Introduction: Garden Hose Repair
I know that garden hoses are not that expensive but I can't bring myself to go out and buy a new one when I can fix the one I have. Either end or middle of a garden hose can be replace. This instructable will go through how to replace the end of a garden hose.
You will need:
Broken garden hose 5/8"
Replacement end (male in this case 5/8")
Hose clamp
Utility knife (or some other thing that will cut the hose)
Screwdriver
Step 1: Examine Hose and Cut
When you find that your garden hose has gone bad, check to see if where you found the problem is the only place. In my case, there were there place near the end, the rest of the hose was still good. If there are several bad places along the entire length of the hose, then maybe it is time to go get a new hose.
After the third place at the end were the hose is going bad is where I am going to make my cut. I cut the hose a couple inches back from the last bad spot to insure is will be working with good hose.
Step 2: Put the Hose Clamp On
After you have cut the hose, you can put the hose clamp on the good part of the hose.
Step 3: Insert New End and Clamp
Insert the new male end into the hose. You should be able to push the new end into the hose by hand. Once it is all the way in, secure with the hose clamp. The new end should stay in place without the clamp. At least until you put pressure behind it. If the new end falls out, you have the wrong size piece or your hose is worse off that you thought.
Step 4: Done!
You are now done with the repair. The hose should be ready for use.
Typical garden hose comes in two sizes 5/8" and 1/2". Most longer hoses are the 5/8" type. The 1/2" hose is usually a shorter hose. If you are not sure which size your hose is, get replacement parts for both sizes and then return the one that is the wrong size.
If you have an area in the middle of the hose that needs to be repaired, you get two hose clamps and they make a piece that repair
23 Comments
6 years ago
I have a hose with ridges on the inside. I tried this method but it still leaks. Do you have any tips for me?
Reply 6 years ago
If it is the female end, make sure the washer is in good condition. The best tips I have if it is leaking at your connection is to insure your cut is as square to the hose as you can make it and tighten the hose clap as tight as you can.
I am unfamiliar with a hose with ridges on the inside. If they are going around the inside of the hose vs. going lengthwise, I would try cutting your hose right before or part way into a ridge where it makes your inside diameter the smallest.
I hope this helps.
9 years ago on Introduction
FYI, in regards to hose durability, water pressure and the surge of pressure is an important factor, and different hoses are rated for differing pressures. Sudden rather than gradual valve opening, yanking and puling while under pressure, and abrupt high volume to no volume discharge can all cause significant stress
13 years ago on Introduction
What about using a bicycle inner tube,l cut them up to form bandages wrap one around the hose a few times,tuck the end in and bob's your uncle.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Love your answer, love love love!! Bob's your uncle indeed!
10 years ago on Introduction
When done correctly, they leak about the same as a factory connector. There are different types of connectors you can get. I like this old school kind. They don't cost as much and are a little harder to put on. Some of the new ones are very easy to install but are plastic and don't last as long.
13 years ago on Introduction
if you cant get the new end peice on put the hose into hot water for a minute of two then it goes fight on :)
13 years ago on Introduction
My way is very similar but i dont use Brass connectors.
I put one piece of pipe on the Gas hob (or lighter) and i melt the end a bit and it Expands therefore so You slot it over the other pipe and put a hose clamp on it
13 years ago on Introduction
Personally I prefer hose end or splice fittings that don't require this sort of hose clamp. A clamp that is always getting hooked on something when you drag the hose around. Most hose repairs that aren't jury rigged should be a strong as the hose, so I really don't know why one commentor had problems with the repair ends blowing out. I'm rural so I leave my water hose out all year long in case of fire. Call 911 first, and to what I can to mitigate the situation until the FD gets here. A new hose every few years isn't going to break me, but just may save me money. Fortunately I have never had to put the plan to a test.
13 years ago on Step 4
That's cool... we just keep cutting our hose... never knew you could replace the tips.
What about leaks? is this method leak proof? can i attach garden tools to the end and not have water squirted back at me?
Reply 13 years ago on Step 4
Leak "proof"? ;-) Nothing is leak proof but a replacement end will work as well as a factory original if you put in on correctly. Besides, I like a little spray back on a hot summer day.
Make sure the washer in the female end is good. That will help keep a good connection. That is true for a replacement end or an original. Washers will get hard over time an not seal as well as when they were new. You can purchase a sheet of new garden hose washers and the hardware store for cheap.
When replacing an end to your hose or splicing up the middle, make sure to tighten the hose clamp tightly. That will help keep the water going through the hose and not coming out of your repair.
13 years ago on Introduction
This works great for damage-related failures near the end of the hose, but for a really old hose (assuming you don't have the Sears guarantee solution), you might end up sharing my experience... fixes to a very old sun-damaged hose simply exposed more failures and damage,... more and more hose is lost reaching the next supposed solid portion before the pressure reveals another weak spot.
Such hoses, unfortunately, are lost. Think about this before buying your second hose clamp, male or female replacement end, etc.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Good points. Some of my repairs are due to age and when the hose gets too many failure spots, it is time to replace. And I reclaim the connectors so I can use them again. I did have an incident with my 52" mower not going over the hose as it usually did. This time it picked it up and started to munch on it. I lost about 6 feet of hose but was able to splice the rest back together.
13 years ago on Step 4
you could just use a small (1" - 2") piece of 15mm copper pipe and two jubilee clips and only waste the bit of hose where the kink is.
13 years ago on Introduction
Use it up.
Wear it out.
Make it do or,
Do without.
From a friend whose Irish mother pounded this into her kid's brains. All of them became very frugal and very wealthy adults.
www.theruralindependent.com/
16 years ago on Introduction
The last hose I bought was in about 1985. It was then that I discovered the lifetime-guaranteed hoses at Sears. When my dog bites a hole in it, or I drive over it on my stone driveway, or whatever (which seems to be about once every other year), I return it and get a new one - no questions asked.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Lifetime guarantee?! Damn I wish I could find that in the UK - my dog seems to think that my garden hoses were 'stick-on-a-roll' and delights in biting out sections whenever I forget to put it away. :-(
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
I like the sound of that! Lifetime-Guarantee... I am thinking that my next garden hose will have that. Than you for the tip.
14 years ago on Introduction
this reminds me of when i was a truck driver and used to take tie down ropes and tie them together over and over again until i just had a chain of square knots. before you know it you'll have a brass hose!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Interesting thought. I'm not sure how well that would roll up on the hose real but I bet the women would love it!