A good garden hose
can cost you as much as $40, but that money is well spent. Unlike the
cheap, promotional garden hoses you’ll find in the bargain aisle of the
local big box store, high quality garden hoses can last 10 years or
longer in regular use, as long as you care for them properly. While the
type of hose can make a difference in the specifics, there are some
general rules of care you should follow for any type of garden hose.
Garden Hose Storage
The
single most important thing you can do to preserve the life of your
garden hose is to store it properly, both from day to day during the
season and over the winter. Whether you’re using a ½-inch garden hose
for watering your garden or a 1-inch water hose for pressure washing or
other heavy duty applications, storing it properly will keep it out of
harm’s way and prevent many of the problems that can cause garden hoses
to split, break or wear out.
Invest in a Garden Hose Reel
When
it’s not in use, store your hose on an appropriately-sized garden hose
reel. Coiling a hose on a reel will get it up off the ground and out of
the way of many hazards. When your garden hose is coiled up on a reel,
it’s pretty near impossible to run over it with your lawn mower, for
example. While you could coil your hose on the ground beneath the water
spigot, a garden hose reel gets it out of contact with the ground and
insects that could crawl into it or damage it. An additional factor that
often goes without saying is that when you reel in your garden hose on a
standing garden hose reel, the hose will naturally empty itself of any
standing water.
Storing Your Garden hose for the Winter
Most
garden hoses are not meant to be left outside through the winter or to
be kept in a below-freezing environment. Freezing and thawing of the
rubber or vinyl can weaken the structure of the material and make your
garden hose more prone to splitting or breaking. If you use a hose
throughout the winter,
invest the extra cash in a heated garden hose which is rated for use in
the temperature range of your region. Otherwise, drain the garden hose
completely and coil it into a loose coil at the end of the season, and
store it in an indoor location that won’t go much below freezing.
In the spring, check the connections around the garden hose fittings for wear and replace them if necessary.
Caring for your garden hose will extend its life and save you money in the long run. Store it properly on a garden hose reel and put it away for the winter to keep it in good repair.
