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Why You Should Use a Flat Water Hose

A water hose is a hollow tube that is designed to carry fluids from the source to the preferred destination. Call a hose a pipe and you may not be wrong because both have an empty cavity inside and are cylindrical in shape. However, pipes are rigid, while hoses are flexible – this is the major difference between the two. 

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The designs of water hoses are based on several factors such as pressure rating, weight, length, size, etc. These factors ensure that the hose is suitable for the purpose of which it was designed. 

Water hoses are designed with variety of materials, such as nylon, rubber, polyethylene, PVC and more recently, Teflon. Each type of material has its advantages and serves its application purpose. 

Differences Between a Water Hose and a Garden Hose 

There is a common misconception about water hoses being garden hoses. While this may be true to a extent, it should be utterly disregarded. As the name implies, a garden hose specifically directs water from the source to its desired location, usually within the garden. In other words, a garden rose specifically runs water into the garden and may not be used for other purposes. A water hose, on the other hand is more sophisticated and can be used for a variety of purposes due to the sturdy materials used in designing them. Water hoses are fantastic options for construction purposes, fill up and empty pools, used in high-level irrigation, and used in septic system. 

A garden hose has an attachment at the very end, such as sprinklers which spread water over a large area and a spigot, which the other end attaches to. They are used for watering lawns, and can be used outdoors for cleaning vehicles. Some garden hoses are approved for use in the home for connecting drinkable water to trailers. 

Although, some water hoses can be used in the garden, garden hoses do not come under water hoses. 

That brings us to what flat water hoses are and why you should use them.

What Is a Flat Water Hose? 

A flat water hose is simply a flat hose. This kind of hose only inflates when water pass through it. It is lightweight, which makes it easy to carry it about. 

A flat water hose comes in various sizes and have many uses. For example, a flat water hose can be used on the garden for watering the lawn. Other uses include washing the vehicle, equipment, cleaning the balcony, etc. 

Materials Used for Making a Flat Water Hose

Most flat water hoses are made of vinyl – and this is among the materials that are used for making garden hoses. 

The good thing about flat hoses made with vinyl materials is that it is less expensive and lightweight. It’s highly flexible, which makes it easy to roll up. This results to taking less space than other hoses in the market. They are also durable. 

However, vinyl hoses are prone to kinking and splitting because of their high flexibility. They can also degrade fast if exposed to the sun. They can also be difficult to store, especially without a hose reel. Also, before turning in the water, you have to unroll it. Unlike others that unroll itself when water is turned on. 

Another material that is commonly used for making a flat after hose is polyurethane liner. This material is more expensive than vinyl because the liner is used in the outer layers of the hose. However, they lead to fewer kinking and have high durability, compared to vinyl materials. 

So Why Should You Use a Flat Water Hose? 

Flat water hoses retain less water. This is because it has the capability to self-drain. When exposed to the sun, the water in the hose dries up – and since it self-drains, the chances of freezing or cracking is eliminated. That actually means that you can store it for a long time. 

The fact that it is low weight and stores about the same amount of water as other hoses makes it an incredible hose option. Being lightweight means that the hose is easy to transport – not forgetting that it’s easy to roll up because of its flexibility. That means you can carry a gargantuan length of one and won’t feel your back cracking or breaking like most traditional hoses. 

If you purchase a flat water hose that combines vinyl and polyurethane materials, you are sure of your hose not kinking all the time. 

How to Install a Flat Water Hose and Connect it to a Tap

For you to correctly install and connect a water hose to its water source, you will need some hose accessories or hose fittings. Water hose fittings are important accessories that can come with the hose or bought separately. These accessories are required for the proper functioning of the hose. These fittings include:

  1. Faucets 
  2. Heads 
  3. Sprinklers 
  4. Hose connectors 
  5. Water stop hose connectors 
  6. Double male connectors 
  7. Y-hose connectors. 

Hose fittings can be made of materials such as brass, plastics, rubber, etc. Brass hose fittings are more widely used than others because of their durability and ease of use. 

What is the Ideal Size of a Water Hose Connector? 

Water hose connectors can come in sizes ranging from 3/8 to ¾ inch in diameters. Here is the thing – the larger the size of the water hose, the more volume of water it delivers, but at reduced pressure. 

A Hose connector 

These connectors are necessary to deliver water from the spigot to the garden. They are attached to the faucet as well. 

To determine the accurate size of the connector, use a tape to measure the inside from one side of the wall to the other end. Don’t measure the outside of the wall as the diameter is too large for that.

Water fitting 

Most water taps in the USA are made with ¾ inch GHT thread size. GHT (Garden Hose Thread) is a standard measurement used to determine thread sizes. Follow these steps to connect your hose to the tap. 

  1. Fit a ¾ – inch female connector to the hose. 
  2. Use a hose clip to hold the connector in place to avoid pressure forcing it out when in use. 
  3. Turn on your water tap. 

You need a hose connector at one end and a water stop hose at the other end of the hose. 

How to Store a Flat Water Hose on a Reel

For better storage, flat water hoses come with reels (not all flat water hose come with a reel). If yours doesn’t come with a reel, you can get it at hardware stores. The reel is an essential accessory that can help you save more space and store your hose easily. 

Hose reel

Flat water hoses are not that cheap, so you need to protect it the best possible way you can. The best way to protect your property is by neatly coiling it on a hose reel. 

Are there any advantages of storing a flat water hose in a hose reel? The simple answer is yes! Hose reels protect your water hose from sunlight, which can make it dry and crack the vinyl design. It also keeps your hose from kinking, and protect it from abrasions. 

