How to stop garden hose leaking / best hose fittings

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timmmay

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#277106 26-Sep-2020 09:42

I have a standard garden hose, and I'm a bit tired of leaks at the connectors, at the tap, between the tap and the hose reel, and at the end of the hose. The hose seems to get a bit old and discolored where the fittings clip on, so every 6 months I cut it off with a hacksaw and put them onto hose that looks fine. I use good quality hose and good quality fittings, all Gardena. I've also tried the yellow Hoselock fittings, no difference really.

Has anyone worked out a way to get a hose that doesn't leak from the connectors?

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#2574566 26-Sep-2020 09:58

Are you using brass fittings? Plastic ones never seem to last.

The brass Holman ones with the double o-rings have been good for us.

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/search/products?page=1&q=holman%20brass%2012mm&sort=BoostOrder&pageSize=60

However, I don’t think they do a “water stop” hose fitting, so for those we use the brass Gardena ones.

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/gardena-water-stop-13mm-brass/p/309694

The Holman 12mm fittings and Gardena 13mm fittings appear to actually be the same size and work together fine (for us any way) so I’m not sure what that’s about.

EDIT: We've found this Holman spray gun to be fairly good as well https://www.bunnings.co.nz/holman-12mm-platinum-multi-function-spray-gun_p3120841, it does have a plastic connector but we haven't had any issues. Unlike a lot of trigger operated fittings, it doesn't seem to cause a lot of hand fatigue (and it has the little clip at the bottom to hold the trigger in if you want). We always make sure we turn off the tap and depressurise the hose after use as well, otherwise in winter the water can freeze and expand thus breaking plastic fittings.

We also have the Holman "Hi-Flow" nozzle which is all brass, but find the trigger action on the spray gun more convenient https://www.bunnings.co.nz/holman-12mm-hi-flow-nozzle_p3130734.

EDIT 2: I just realised it's "Holman" not "Holeman", have updated accordingly.

Bung

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#2574567 26-Sep-2020 10:10

Unless the hose is pulling out of the fitting I don't see any point in cutting and refitting. The leak is most likely at the O ring. Try replacing the o ring and check that the two fittings are a good fit. I have a moss killer applicator bottle that is a loose fit in any of my hose fittings and tends to just pop out. Usually just sticking with the same brand for both sides works.

mdf

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#2574616 26-Sep-2020 10:57

If the fittings are old(ish) you might be able to fix the issue just by getting new fittings. IME the plastic grips will fatigue over time and not grip as well.

If you don't need to change fittings and want the rolls royce option, look up a hose barb fitting - the barb fits inside the hose and you use a hose clamp to secure it. I haven't seen these for a while at bunnings (my local simplified its hose range a while back for some reason) so you might need to try a garden centre or irrigation specialist. Hose clamps you can get everywhere though.

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#2574620 26-Sep-2020 11:29

+1 for barb fittings. I've given up buying 'quality' hoses. They don't seem to last no matter how kink proof and UV stable the packaging claims them to be.

About a year ago, I purchased cheap hose from Mitre10, cheap 'brass' quick connects from AliExpress with barb fittings, and secured them to the hose using stainless steel wire and a Clamptite tool. No leaks so far.

timmmay

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#2574647 26-Sep-2020 13:03

Thanks for the thoughts everyone.

I had Neta brass fittings including high flow nozzle years ago and they worked really well, but they don't seem to be stocked anywhere now, and they wore out over time. I replace my fittings every 6 - 12 months so it's not age. I don't mind spending money on quality, they work better and you tend to pay less overall. The gardina hoses do seem good quality, the ones I have are 8 and 10 years old and look almost as good as new.

What seems to happens with the leaks is where the hose clamps to the plastic fitting leaks, as it's just a push in / friction fitting that comes out easily. Sometimes the fittings do blow right off the hose. After 12 - 18 months the hose where the fitting has been clamped gets discolored and becomes less flexible, that's why it's cutting it off.

By barb fitting are we meaning this sort of thing from Holman? Where can I buy them? I found these jobmate ones (hose, tap), but they're a budget brand and I find the quality pretty average generally. Any better ones around?

