How To Repair A Zero G Hose

In that location are several uses for which an expandable hose is a better option than a standard rubber garden hose. Unfortunately, they are more decumbent to leaks and breaks as their traditional counterparts. While information technology might be more straightforward in our consumer order to replace the item entirely, tin can an expandable hose be fixed? A simple repair is far more desirable for many, as it reduces waste and the overall cost.

A damaged expandable garden hose is repairable. While a patchwork tactic will work in the brusque term, it will likely re-tear one time high pressure is forced through the tubing. A permanent solution is to pause the hose and use connectors to join them dorsum together.

For most repairs, an expandable hose repair kit like this one, volition do the play a trick on.

Knowing how to repair your expandable hose can save you time, money, and frustration. Several techniques yous may have used with a traditional garden hose won't piece of work with an expandable hose due to the latex cloth used in its construction.

Why an Expandable Hose is Unlike

Expandable hoses are difficult to repair due to the materials used to make them.

Unlike standard tubes, which are primarily made of safe, expandable hoses are made from latex. The "stretchiness" of the material is what allows the hose to elongate up to iii times its original length one time pressurized. This is due to the chemic composition of the latex.
Most latex in expandable hoses are made using synthetic and natural latex and contains betwixt 55-65% of water. The material is made robust by calculation Sulfur, carbon blackness, and oil during manufacturing. Several layers of latex are used (2-four is typical) to strengthen the hose further and provide fail-safes if i layer becomes weakened.
When it is pressurized, the latex material expands, condign thinner in the process. If you have made a turkey balloon from a latex glove in the past, you may have noticed that the material became so sparse that it was virtually transparent. This is what is happening inside your expandable hose – just with water and not air as the pressurizer. It is these properties that make almost repair methods flawed and likely to cause further damage.

By agreement the material inside your hose, you can troubleshoot repair solutions with materials at hand far easier.

The Best Solution: Repairing with Connectors

There are two modes of leaking from an expandable hose – either you have a hole in the inner latex tube itself, or the connector has separated from the hose at 1 terminate. If repaired by "traditional" ways, you volition likely have ongoing issues. That's because the repaired section of latex is now weak and will repeatedly rupture.

In both instances, the best solution is to remove the damaged department of the hose entirely and replace information technology in a simple 3 step procedure.

Expandable hoses are comprised of two layers:

The inner tube is made from latex, and it expands when pressurized.
The outer tubing is a nylon cloth that protects the fragile inner hose.

While the inner pipe is where the leaks will occur, y'all will probable demand to remove the protective outer layer first to access the latex tubing below it.

1. How to remove the outer layer

Remove the connector at each end and curl the outer layer down so you tin can access the puncture site. There should exist plenty slack in the nylon cover to exercise this. If in that location isn't, cutting the nylon and sew information technology back together once the repair is completed.

2. Removing the damaged inner hose

Zippo complicated here. To remove the damaged part of the inner hose, utilize a pocketknife, pair of garden shears, or a box cutter to make a make clean cut.

three. Making the new connection

Whether you are using an existing connector or purchasing new ones, similar these found on Amazon.

To make a new connectedness within the hose, you want to brand sure they are clean:

Commencement, remove any old tubing (if appropriate) and wipe the connector to remove any residuum.
And then, use barbed connectors and then that the hose volition expand effectually the connector when information technology is pressurized. Before pushing the barb into the tubing, on both ends, use expandable tape (Teflon tape or silicon plumbers' tape) to create a tight seal. Don't use too much tape, once or twice around is all you demand. It also, will aggrandize and create a improve seal.

By removing the damaged section of the hose, you remove the weakest chemical element. Connectors work well with the expanding latex material. That's why this is the all-time, permanent fix for a leak in an expandable hose.

Methods That Won't Work

You may exist wondering if any methods that work on traditional hoses will suffice for expandable models. The problem is, due to the expansion of cloth for the latex hose, most sealants and tapes will not patch a leak in the hose for long. By stretching the seal and pressurizing the repair site, most sealants will loosen nether strain, or agglutinative tapes will come loose.

Hither are some ineffective methods used to repair not-expandable hoses so that y'all know to avoid them:

Duct Record

While duct tape is a universal solution for nearly quick repairs, unfortunately, it won't help with stopping your garden hose leaking. At that place are two reasons for this.

First, it isn't a waterproof product. Therefore, the adhesive glue that makes duct tape durable will weaken equally presently equally the hose is turned on.
Secondly, duct tape does not have whatsoever give; i.e., it is not flexible. The latex material of the inner tubing will want to stretch once it is pressurized. This volition put boosted strain on the bond between the tape and the pipe. As a result, the duct tape volition loosen and fall off chop-chop.

Water-resistant Tape

It is sensible to consider a water-resistant based production for your needs. That way, the adhesive bond won't deteriorate every bit speedily when the hose is turned on, and h2o is flowing past it. However, this record still has the aforementioned stretch trouble one time the tube is pressurized. By layering the tape, you may be able to give yourself a quick gear up to use the hose at that moment.

Yet, this seal won't last long.

Leak Sealant

There are several forms of leak sealants bachelor, from spray-on products to silicone-based pastes. These products will work better than an adhesive tape every bit many accept a compound in them that allow a little give. Thus, when the hose expands, the sealant won't crack right away. At that place are two key downsides to these products, though:

First, it can accept up to 48 hours for them to dry and attach properly. If you are prepared to wait this long to fix your hose, then it is a far better option to buy spinous connectors and fix it permanently.
The second consequence is that the seal will break over time and volition non exist a long-term solution.

While the above methods can aid you in a pinch, none are reasonable long-term solutions to fixing your expandable hose. If you practice need to use them, go along the water pressure level low (don't turn the faucet entirely on) to limit the PSI in the tubing. That manner, your quick set up will last longer!

Last Thoughts

When repairing an expandable hose, you need to perform a permanent repair – a quick patchwork task won't hold for very long. The stretchiness of the latex material in an expandable hose makes most adhesive solutions impractical and temporary. Instead, y'all should excise the expanse of the tube with the leak and use permanent, barbed connectors to reattach the two pieces of hose together. By doing so, the hole will be fixed, and the tubing volition exist potent again.

And, if yous make up one's mind to but supervene upon the hose, hither is my favorite make (Click to see Amazon listing).

I hope you lot have found this article helpful. Delight let me know what you recollect in the comments.

Thanks for reading!