Expert Tips for Buying a Garden Hose and Reel - Consumer Reports

Gardening season is in full swing, with pros and newbies alike snapping up seeds, pots, soil, and mulch to get this year’s crop started. Making plans for raising a bounty of vegetables, herbs, and flowers requires a plan for proper care, and hoses and a place to store them are key components of that plan. 

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You might think a hose is a hose is a hose, however, you can find a wide variety of hoses and hose reels that come in different materials and lengths and are best suited for different tasks. Before we break down which kinds of hoses work best for which jobs, there are some basic guidelines for any garden hose you buy.

Gardening expert and author Ron Daniels has been growing plants and flowers for about 50 years. His book, “Rose Therapy: My Journey of Growing and Caring for Roses,” highlights his love of roses, which has been his gardening focus for the last 30 years. Daniels has taken many a garden hose and hose reel for a test drive while cultivating his gardening skills. Here are some of his tips on best practices for hoses:

• Get a hose of at least 100 feet for its reach.
• Get a hose with a diameter of at least ⅝ inch. Anything smaller won’t produce enough adequate pressure. Most sprayer attachments are made to fit a ⅝-inch hose, though adapters are available. 
• Don’t get hung up on the “no kink” label. “There’s no such thing as a no-kink,” Daniels says. “They all kink if you don’t take care of them.”
• Look for brass fittings on both ends of the hose. Those are less likely to rust.
• Completely drain them of water and store them in a hose reel when not in use and definitely before any extreme heat or cold sets in.

These are the least expensive, around $40 and up, depending on how many “ply,” or layers, make up the tubing. The more layers the hose has, the less likely it is that the hose will spring a leak, Daniels says. 

Most vinyl hoses are best suited to light garden work and washing cars. They don’t have a long life, however. “You might get one season of use out of them,” Daniels says. “They are almost like a throwaway hose.”

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Rubber hoses are slightly more expensive. They start around $50 and can carry a price tag in the hundreds of dollars, depending on features. According to lawn care expert Rhys Charles, rubber is the choice for many industrial and commercial jobs because these hoses are flexible, durable, resistant to cracks, and can carry chemicals without compromising the hose’s integrity. These hoses are best suited for big gardening jobs that don’t need a lot of pressure, Charles says. 

Be sure to store rubber hoses out of the direct sunlight to prevent damage. Rubber is also heavier than PVC by a couple of pounds, something to consider if you will need to move the hose often or a good distance. Whereas a PVC hose has a limit of around 200 pounds per square inch (psi), a rubber hose can handle pressure up to 300 psi in bursts. 

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Hybrid options are made of rubber and reinforced with a vinyl weave, like tire cording. This mix is lighter to carry around than a 100 percent rubber hose and stronger than a vinyl-only hose. Cost generally falls between that of a good-quality PVC hose and that of a solid rubber model. 

These hoses are a good option when budget is a consideration, but strength and flexibility are important. This type of hose has an overall psi of 200 and is capable of bursts up to 600 psi. Combo hoses are a wallet-friendly choice for giving plants a quick drink, washing your car or giving your dogs a bath, Daniels says.

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Looking for a hose that can withstand high temps and major pressure? Stainless, braided steel might be for you. These hoses boast superior strength and corrosion resistance, are extremely flexible, and can handle temperatures up to 700° F and pressure from 500 to 10,000 psi, according to Charles. Surprisingly, because stainless steel is a poor conductor of heat, this type of hose won’t get too hot to the touch when left in the sun or when hot water is run through it.

The name says it all: This type of hose expands when water fills it and contracts once the water is turned off. Expandable hoses are about a third of the overall length before being filled with water. They are also much lighter than other types of hoses, which is useful if you have to move the hose longer distances. 

On the cons side, expandable hoses require strong water pressure to work properly. Like all hoses, you have to ensure that all water is drained when you’re not using the hose. Expandable models also are susceptible to damage when left in the sun or in extreme winter weather. They must be stored properly or they won’t last, Daniels says. 

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These slow-drip hoses keep water on the ground, reducing evaporation, according to Daniels. Because water is going directly into the roots and not on plant leaves or blooms, the risk of fungus issues is also reduced. 

