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Garden Hose BasicsWhen you really think about it, a garden hose is one of the most
valuable tools in your arsenal of outdoor tools. A hose can wash the
car, fill the hot tub, water the flowers, and even provide your kids
with hours of entertainment.
Many people get confused however on hose "terminology". The following
will help you fully understand what makes up a hose, before you go
shopping for one.
Materials That Makeup a Hose
The materials that make up a hose can vary. The most inexpensive and
light-weight are the vinyl and vinyl reinforced hoses. Next up on the
durability ladder are the rubber hoses. As you would expect rubber hoses
are more expensive than vinyl hoses. The advantage is that reinforced
rubber hoses are able to withstand greater temperature differences
better. They are also a lot less likely to kink or burst.
What is "Ply"?
When shopping for hoses, you'll run across a term called "ply". Think of
the ply as the number of layers. The more plies, the more strength the
hose will have. Most consumer hoses vary anywhere from one to six plies.
It should be common sense that the bigger the diameter of a hose, the
more water it will deliver. Hoses range from 1/2", 5/8", 3/4" and 1" in
size diameter. The most common sizes on the market are 3/4" and 5/8".
What Length?
When shopping for a hose, determine the size that you will need to do
the jobs you would like it to do. Hoses are sold in increments of 25
feet, usually 25 to 100 feet in total length.
Keep in mind that the longer the hose, the less water pressure there
will be coming out the other end. You will want to buy a hose that is
long enough to reach where you'll be using it and no longer. Once in
awhile you will need a longer hose. A good tip is to simply buy two
shorter hoses and combine them when needed. Or if you happen to have two
separate spigots on your house, you can attach one hose to each.
Coupling
The coupling, sometimes called the "fitting" is where the hose attaches
to the spigot. Couplings come in brass or plastic. Brass couplings have
more durability than plastic they tend to be more difficult to tighten
to the spigot. Nowadays couplings come in ergonomic shapes to make it
much easier to attach to the spigot itself.
Armed with basic knowledge of the variety of garden hoses available will
help you choose the one that is right for you.
Author: Jonathon Mandleheisen
About the author:
Jonathon Mandleheisen is landscaper and gardener from the north eastern
United States. He regularly contributes to gardening web sites and
currently maintains
http://www.garden-hose-guide.com, a website dedicated to the trusty
garden hose.
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