Garden hoses go through a lot. They are used all the time, under extreme weather conditions and in the sunlight that damages the hose over the course of the time. In addition to that, the water pressure also damages the hose. When the end of a hose breaks, you don’t need to throw the whole hose away.
Instead, you can fix it quite easily. This article will look into how you can repair the broken female end of a hose. A male adapter has the threading on the outside of the hose fitting while a female adapter has the threading on the inside of the hose fittings. The female end screws directly on to the tap. Moreover, you will be aware of some maintenance tips for more longevity of the hose.
What is the female end of a garden hose?
As mentioned before, the female end of a garden hose has the threading on the inside of the hose fittings. That is, the it has internal threads while male adapters have external threads. They are usually made from brass and they are typically used for pressurized flow of water.
Why female end of a garden hose may break down?
Although there are several different factors that can cause rips or tears to the hose, there are a few factors that can damage the end of hose. The end of a hose usually gets broken due to excessive pressure from the flow of water. But the end may break down due to poor workmanship, application and carelessness during installation. In addition to that, any accident may happen and the end of the hose may break down due to an impact with another equipment or object.
How To Measure The Size of a Hose
It is important to choose the right size of hose to repair. If you choose the wrong sized fittings, the hose itself can get damaged and you may need to get a completely new one. So, knowing the measurements of all fittings for a hose is important. Measuring the size of a hose is fairly simple and easy. You can use a simple ruler or vernier calipers to measure the diameter of the hose. Conventionally, the internal diameter is measured, but sometimes, the external diameter is considered.
How To Fix The Female end of a Hose
It is important that you choose the right size of hose to repair the damaged part. Usually, garden hoses are 5/8 inch or 3/4 inch, but some are 1/2 inch as well. Then you need to choose which type of material the parts are made of. Heavy duty materials like brass are thicker. Hence, lightweight materials, like plastic, although cheaper, may not work out for you. You will also need to choose a hose repair kit. Get one that fits the size of the female end hose, clamps tightly and doesn’t break down easily.
For the repairing process, you need to follow the following steps:
- Use a knife, scissor, or pruners to make a clean cut at the end of the hose
- Carefully put the clamp at the end of the hose
- Insert the other part in the hose. If it doesn’t fit in easily, soak the end of the hose in boiling water for a while. Do it safely. You can use other tools to handle the hose here. This will allow the hose to soften up and expand. So, you can insert the hose end fitting more easily.
- Move the clamp to the end of the hose and tighten it in the end
- Get some electrical tape and wrap it around it. Do not use duct tape as they aren’t made for such repairs.
There are both plastic and metal connectors. Plastic connectors are usually cheaper, and lightweight. You should use them if you want to use the hose for short term before getting a better hose. Metal connectors, like brass made ones, are much more durable.
They provide a long-term fix and hence, they are usually the preferred option. However, the metal connectors are expensive and they weigh a lot more compared to plastic connectors.
Maintenance tips
Always make sure that the water pressure is controlled. This is one of the main reasons for a damaged hose. Be careful during installation, and application. Do not keep your hose folded and twisted on the ground. Don’t step on the hose or the connector.
Always store the hose in a container and keep it away from the sunlight. Extreme temperatures and sunlight can damage a hose over the course of time. There aren’t a lot of things you need to worry about. Just be careful yourself and take care of your equipment. You will find that your hose will last for years when you are just a little bit more alert when gardening.
In conclusion
your hose end may break down at any time due to an accident or it may get damaged over years of use. So, be careful when you are using the hose. In case your hose end breaks, this article has all the steps you need to know in order to fix your hose. Make sure that you measure the size of the hose end and get the right sized fittings.
Be careful when working as some of the steps involve using a knife or soaking the end of your hose in boiling water. Follow the maintenance tips to increase the longevity of the hose. It is easy to lose yourself when gardening, but staying a little bit alert will make sure that you have a hose that will last for years to come. Thank you!