Given barb they take up space in the pipe do they reduce pressure or flow rate much? I find most hose guns pretty terrible at keeping the flow rate up, Neta was good, Holman pretty good, Gardina pretty poor.

mdf

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#2574651 26-Sep-2020 13:17

Yes that style that you secure with this type of hose clamp: https://www.bunnings.co.nz/kinetic-11-25mm-304-stainless-steel-hose-clamp_p0110737

Tighten with a screwdriver, socket or wrench so plenty of mechanical advantage to get it tight.

I've never noticed a drop in water flow. That said, for high flow applications I tend to use an 18mm hose anyway. Difference v 12mm is surprising.

timmmay

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#2574654 26-Sep-2020 13:37

Great. I'll just find some decent quality ones then, I've emailed Holman to see if they're sold in NZ. Might end up with jobmate fittings as they have house and hose ends.

I didn't know even know 18mm hose was an option! Looks like it'd cost $100 for a hose, probably the same again for a decent reel, then all new fittings, connectors, guns, etc. Not sure it's worthwhile for me, but interesting thanks MDF.

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Wakrak

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#2574655 26-Sep-2020 13:43

Would thread tape help?

richms

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#2574656 26-Sep-2020 13:44

The only fittings I have problems with are the $2 sets and similar clones of the antique gardena ones from bunnings, all the others will last at least as long as the hose with no leaking other than when the threaded part comes unscrewed from the tap. Ones that do leak its come damage or crud on the O ring, and cleaning or replacing that sorts it out. Seems that some do go bad really quickly in the sun.

Last few have been nylex ones, cant remember if they were bunnings or mitre10 but seem fine.

One thing to always do is let the pressure out of the hose when you turn the tap off, otherwise when the hose heats up there is nowhere for it to go to, So I open one of the taps of the 4 way manifold on the tap when I have turned the tap off to let the pressure out of all the other connected hoses.

Richard rich.ms

timmmay

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#2574657 26-Sep-2020 13:59

Wakrak:
Would thread tape help?

Not sure, but don't think so given where mine leak. I have thread tape, will have a look / try some time.

timmmay

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#2574701 26-Sep-2020 16:46

I happened to be at M10 so I got a couple of the jobmate barb connectors. The tap one took a couple of goes to get on properly, and you have to tighten both really tight. Once on properly they seem better than the plastic ones, not perfect, but an improvement. I'll see if I can get some better quality ones at some point, that should solve the problem.

Thanks all :)

FineWine

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#2574702 26-Sep-2020 17:08

I have had the same Nylex kink resistant hose and Neta brass fittings (tap swivel connector to Gardena reel and to Nylex hose) for 25 years except at the gun end where I use Gardena inline control valve and at the house tap end I use a Gardena swivel tap connector. Those I have had for 10 years and I just last fortnight replaced the Gardena inline control valve from their new range of which seems better constructed and different plastic. The valve tap perished. I have two systems - front and back of house. With the Nylex hose I say i have had my monies worth - 25 years.

The Gardena inline control valve is great for controlling water pressure when spray mixing/atomising liquid fertiliser.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

elpenguino

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#2574751 26-Sep-2020 19:42

Sounds like some hoses are left in the sun. UV is death for plastics, so if at all possible keep your hose in the shade.

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Senecio

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#2574764 26-Sep-2020 22:00

I’ve used Gardena plastic fitting for over 20yrs. When correctly fitted they’ve never leaked. They eventually break down I’d the sun but the shouldn’t happen for 5+ years.

Paul1977

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#2574765 26-Sep-2020 22:03

timmmay:

What seems to happens with the leaks is where the hose clamps to the plastic fitting leaks, as it's just a push in / friction fitting that comes out easily. Sometimes the fittings do blow right off the hose. After 12 - 18 months the hose where the fitting has been clamped gets discolored and becomes less flexible, that's why it's cutting it off.

I've never had that. Once I've pushed them in as far as they'll go onto the hose then screwed the base on nice and tight I've never had one come off or leak from that part. I've only ever had leaks from where the fittings click together or from where plastic fittings have cracked, and then only with non-brass fittings.

You shouldn't have to be replacing the fittings every 6 to 12 months.

Do you have particularly high water pressure? Do you turn off the tap after use and depressurise the hose?

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