A leaky hose is easy to spot. You’ll see a big squirt of water shooting out of your hose, or you’ll notice that there isn’t a lot of water that’s coming out at the end. The good news is that you don’t need to buy an entirely new hose. Fixing a leaky garden hose is easy, cheap, and anyone can do it. You’ll have all the water pressure back in your hose in no time. Here’s how to fix a leaky hose and some helpful tips to know.
How to Fix a Leaky Hose
Small Leaks
What Causes Small Leaks?
Usually, small leaks are in the hose itself, caused by a hole or a tear. This can happen if you don’t put your hose away properly for Winter. Water that is leftover inside the hose will freeze and damage it. That’s why it’s important to put your hose away for the Winter and to make sure that all the water is drained from it. There’s a possibility that your hose will tear even if you put it away for the Winter. Old hoses get more fragile from age and from sitting in the sun. Over time, the hose will become weak and could rip.
Fixing Small Leaks
Small hose leaks are the easiest to repair! Use some electrical tape if you’ve got some lying around, people usually do. It works great on hoses. Make sure that your hose is clean and dry before you put tape on it. The tape will not stick to any dirty or wet surfaces. It’s also important to wrap the tape around the hose several times. A small piece of tape over the hole isn’t sufficient, it’ll just pop off. The tape is very secure and won’t go anywhere if you wrap it around the hose, be sure not to wrap it too tight. You wouldn’t want to slow down the flow of water because you wrapped the tape too tightly. There’s also special hose repair tape that is available on the market. That will work great as well. Then you’re all done! You’ve successfully fixed a leaky hose.
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Large Leaks
What Causes Large Leaks?
Large leaks are usually from sudden damage to the hose. Most likely, this means someone accidentally ran over a section of it with a lawnmower. A large leak can also be caused by freezing temperatures. Ice expands and it can tear a giant hole in hoses. Don’t worry, this is still fixable. It’ll just take more than a little piece of tape.
Fixing Large Leaks
It takes a couple of steps to fix large leaks, but it’s still a relatively simple process.
Step 1
Cut out the damaged section of the hose. Use a utility knife or something that has a really sharp blade. The blade needs to be really sharp because the edges need to be even and straight. There shouldn’t be any fraying or uneven edges.
Step 2
Next you’ll need to buy a replacement coupler. This is what’s going to connect your hose together again. Take the removed section of the hose with you to the home improvement or garden store. This will help store assistants help you find the right coupling for your hose.
Step 3
Then loosen the screws on the replacement coupling. This will allow you to fit the coupling onto the hose. Put both ends of the hose onto the coupling so that it is now connected together.
Step 4
Now tighten the screws onto the ends of the hose. This secures the coupling into place because it tightens the screws against the hose making sure no water escapes.
Step 5
Lastly, you’ll need to test your work to see if you’ve done a good job. Turn on the water to see if there are any leaks. Tighten the screws more if you see some water coming out. Usually all it needs is to be tightened. Hopefully you’ve done it correctly and your hose is now repaired!
Leaky Spigots
There’s probably a leak in your spigot if you don’t have good water pressure but the hose looks good. Again, this is a simple fix and it only takes minutes. Most of the time all a leaky spigot requires is a new washer. Just replace the washer and your spigot should be as good as new. You might need a new coupling if you still notice a leak. Call a plumber if the job becomes a little too complicated for you.
Image Source: Backyard Boss
How to Prevent a Leaky Hose
There are lots of things you can do to prevent a leaky hose. We’ve already gone over some, but here are a couple more to help keep your hose in good shape.
Winter Storage
This has been mentioned but it’s important so it’ll be mentioned again. Put your hose away for the Winter. Water that is left inside your hose over the Winter will make holes and tears inside your hose. You’d be buying a new hose every Spring if you left it out every Winter.
Keep the Hose Out of the Sun
UV rays are harmful to hoses. They break down the hose material and make it brittle and weak. It’s best to put your hose in the shade during the Summer because it keeps your hose out of the harmful sun. This will help keep the materials strong.
Drain the WaterÂ
Drain the water out of your hose so that water doesn’t just sit inside it. Put the hose over your shoulder to let all the water run out of the end. Sitting water is dangerous because it could freeze or cause damaging mildew if it’s left inside the hose for too long. It’s easy to drain the hose after you use it, and it’s really important so don’t forget about it!
Coil Your Hose
A coiled hose will stay in good shape because it prevents any kinks that make tears. Don’t just keep your hose in a tangled ball. Coil the hose by hand and wrap it up nicely, or use a hose reel to make the job a whole lot easier.
Summing Up
It’s easy to fix a leaky hose! Of course, it depends on the size and severity of the leak but overall it’s a simple job. Most leaks are fixed with some tape, but there are some that might require a bit more work. Don’t let DIY fixes scare you, they’re usually easier than they look. You’ll be able to save money by fixing a good hose with a small leak, rather than buying an entirely new hose. Plus you’ll feel glad that you were able to fix something with your own two hands.
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