How To Care For Your Garden Hose

  • April 30, 2009
  • 1,186 Views
Please install Flash

Your garden hose can give you many years of good service if you treat it right.

You Will Need

  • A garden hose
  • A rack, old tire rim, or large trash can
  • New washers
How To Care For Your Garden Hose: Empty it every time

Step 1: Empty it every time

When you finish using your garden hose, shut off the water and then continue spraying with the nozzle until all the water is out of it. Water left inside can damage it.

Coiling the hose around your shoulder after you’ve stopped spraying will help get the last bit of water out.

How To Care For Your Garden Hose: Mount a rack

Step 2: Mount a rack

Never hang the hose on a nail. Mount a hose rack on the wall of your garage or shed, and coil the hose around it, starting at the end closest to the spigot. You can also use an old wheel rim or store it in a large garbage can. Whatever method you use, keep the hose out of direct sunlight because heat can compromise the rubber or vinyl.

Never leave your hose on the ground. It can develop fungus that causes it to rot.

How To Care For Your Garden Hose: Change the washers

Step 3: Change the washers

Change the rubber washers at the hose connections the moment they start to drip or they’ll worsen quickly and run up your water bill.

A pin-hole sized leak in a garden hose can waste as much as 170 gallons of water per day.

Something wrong?

Report This How-To

Cancel

Comments (0)

There are no comments. Be the first!

or to post a comment. Or, sign in using your Facebook to comment
and share your activity with your friends

Video is in Green Thumb (36 videos)