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| I've never noticed before that there are different sizes of hoses - 1/2", 3/4", 5/8", etc. The 1/2" are cheaper, but I don't want to spend $30 on a hose and then wish I had gotten something different.
What makes one size preferable over another? Also - a 50 foot is definitely too short. I'm trying to decide between 75 foot and 100. Any thoughts? Deanna |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, May 27, 12 at 14:29
| i see you are fixated on hose today.. lol no 100 footer.. you will regret how heavy it is to lug around.. if you need 100 feet.. get two 50's ... gives you many more options .... width is a function of pressure .. are you well or city water .. the thinner the hose.. the more pressure it takes to move the water over distance .. because of the resistance of the hose wall .. so at 100 feet.. a wider hose itself might be better .. i had a post.. about an option to long hoses.. and the title is escaping me right now.. if and when i think of it.. or someone else knows which.. i will link it for you the only dumb question.. is the UNasked question.. in my book ... ken |
Here is a link that might be useful: cant believe i found it
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- Posted by gardenfanatic MO zone5b (My Page) on Sun, May 27, 12 at 14:56
| I'm on city water. And you're right, I'm fixated on the whole watering thing cuz I know it's going to be a bad summer, and I'm trying to get it all figured out before everything is wilted and dying! I do remember that post. Not being a handy(wo)man, that system isn't a viable option for me. I recall mentioning something about you coming to Missouri to rig it up for me? lol Deanna |
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- Posted by Bumblebeez z7b Seneca SC (My Page) on Sun, May 27, 12 at 16:42
| I would get two fifty foot hoses too and get the ones that say most durable. Don't get anything that says light or middle weight. I stupidly bought one of those earlier this spring and returned it the next day and that was a hassle. Just dragging it on the driveway wore holes in it immediately and it sprang water the first time I used it. Total junk. It was middle weight. The hose I ended up buying was about $35-$40 and I looked at a lot of hoses first. You have to pay a certain amount to get something that will last. I also have a bunch of hoses that have lasted but, uhmmm, I have ruined a few by driving on them and crushing the brass part. Don't do that. |
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- Posted by gardenweed_z6a CT (My Page) on Sun, May 27, 12 at 17:40
| I always go with 5/8" because I want the most water at the fastest rate to minimize watering time. Fifty feet is the best for my needs as well since I try to use well water as efficiently as possible plus my hose reel won't hold more than that. I place recycled milk & cat litter jugs as close to the base of my plants as possible, then fill them with water. The jugs have a pinhole--just a push pin--an inch from the bottom where the water comes out in a thin stream right at the base of the plant so none is wasted on foliage or mulch. Plants get a good, gentle soaking and the water that remains in the jug once the level falls below the pinhole keeps the jugs from blowing around if it's windy. It may not be aesthetically pleasing but it's my poor man's irrigation system--it kept all my perennials alive through the 2010 drought. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, May 27, 12 at 18:31
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| Actually, I would recommend Craftsman brand hoses from Sears. Most of them, except for some of the cheaper vinyl ones, carry a lifetime warranty for residential use, so if they go bad, just take back to Sears for a free replacement (assuming, of course, Sears and their Craftsman brand continue to exist in the future, not a sure thing at all at this time). |
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| How big is your lot? It partly depends on how far you have to stretch them and how strong you are to lug them around. My hoses are all 5/8 inch. I have two 75 foot hoses and one 100. This lot is shaped like a long rectangle, and I sometimes burn brush in the way back and need about 175-200 ft of hose to reach there. The 75 footers more or less reach the front corners, but they can be put together for extra reach. The 75 footers are vinyl (plastic?) and the 100 foot is rubber. I like rubber better, it's more flexible, but it's a little heavier. But the black rubber kind of rubs off on your hands. The longer hoses aren't that heavy to move around if the water pressure is released and they drain. If you're having a dry spell, a deep mulch can be really helpful! |
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| I solved the hose problem years ago. I have pipes everywhere with plenty of standpipes and hose bibs. I never need longer than a fifty foot hose. Whenever a grandson visits, I simply mark the spot and take the truck to get the pipe needed. Digging ditches is wonderful exercise for young men. Al |
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- Posted by purpleinopp 8b AL (My Page) on Mon, May 28, 12 at 11:01