You can run soaker hoses on the ground or under it, and they are available in PVC or rubber. As with all-purpose hoses, the PVC soaker varieties typically last only a season or so and are less able to withstand strong water pressure than those made of rubber. Prices start around $40 for a 100-foot hose. 

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Whereas soakers slowly drip water into a plant’s root system, sprinkler hoses have tiny holes along their length and spray water onto grass or other plants rather than keeping the watering only to the roots. 

These are good for small patches of lawn when you aren’t able to water by hand or would rather not. The disadvantage of sprinkler hoses is that by spraying above ground a bit (how much is controlled by how high you turn up the pressure), you will have some evaporation and water waste. Sprinkler hoses are usually made of vinyl and are fairly inexpensive. Even though they are flat and release water slowly, they will still need to be drained and stored the right way to ensure any longevity.

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So what is the best way to store any and all of your garden hoses? On a hose reel. Not only will this look tidy, you also will be less likely to have water left in the hose, as the act of rolling up a hose on a reel will force any lingering water out. That means less chance of breeding dangerous pathogens and less chance of weather-related damage to the hose. Not all reels are created equally, however. Daniels offers tips that apply to any of the several types of hose reels out there, and all should meet certain criteria for effectiveness.

Size: Reels must be able to handle the diameter and length of the hose you wish to store on it. If it is too small, the hose will bunch up and be difficult to wind up and to remove. Too large and it will also be unwieldy. 

Construction: You can buy plastic or metal models. There can be a big difference in the plastic’s sturdiness, so look for either heavy-duty plastic or, preferably, a metal reel for durability.

This type of hose reel attaches directly to the outside or your home or garage wall. You can buy them either with a handle to wind up the hose (around $50 and up) or without a handle, requiring that you manually wind the hose (starting around $10). 

Self-winding gives you more control over how the hose is wrapped, and that can make it easier to unwind when it’s time to use the hose again, Daniels says. Wall-mounted units keep hoses looking tidy and out of the way when not in use.

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Several types are available in this category. One sits on a sort of plant stake, with metal legs that push into the ground for stability. These start around $55 and could come in handy if you use your hoses frequently but want to get them off the ground between jobs. A disadvantage is that this type is not mobile, and you will still need to store your hoses out of the elements during extreme weather. 

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Next is a plastic or metal reel, with or without a crank handle, that stands on a base and can be picked up and moved around your yard and then into a garage or shed for longer storage. You can even buy one that looks like a box and completely hides the hoses, though winding and unwinding can be difficult with this type. 

Some models even come with wheels, making it easier to move the hoses as needed. This is particularly welcome when using long hoses made of heavier material, such as rubber.

For both garden hoses and the reels used to store them, your best bet is to weigh your needs and preferences with budget considerations and performance particulars, then tackle your lawn care with confidence.

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ss316L

Type 316L stainless steel is an extra-low carbon version of the 316 steel alloy. SS316L has good corrosion resistance and is resistant to marine and aggressive industrial atmospheres.The lower carbon content in 316L minimizes deleterious

——–Do you need Wire Braids?

Wire braids are made by the a few metal wires that cross each other or a few metal strip that split to be braided by certain order, with specified angle setting in the outer surface of metallic hose, having the effect that strengthens and shielding.Wire braids not only shares the static load of the metallic hose in axial and radial direction, but also ensures the safe and reliable operation of the metallic hose under the condition that the fluid flows along the pipe and produces pulsation effect. At the same time, it also ensures that the corrugated part of the metallic hose is not directly affected by relative friction, impact and other mechanical damages.The strength of the flexible metal braided hose can be increased by ten to dozens of times.The highest shielding capacity can reach 99.95%.

We make stainless steel tubular shielded braid manufactured with type 304 soft drawn Stainless Steel. They are widely used on flexible metal hoses,both for corrugated and interlock hoses.We supply double layer or single layer braids. The braids are used where highter temperature or greater mechanical strength is needed.

