Hoses that don't suck

[Overtaxed]

I've got hose reels in a lot of places around the property, and, on most of them, I leave them "charged" all the time, so I can just pick up the hose and go. Well, last night, another one of my lead in hoses gave up the ghost (which is always a mess) and I'm wondering what else I can use that "won't suck" and break on me. I was thinking a dishwasher or washing machine type connection, but those are all female to female, and none of them are really long enough. So then I got to thinking, how about a hydraulic hose? I can't think of any particular reason that won't work, like a 1/2 hydraulic hose from Tractor supply with 2 fittings going from pipe thread to female garden hose and pipe thread to male garden hose. And the 100 PSI water supply certainly ain't gonna hurt a hose made for 3000 PSI. Can sit in the sun. Made to pass fluid. Seems reasonable to me. Anyone ever do this?

 

[Diggin It]

I'd never do that (again). Only takes one time to wrack up a big water bill (or electric if you have a pump/well).

I've taken to using manual, spring loaded ('turn past here') auto-shutoff water timers on the hose bibs, then to the hose. But even those can fail and flow unregulated, so the faucet is always off when unattended.

 

[oosik]

I just turn the faucet "OFF". As far as garden hoses. My best & that have lasted 20+ years - 3/4" black rubber industrial grade garden hose. They are very heavy - a chore to drag here & there - are not cheap - have been continuously out in the sun - still as good as the day I bought them.

 

[Overtaxed]

Well, I would typically agree with you, but one of the setups I have, I kind of need it. Hard to explain, but the bib is in a place really hard to get to from where the hose is located. And I can't relocate the bib, the hose is up on my porch and I don't want a bib up there. What I'm thinking is running it in a hydraulic hose from the bib to the reel, and then, on the reel, putting a shutoff (so that the garden hose isn't charged all the time). So kind of treating the hydraulic hose as the bib. I mean, it's a 3000 PSI hose, it should be able to handle 100 PSI constant pressure, right? What I can tell you, a regular garden hose can't, they will break! Had too many go the way of the dodo, and, as you said, it's a mess/big bill.

 

[Diggin It]

Can't speak to the hydraulic hose, but there are high pressure water hoses available, cut to length.

Do you have freezing issues to consider? Do you shut the bib off in Winter? Would it be possible to add a piece of PVC pipe to extend the bib while still being able to disconnect it at the existing bib off season? Then maybe a ball valve at the hose cart/reel.

 

[oosik]

Just a thought. You MUST have some form of pressure reducing device before that 100 psi goes into your house. I don't think many household fixtures are designed to handle that pressure. You must be on some form of community water system. Otherwise - you could dial down that pressure.

S0000 - reducing the pressure to your outdoor hose bibs could go a long way to help solve this situation.

I'm sure hydraulic hose would handle your situation. So would industrial grade garden hose.

 

[Overtaxed]

Any idea where to get a HP water hose? What led me to hydraulic hoses was first thinking about my pressure washer, and yeah, seems like that type of hose would work, but all the ones near me are too long. I suppose I could get some sort of braided 3/4 hose and use barb fittings, but.. I'm not a huge fan of them, especially not for constant pressure. I also thought about using PEX, but that's so hard to bend/work with, seems like it wouldn't be the best option. I could use PVC, but one end of this is a hose bib, the other end is a hose reel on wheels, so I'm concerned there'd be too much movement and the PVC would break eventually. I also thought about a 1/2in air hose, that would probably work too, those are often charged forever at 175PSI, but I can't find a short enough one (only need about 10 feet) and also, those aren't rated for pressure the way a hydraulic hose is.

The bib is shut down in the winter, no freezing issues. It's for my wife to be able to water her plants on the porch, so no need for it after the fall.

 

[DerbyRunner]

100 psi at a hose bib sounds like a lot.

 

[Overtaxed]

Just a thought. You MUST have some form of pressure reducing device before that 100 psi goes into your house. I don't think many household fixtures are designed to handle that pressure. You must be on some form of community water system. Otherwise - you could dial down that pressure.

S0000 - reducing the pressure to your outdoor hose bibs could go a long way to help solve this situation.

I'm sure hydraulic hose would handle your situation. So would industrial grade garden hose.

Funny thing is, most of the garden hoses on the reels (also under constant pressure) do fine. It's only the stupid lead in hose that gives it up, because I can't find one that's worth a sh*t. They don't make a real heavy duty lead in hose, at least not that I can find. But I agree with you, I'd think that something like a 3/4in heavy rubber hose would work. I'd just prefer to do it "even better", so was looking at something like a washing machine supply hose or something like that (that's actually made for constant pressure).

There is a pressure reducer on the line, but.. The hose bibs are cut in before it. Goes like this: City Water -> Hose Bibs -> Water softener -> Pressure reducer. So, to get RP water, I'd have to either add another one (pressure reducer) or cut in after the water softener (no way, I don't want soft water for this purpose). And, this also runs my irrigation, so it's nice having lots of pressure on the line for that, so I really don't want to step it down. However, no matter what I do, I am going to step down the pressure to the hose reel, just not everything on the bib. However, all that said, I'm not sure that even 60 PSI constant pressure is going to be "OK" for the garbage lead in hoses that I can find.

 

[Diggin It]

Any idea where to get a HP water hose?

Can't say for certain, but try hardware stores, plumbing suppliers or maybe where they sell pressure washer supplies and accessories. A good shop might even be able to make one to length with secure ends. I'm not sure I'd trust the consumer level repair fittings sold everywhere.

