It is often more economical to repair rather than replace a spoilt hose. Although some people might argue that it costs more in the long run. However, repairing still has its use especially for large capacity hoses.
A garden hose, also known as a watering hose, is very essential for your gardening experience. It is used for watering the lawn and garden. It can also be used to perform other household functions.
Unfortunately, a damaged hose means less efficiency and productivity. For instance, when a hose is torn or cracked, it leads to wastage of water and makes it even more difficult for you to complete your task
How to Fix a Leaking Hose
Fortunately, having a Leaking Hose doesn’t necessarily mean the world has come to an end. You can easily repair it following these simple processes.
1. Use Electrical Tape to Seal Small Holes
Sometimes, little objects such as nails can puncture the hose. As little as the hole might be, it can redirect the flow of water from the desired destination.
With electrical tape, you can block the holes. Electrical tapes used should contain PVC backing. It should also contain a rubber-based adhesive to promote elasticity and insulating effects.
To do this, cut off the water supply and separate the hose. Next, use a towel to wipe the hose dry and remove every trace of moisture. Indicate the punctured area using a marker and wrap the marked area using electrical tape.
Make sure you don’t wrap the hose too tight so that the hose will not crease.
2. Use a Hose Mender to Fix Large Tears
Fixing large tears is often a bit more complicated than fixing smaller hoes. Large tears are mostly a result of exposure to high temperatures, and bites from pets. This tear can be repaired using a hose mender.
A hose mender is a tube often made with metal or plastic and used to repair the damaged area of a hose.
To do this, you first stop the supply of water and separate the hose. Cut out the torn part using garden shears. Next, connect both ends of the hose to the hose mender. After the connection, tighten both ends together by twisting the collars in a clockwise direction.
3. Fixing a damaged coupling with a hose gasket
It is quite common to see a garden hose with a leaking coupling. Coupling is the part of a hose used to connect a garden hose to a sprinkler, spigot, or nozzle. It is often made of plastics or metals.
A gasket might need repairs or replacing once you start noticing steady droplets of water from a coupling. Normally gaskets wear out if used continually so this shouldn’t come as news to you.
Cut off the water supply and discount the hose. Pull out the old gasket and replace it with a new one. After this, you can reattach the hose to a nozzle and turn on the water.
Conclusion
For every gardening tool, maintenance is necessary. Endeavor to stick to Maintenance and repair tips to preserve the life of your tool.