However, storing your water hose on a reel doesn’t prevent it from eventual replacement, when it begins to show signs of leaks. When this happens, there is every possibility that your hose has developed cracks, or the connectors are not sealed properly. At this point, your best bet should be to replace it. You can repair the hose if you wish but it will only last temporarily. 

The following steps will enable you to store your water hose in a reel successfully. 

  1. Unpack your new hose and flatten it out to eliminate all bends. This is the best time to dry it under the sun, so that the hose will soften. Being soft will make the hose easy to wind on the reel.
  2. If you are using an existing reel, and it’s faulty, this is also the best time where you should replace it. 
  3. On the female end of the water hose, insert the vinyl washer into the bottom of the hose. This will ensure that the hose is watertight and won’t give way to any leak. 
  4. Attach the female end of the hose to the water coupling on the inner drum of the hose reel. Make sure it’s tight, but no so much so as not to damage it. You can tighten with a channel-type plier for more effectiveness. 
  5. Start to wind the hose onto the circular drum of the reel. Keep winding the reel handle in a clockwise direction until you achieve an even coil. 
  6. It might be painful winding a lengthy hose on a reel. To ease your pain, grasp the hose with one hand and use the other hand to turn the reel handle. 
  7. After you are done winding, inspect the feeder hose and the faucet spigot to ensure that there are no cracks or kinks. 
  8. Inspect the washers as well and make sure that they are in good shape and well tighten. 

How to Disconnect an Old Hose From the Hose Reel

  1. First of all, you need to disconnect the hose reel from the spigot. If it has a vacuum breaker, be careful when disconnecting. 
  2. Move the hose reel to somewhere near the lawn. This is to avoid leftover water forcefully coming out from hose and creating problems when you remove the hose. 
  3. Disconnect the hose from the water coupling. The water coupling should be visible on the inner drum by now. You can either disconnect by hand or use a plier. 

How to Clean a Flat Water Hose 

Occasionally, it’s vital that you clean up your water hose, especially after you have used it for a very long time. Dirt and debris may accumulate inside and if you don’t wash it away, it will mix with the water. 

Follow these steps to clean your flat water hose:

  1. Remove the water hose’s cap at the end of the hose. 
  2. Turn on the faucet that is attached at the other end of the hose. Allow to run for 6 – 10 minutes to wash away debris and dirt that may have accumulated in the hose. 
  3. Turn off the faucet and replace the cap at the first end. 
  4. You can now turn on the water faucet back. 
  5. When not in use, disconnect the water hose from the faucet. Use an end cap to cover the ends of the hose. 

Flat Water Hose Vs Other Types of Water Hoses

Apart from the flat water hose, there are other types of water hoses available. We shall compare the flat water hose to other types of water hoses to see how the flat water hose would fare. 

Coiled Hoses 

Coiled hoses pull together in a spiral form when not in use and pull out when it’s ready for use. Most coiled hoses come in lengths such as 15-foot and 25-foot length. 

Diameter is a factor that determines how functional a coiled hose is. A coiled hose with a small diameter of ½ will have low water flow and pressure. 

Because of the coils, coiled hoses don’t stretch at full length as opined by many people. For example, you would expect a 15-foot coiled hose to stretch to about 20 – 25-foot, but that’s not the case. A 15-foot coiled hose may not stretch beyond 15 feet. 

Like the flat water hose, you can’t store a coiled hose easily, especially without a hose reel. If you place it in a storage bin or in a basket, they can quickly tangle and it would take you some time to untangle them. It’s best you store them on the stand-up hangers. 

Soaker Hoses

Most times, soaker hoses are used in the garden, hence, they are called garden hoses. They are often made of recycled rubber and plastics because they are porous in nature. These types of hoses seeps water along its length into the surroundings. 

Unlike flat water hoses, soaker hoses are laid preferably under a layer of mulch to curb evaporation during summer periods. 

This type of hose is best used in the garden because of its porous nature. Unlike flat water hoses, soaker hose doesn’t work with high pressure water or water with high PSI. The hose can burst up in the process unless you use one with a large diameter. That way it can handle high pressure water. 

Also, soaker hoses are not flexible, especially the ones with ¾-inch diameters. Not being flexible means that it’s difficult roll them up.  

Expandable Hoses 

Unlike coiled hoses, this type of hose can expand three times its length. Like the flat water hose, it’s lightweight and have enough water flow for a ½ inch diameter. 

The issue here is when you use them over time, they tend to stop contracting correctly – which means that you will find yourself in a difficult situation trying to store. They are also not durable, compared to flat water hoses. 

Because of the non-reinforced inner tube, expandable Hoses can rupture due to their thin nature of exposed in the sun. Like the flat water hoses, they are flexible and lightweight. 

Drinking Water Safe Hoses 

For healthy purposes, this type of hose is mostly used in the home. This type of hose doesn’t leach chemicals and are made with plastic materials that are BPA-free, Lead free, and phthalate-free. 

Like flat water hoses, these types of hoses are lightweight and suitable for easy transportation. 

Heavy-duty Water Hoses 

As the name implies, heavy-duty water hoses are tough hoses that are used in fire service stations and in construction. They are made of mostly rubber materials that ensures it’s flexibility, lightweight, and toughness. 

Rubber hoses are the strongest of all hoses and even the most durable of them all. They are less likely to kink and are resistant to cracking and freezing. However, they are expensive. Since flat water hoses are made of vinyl, they can’t be used for heavy duty and complex purposes. 

Conclusion

There are many advantages of flat water hoses as there are the disadvantages. Despite being degradable, using it can make your life and work much easier. They are easy to transport, takes up less storage while storing, lightweight, and more durable than traditional and garden hoses. If you need something tough to handle your irrigation problems and industrial applications, a flat water hose is the hose to definitely go for. These and many more are the reasons why you should use a flat water hose. 

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