun). For heavy duty usage and a hose that lasts through lots of seasons, rubber is the best choice.

A middle-of-the-road alternative is a composite rubber/vinyl garden pipe.

Reinforced pipes (typically reinforced with a mesh lining between layers of vinyl and/or rubber) are more resistant to kinking and splitting, and can take greater water pressure levels.

Although additional layers (or “plies”) tend to recommend a more powerful hose, do not put excessive stock in this figure– the variety of layers doesn’t matter as much as what those layers are made from. An enhancing “mesh” layer is an excellent indication, other things being equivalent.

Beware with both rubber and vinyl garden hoses as they seep chemicals into the water than make it hazardous to drink. If you or your family pets will be consuming from the pipe, invest in a “drinking water safe” hose. These are normally made from polyurethane and have been specifically constructed so as not to seep harmful chemicals.

4. Strength– Look at Burst Pressure

Garden hose pipe strength can be measured in terms of “burst pressure” (the water pressure at which it is likely to rupture). If you’ll be using a hose nozzle or a sprinkler, search for a tube with a burst pressure above 350 psi. For pressure washer use, inspect your handbook prior to purchasing a pipe– you might require an even greater psi.

5. Versatility– Try the Kink Test
You desire a garden pipe that’s versatile (for simple storage, going around corners, and so on) but not so flexible that it kinks quickly. While all garden hose pipes will kink if twisted (yes, even the “kink-free” hose pipes), some are better than others.

When shopping for a garden tube, flex it into a U. If it kinks, choose another.

6. Couplings– Look For Cast Brass

Garden pipe couplings are the end pieces that connect to spigots, sprinklers and nozzles.

More economical hoses typically have plastic couplings. Prevent these– they’re more vulnerable to leaks, cracks and breakage and typically can’t be tightened appropriately. Plastic likewise breaks down quickly, especially when left in the sun.

Metal couplings (typically brass, although many are chrome plated) are either stamped or cast. You can recognize cast brass because it’s thicker than sheet metal and normally has an octagonal shape so that the coupling can be turned with a wrench. Couplings made from cast brass are the most resilient and leak-resistant. Thin stamped-metal fittings can be challenging to tighten at the spigot, bend easily (so do not step on it or run over it with the lawnmower or car), and break down over time.

All else being equivalent, a large octagon-shaped coupling is simplest to tighten, especially for those people with stiff fingers or lower grip strength.

While lots of tubes come with a washer placed into the coupling, these are typically thin plastic washers that quickly break down. We always suggest that you utilize a high quality rubber washer (such as this one from Gilmour) at the connection point in between the hose pipe fitting and the spigot or nozzle. This will assist prevent leakages.

Look for a collar. Quality hose pipes frequently have a plastic or rubber “collar” extending maybe 4 to 6 inches up the pipe from one coupling. This reduces the odds of a kink or split near the spigot, where they are especially typical.

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Types of Garden Hoses
Below are descriptions of the most common types of garden tubes, in addition to our recommendations. Hover over each item name or image for rates details.

Lightweight/ Light Duty Hoses
These tubes are usually made from vinyl (in some cases with a reinforcing mesh or multiple plies (layers)) so can kink more easily, frequently have plastic fittings, and tend to come in thinner diameters however prices remain in the lower range.

If you’re gardening on a budget plan, will not be utilizing it often, don’t need a long hose pipe (over 50 feet), and have lower water pressure or do not use a sprinkler or hose nozzle, then a lightweight hose pipe will probably fulfill your requirements.

While you can find light task hoses online, your best bet is to visit your regional house enhancement shop or garden center. You’ll discover a few of the much heavier duty pipes there too, however a lot of them are ideal for light duty use.