The size range of the hose that we can braid is DN6-600mm.Normal metal hoses use only one layer of mesh sleeves; for special applications, they are also woven in two or three layers, depending on the specific working pressure. Depending on the size of the bellows and the requirements for its use, it is usually made of wire with a diameter of 0.3 to 0.5 mm. The wire is 5~18 per strand, one strip per ingot. The steel wire mesh sleeves produced are mostly 24, 36, 48, and 64 strands, and the bellows with extra large diameters, as well as 96, 120, and 144 strands. The main weaving parameters of the net sleeve are in addition to the number of strands (wire), the diameter of the wire, the number of ingots and the thickness of the strip, as well as the coverage area, the weaving distance, the weaving angle, and the like. They are all important basis for determining the performance of metal hoses.

——–Do you need Metal Hose Fittings?

Firstly,the function of the metal hose fittings is to connect the wire braid with the flexible metal hose as a whole.At the same time, the metal hose fittings are the part of the connection between the metal hose and the metal hose or other pipe fittings and equipment.It ensures that the medium works properly in the piping system.The material of the joint are usually the same as the material of the bellows and mesh sleeve, mostly stainless steel.In order to reduce production costs, some of the larger size of the metal hose in the transmission of corrosive medium is not strong or not corrosive, the metal hose fittings can be made of carbon steel;For the connection of metal hose under corrosive medium working condition, if appropriate measures are taken in the design to avoid contact with the medium, carbon steel can also be used.

Gas hose fitting

1.Material AISI 304,  Nickled carbon steel
2.Size: 1/2” , 3/4‘’ etc
3.Structure:nipple,adaptor,nut,seal,bung
4.Application: the water system, interior piping system, kitchen equipment and so on.
5.Features

• high corrosion resistance
• high temperature resistance
• cryogenic temperature resistance
• perfect mechanical property

Russain type camlock

Comflex ensure to deliver fully tested products at leading market price within promised time frame.Comflex can offer a wide range of Flexible Metal Hose with Russain type Camlock Fittings to Comflex clients. The offered range of product is made from high grade quality raw material to meet the international quality standard.Comflex products are manufactured under the supervision of best quality experts using advanced technology. Comflex products are highly demanded in the market due to their world class quality and available at leading market prices.

Quick camlock

Comflex quick connecting couplings(camlock coupling) conserve energy and are easy to connect / disconnect without the use of hand tools, for thousands of purposes where products are transfered by pipe or hoses, like Brewing, Chemical, Mining, Fertilizer, Petroleum, Steel Plants, Power Plant and Pneumatic Tools.Especially,we have very special quick release & camlock coupling for liquid gas,such as liquid Amonia, liquid argon,etc..

1.Type:A,B,C,D,E,F,DC,DP.
2.Basic Design:DIN,
3.Test design:API598,
4.Thread standard:NPT,BSPT,BSP,DIN.
5.Material:AISI304,316, aluminium,brass, etc.
6.Available Size:1/2” , 1 1/4” , 1 1/2” ,  2” , 2 1/2”, 3”, 4”

Flange

1.Material:ss304,ss321,ss316 or carbon steel
2.Standard of flange: EN,ASM,GB. ISO,Japan, Australia
3.Nominal Pressure(PN/MPa)
4.Installation:Floating or Fixed
5.Shape:Welding neck flange ,Slip-on flange ,Socket-welding flange ,Threaded flange ,Lapped joint flange ,Reducing flange ,Blind flange ,Flange scaling face ,Flat face ,Raised face ,Male and,female face ,Female face,Male face ,Ring joint face ,Tongue and groove face ,Tongue face ,Groove face

NPT fitting

NPT stands for National Pipe Tapered threads, also known as ANSI/ASME B1.20.1 pipe threads. It is a U.S. standard for measuring tapered threads on threaded pipes and fittings. Sometimes referred to as MPT (male pipe threads), NPT threads are not interchangeable with NPS (National Pipe Straight) threads. Unlike straight threads found on a bolt, a taper thread will pull tight, making a closer seal.

