Another plumbing question: Can I leave the tap on all the time if I have a spray gun attached to the hose?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Another plumbing question: Can I leave the tap on all the time if I have a spray gun attached to the hose?

turtleattacks

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#303865 15-Mar-2023 17:52

Hi team,

I had previously asked about installing an outdoor shower.

We had progressed since and have decided to run a garden hose out supplying warm water outside - we really just want some warm water so we can shower the puppies in winter.

Now my second question is that can we have the tap on all the time and just restrict the water flow with the spray gun or some sort of more secure valve?

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pih

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#3050602 15-Mar-2023 18:02

I assume you mean a garden hose - in my experience these hoses and hose fittings are not designed to be under constant pressure. I've seen hoses swell (especially in the sun), fittings pop off the hose, and gradual leaks form if you don't turn it off at the tap. However if you get mains-pressure rated hoses and fittings you'll be fine.

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#3050604 15-Mar-2023 18:03

No this is not a good idea at all hose fittings can fail due to the house water pressure!

turtleattacks

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#3050605 15-Mar-2023 18:04

pih: I assume you mean a garden hose - in my experience these hoses and hose fittings are not designed to be under constant pressure. I've seen hoses swell (especially in the sun), fittings pop off the hose, and gradual leaks form if you don't turn it off at the tap. However if you get mains-pressure rated hoses and fittings you'll be fine.

Thanks - yip garden hose. I'll check out to see if I can get some high rated fittings.

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rscole86

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#3050607 15-Mar-2023 18:05

You'd still likely need a backflow preventer to stop your drinking water becoming contaminated.

We thought about a wash bay for our dog as well (short hair single coat) decided it just wasn't worth the cost, so use as cold hose outside, or take her into the shower with us if needed.

SomeoneSomewhere

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#3050608 15-Mar-2023 18:08

I would be extra-concerned about leaving hot water hoses pressurised:

Most hoses are not rated for hot water. Even hoses/pipes that are suitable for hot water usually are only suitable for a severely reduced number of hours.
Water is expensive to heat. Unless you use very good factory-crimped threaded connections on everything, continuously pressurised garden hoses are going to drip a bit - the same usually goes for sprayer heads. That can get expensive, as will dumping a few tankloads of hot water onto the driveway if a connection fails and you don't notice. You'll also come home to no hot water.

I've seen a shower mixer piped to a shower head or hose before. Use the mixer to control flow and temperature and provide a positive shutoff. The sprayer on the end of the hose just sprays.

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#3050609 15-Mar-2023 18:10

turtleattacks:
pih: I assume you mean a garden hose - in my experience these hoses and hose fittings are not designed to be under constant pressure. I've seen hoses swell (especially in the sun), fittings pop off the hose, and gradual leaks form if you don't turn it off at the tap. However if you get mains-pressure rated hoses and fittings you'll be fine.

Thanks - yip garden hose. I'll check out to see if I can get some high rated fittings.

Still a stupid idea!! Don't do it

turtleattacks

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#3050610 15-Mar-2023 18:10

SomeoneSomewhere:

I would be extra-concerned about leaving hot water hoses pressurised:

Most hoses are not rated for hot water. Even hoses/pipes that are suitable for hot water usually are only suitable for a severely reduced number of hours.
Water is expensive to heat. Unless you use very good factory-crimped threaded connections on everything, continuously pressurised garden hoses are going to drip a bit - the same usually goes for sprayer heads. That can get expensive, as will dumping a few tankloads of hot water onto the driveway if a connection fails and you don't notice. You'll also come home to no hot water.
I've seen a shower mixer piped to a shower head or hose before. Use the mixer to control flow and temperature and provide a positive shutoff. The sprayer on the end of the hose just sprays.

Can you please provide some links for the mixer?

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SomeoneSomewhere

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#3050611 15-Mar-2023 18:15

It was just a standard shower mixer (like one of these), stuck through an outside wall instead of a shower wall. The showerhead above drenched a colleague when he turned it on wondering what it was for... no real reason it couldn't instead go to a wand-type showerhead or a hose, though as noted above there are likely concerns about backflow prevention. 90% of garden tap use ignores those, though.

richms

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#3050626 15-Mar-2023 19:26

Most garden taps have the washer floating in a way that will sort of stop backflow. This can mean that the hose has nowhere for the water to go when it expands as it heats up in the sun if its left on. This then stretches the hose and as this repeats for a long time the hose will eventually blow out. Always turn a hose off at the tap and let the stored pressure out when you're done if you dont want to be constantly replacing them.

Richard rich.ms

hsvhel

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#3050635 15-Mar-2023 20:25

I know when ours are left on by the kiddos or warefare officer as it induces a water hammer

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Handle9

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#3050649 16-Mar-2023 00:15

richms:

Most garden taps have the washer floating in a way that will sort of stop backflow. This can mean that the hose has nowhere for the water to go when it expands as it heats up in the sun if its left on. This then stretches the hose and as this repeats for a long time the hose will eventually blow out. Always turn a hose off at the tap and let the stored pressure out when you're done if you dont want to be constantly replacing them.

And release the pressure in the line after you turn off the tap. If you leave it full of water it'll have the same problem.

Bung

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#3050699 16-Mar-2023 06:01

I don't recommend leaving a hose on but have done it by accident. I use Holman brand male fittings on the taps as they have 2 O rings. When the hose isn't connected I leave an old hose fitting on the taps to keep sunlight off the O rings.

The dog we borrow for walks doesn't care about water temperature. He runs straight into the river or sea any time of the year and gets hosed down with tap water on return.

tweake

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#3050969 16-Mar-2023 19:50

always have a secure way to shut the water off.

we run a hot water system at work and i have an outlet plumbed into so i can wash down with hot water. its blown the hose off quite a number of times. garden hoses go really soft under heat and tend to fail.