 

[Dwellonroof]

Any idea where to get a HP water hose? What led me to hydraulic hoses was first thinking about my pressure washer, and yeah, seems like that type of hose would work, but all the ones near me are too long. I suppose I could get some sort of braided 3/4 hose and use barb fittings, but.. I'm not a huge fan of them, especially not for constant pressure. I also thought about using PEX, but that's so hard to bend/work with, seems like it wouldn't be the best option. I could use PVC, but one end of this is a hose bib, the other end is a hose reel on wheels, so I'm concerned there'd be too much movement and the PVC would break eventually. I also thought about a 1/2in air hose, that would probably work too, those are often charged forever at 175PSI, but I can't find a short enough one (only need about 10 feet) and also, those aren't rated for pressure the way a hydraulic hose is.

The bib is shut down in the winter, no freezing issues. It's for my wife to be able to water her plants on the porch, so no need for it after the fall.

You can use Type A Pex , it takes a lot more mistreatment.

 

[Overtaxed]

You can use Type A Pex , it takes a lot more mistreatment.

Man, you guys are great, I didn't even know there are different types of PEX. Learning something new!

Well, I went with the hydraulic hose. 1/2in hydraulic hose with the right fittings on either end and a ball valve at the reel to stop the pressure into the hose when I'm not using it. Looks good, not too many fittings and Lowes had them all (Tractor Supply for the hose). I'm thinking/hoping that this will be the last lead in hose I ever need for this reel, 100PSI in a hydro hose, I'm hoping "forever" is how long it lasts.

I took some pictures, I'll post them up later. Total cost was about 50 bucks with all the fittings and hose, still under the 60-70 I've seen for very high quality steel hoses, which I suspect would have worked well too.

 

[TractorGuy]

You shouldn't have any trouble with the hydraulic hose going to the reel.

Hope that 100 PSI water doesn't have much in the way of calcium or other solids. It will wear through copper pipes before you can say don't do it.

We had high calcium deposits on 100+ PSI city water at work and it ate through some of our copper pipes every 6 months until we got it filtered and regulated down.

 

[RickB]

Have an auto parts store make a 1/2 or 3/4 hydraulic hose to length with 3/4 npt fittings and use brass adapters to garden hose thread. Done. If you can’t find the female garden hose adapter swap out the hose bib for a gate valve.

 

[kris617]

Not sure if these are long enough to meet your needs but they are very sturdy.

High-Pressure Hose Extension - DripWorks.com

 

[ultrarunner]

About 30 years ago the boss of the auto dealership got tired of buying new hose every month.

I went to a pressure washer supply company and bought an industrial hose they use on the mounted units to supply water.

It is heavy but 20 years later they were still using it...

Also went with solid bronze marine fittings... anything stamped or pressed also did not hold up...

Since your problem is the leader can you adapt a stainless braided line from hose bib to real? A water heater supply would be 3/4"

As for generic hose... my family has always used lifetime Craftsman Black hoses... they last a very long time and replaced over the counter... or they have been for decades.

 

[bigtiller]

About 30 years ago the boss of the auto dealership got tired of buying new hose every month.

I went to a pressure washer supply company and bought an industrial hose they use on the mounted units to supply water.

It is heavy but 20 years later they were still using it...

Also went with solid bronze marine fittings... anything stamped or pressed also did not hold up...

Since your problem is the leader can you adapt a stainless braided line from hose bib to real? A water heater supply would be 3/4"

As for generic hose... my family has always used lifetime Craftsman Black hoses... they last a very long time and replaced over the counter... or they have been for decades.

I bought two of them in 1985, both are 100' long and still being used. It is only a 5/8 ID. I would like to have them in 3/4 ID. for a higher flow.

 

[Buxus]

I bought two of them in 1985, both are 100' long and still being used. It is only a 5/8 ID. I would like to have them in 3/4 ID. for a higher flow.

The Craftsman black rubber hoses, with nickel coated brass fittings, the female end of which accepts a wrench for tightening, is the best out there bar none. I have never had an issue with one in the many years I have used them. I have probably purchased and now use about 30 of them all over my property. The black rubber hoses sold at Lowes (? Gilmour) are not the same, and not as well made.

Unfortunately, last year Sears/Craftsman changed their black hoses to a lower quality rubber, and the fittings are not as well manufactured. I purchased a bunch of the old stock from whatever Sears I was near when I travelled, and have a nice hoard for the future (as my garden expands, not as they wear out since they don't).

FWIW, many ACE hardware stores still have the old quality Sears hoses in their stock. They don't go on sales like they did at Sears so they are pricey, but still worth it.

 

[ultrarunner]

I have 2 never used but would gladly buy a couple more

 

[DMax82]

The Craftsman black rubber hoses, with nickel coated brass fittings, the female end of which accepts a wrench for tightening, is the best out there bar none. I have never had an issue with one in the many years I have used them. I have probably purchased and now use about 30 of them all over my property. The black rubber hoses sold at Lowes (? Gilmour) are not the same, and not as well made.

Unfortunately, last year Sears/Craftsman changed their black hoses to a lower quality rubber, and the fittings are not as well manufactured. I purchased a bunch of the old stock from whatever Sears I was near when I travelled, and have a nice hoard for the future (as my garden expands, not as they wear out since they don't).

FWIW, many ACE hardware stores still have the old quality Sears hoses in their stock. They don't go on sales like they did at Sears so they are pricey, but still worth it.

Thanks so much for sharing this! I will go to my local ACE tomorrow, as I am in need of a quality hose or several.