1.NPT thread: general sealed cylindrical pipe thread and general sealed conical pipe thread
2.Size range:1/16”-2”
3.Feature:

• Angle between taper and center axis of pipe is 1° 47’ 24” (1.°)
• Truncation of roots and crests are flat
• 60° thread angle
• Pitch is measured in threads per inch (TPI)

BSP Fitting

BSP（British Standard Pipe) according to the shape can be devided into:BSPP（British Standard Pipe Parallel）and BSPT（British Standard Pipe Taper）。

BSPT (British Standard Pipe Thread) is similar to NPT except for one important difference. The angle across the flanks of threads (if you sliced the fitting in half long-ways and measured the angle from root to crest to root) is 55 degrees instead of 60 degrees as it is for NPT. This is a popular fitting in China and Japan but is very rarely used in North America unless the equipment to which it is attached was imported.

BSPP (British Standard Parallel Pipe) is most popular in the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It is a parallel thread fitting that uses a bonded seal ring to do the sealing. This bonded ring seal is sandwiched in-between a shoulder on the male fitting and the face of the female fitting and is squeezed in place.

gas hoseRussain type camlockcamlock600flangehose with fittingsBSP

——–Do you need Pipe End?

A pipe end is the description of how the section of pipe ends. There are three main types of pipe ends: beveled, threaded or plain. Understanding pipe ends is important when designing a piping system since it would be inappropriate for the designer to specify a threaded connection for a large diameter pipe or to specify a welded end when connecting to a threaded component.

BEVEL END

A bevel is a surface that is not at a right angle (perpendicular) to another surface. The standard angle on a pipe bevel is 37.5° but other non standard angles can be produced. Beveling of pipe or tubing is to prepare the ends for welding. However, it can also be used for deburring the cut ends for safety or aesthetic reasons. Bevel end is abbreviated on drawings as BE.

The beveling process is generally automated. This is because a pipe beveling machine can cut the bevel much faster than hand grinding, flame cutting or turning the pipe on a lathe. Further, the automated process ensures that there is an accurate and consistant pipe bevel each time. The automated process is much safer as operating personnel are not exposed to the same hazards as a person beveling the pipe.

This is the most commonly used end and is used on pipe, pipe nipples, and swage nipples.

THREADED END

Typically used on pipe 3″ and smaller, threaded connections are referred to as screwed pipe. With tapered grooves cut into the ends of a run of pipe, screwed pipe and screwed fittings can easily be assembled without welding or other permanent means of attachment. In the United States, the standard pipe thread is National Pipe Thread (NPT). The reason for this is that as NPT connections are assembled, they become increasingly more difficult for the process to leak. The standard taper for NPT pipe is 3/4″ for every foot. Threaded End is abbreviated on drawings as TE.

Threaded fittings have threads that are either male or female. Male threads are cut into the outside of a pipe or fitting, while female threads are cut into the inside of the fitting. As screwed pipe and fittings are assembled, two pieces are pulled together. The distance that is pulled together is called the thread engagement.

PLAIN END

A pain end pipe is a pipe that has been cut at 90° perpendicular to the pipe run. The reason pipe would be specified as plain end rather than beveled end is when the pipe will be used in a socket weld connection or for use with a slip-on flange.

Professional Flexible Metal Hose Manufacturing Co

We are a professional metalic hose manufacturing Co. In our factory we have a lot of necessary manufacture facility for high quality metalic hose.

• Mechanical metalic hose making machine: DN6-DN40
• Spiral metalic hose machine: DN8-DN20/DN25-50
• Tube welding machine: DN32-DN350
• Hydraulic metalic hose making machine: DN32-DN350
• Elastomer metalic hose making machine: DN15-DN150
• Wire braiding machine: 24-156 spindle

Comflex Industrial Co.,Ltd Customer Base

Comflex flexible metal hose are sold to countries all over the world, especially in Russia, Ukraine, Australia, Singapore, the United States etc.,which are well received and trusted by Comflex customers.Many customers have established long-term business cooperation with Comflex. We are committed to providing one-stop service to our customers, answering questions online and ensuring that you can purchase the products you want. Are you still waiting for? Now fill in your contact information and your requirement in the form.Send it! We will reply you as soon as possible.