| For some reason, the last few hoses I bought didn't have rubber O-rings in them, so you might want to check and grab a pack of them if you are not sure. Sometimes when you connect 2 hoses, 2 rubber rings are needed to get a tight seal. I also think 2 50-ft. hoses are better than 1 100 ft. hose. If something goes wrong, it only happens to half. I think people overlook the importance of storage in regard to longevity of their hoses. When you roll it up, make sure there aren't any kinks or holes which can become more permanent if the hose sits that way for a few days. Those kinks make weak spots which develop into holes. IME, rubber kinks a lot less. About 10 years ago, I got some of those fabric firefighter-type hoses and they were garbage! Don't waste your money on those, unless you get some testimonials from people who have tried them lately. Hopefully they've improved. Mine didn't last a whole season before springing leaks! |
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- Posted by hydrangeasnohio z5b (My Page) on Mon, May 28, 12 at 11:41
| I second the Craftsman hose from Sears. I bought two 50 foot black rubber ones about 9 years ago now. Still work as good as the day I bought them and I use and abuse them. Back then though I think they were $40 a piece. Not cheap, but you will spend more over time buying cheap ones. Let alone the headaches they will cause. |
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- Posted by Bumblebeez z7b Seneca SC (My Page) on Mon, May 28, 12 at 11:58
| The last hose I bought, a few weeks ago, was a flexogen. It was $20 for 75 feet and heavy duty, 5/8" - as all my hoses are. It seems to be a good hose that will last. The $35-40 hose I bought about 6 weeks ago was from Lowes and 100 feet. I don't remember the make but it also seems to be a keeper. In a moment of optimism, I taped the receipts to the cardboard labels to save in case. |
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| Just wanted to add that my 100 foot black rubber hose is a Craftsman hose and it is great! It is much less likely to get those weak kinky spots that the vinyl hoses get. Also it is very durable, and mine is at least 5 years old and still in great shape. Don't know about the Flexagon hoses, they might be good too. But you never really know about a product until it stands the test of time. Also, don't forget to turn the water off and relieve the pressure in the hose when you're not using it because it's not good for the hose. I always drain and bring the hoses in for the winter, but at least one hose stays out a little longer than it probably should through a few freezes. This is because the gutters need their final cleaning after the leaves fall (mid-late November). |
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- Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6a/MA (My Page) on Mon, May 28, 12 at 20:48
| I also have a Craftsman rubber hose and we have had it for a very very long time. I couldn't tell you the length or the diameter, but I have to have at least 100 ft, maybe 150 ft on the back and probably 50ft in the front. It is a heavy hose no doubt about it, but it's better than going to a a gym. (g) And we bought two hose reels that are powered by water at a 50% off sale one fall. I love them. You flip a switch and the hose rewinds itself. We've had them for 2 years and they are still working. The hose(s) itself might be over 20 years old? Never been repaired. There is only one drawback and that is it is black and if it rubs up against a pot or the leg of a chair, it leaves a black mark. So I use a lot of hose guides. But, I would buy them again. You learn how to avoid rubbing against things. |
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| I just wanted to add that if you run over the hose end and bend the brass part or run over the hose with the lawn mower (both of which have happened in my house), you can get replacement ends for hoses. If the hose is in good condition other than the end problem, it's well worth taking the time to do the repair. |
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- Posted by singleton165 z5 NH Seacoast (My Page) on Thu, May 31, 12 at 18:02
| My vote goes for the Craftsman rubber hoses as well, I've had some since the early 90's and they still work great (ugh! Guess I just dated myself!). LOL NHBabs...those replacement ends are great for mistakes, aren't they? Easy to install too. :) Ken, those Flexogen look nice...maybe I'll try one if I ever need a new hose. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Thu, May 31, 12 at 18:26
| i was a craftsman man.. until they closed my sears.. and the closest one is in toledo 45 miles away ... so.. a free replacement.. will cost me more in gas to go get it.. than most of the stuff is worth.. whats that all about ... ken |
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- Posted by kittymoonbeam (My Page) on Thu, Jun 7, 12 at 21:12
| I have a heavy duty hose that connects to a lighter duty hose and it makes it easier for me to move around with it because a 100+ foot heavy duty hose is heavy for me. It saves money too only having to replace the lighter one at the end. The only drawback to the heavy duty hoses are you can do some significant damage to pansies, etc. if you're not careful. |
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- Posted by thisismelissa z4a-S Twin Cities MN (My Page) on Sun, Jun 10, 12 at 1:28
| One thing to consider about hoses is how you'd repair them, if necessary. We have one that's 3/4"... it's a great hose, but our dang tree rats concurred with that and when thirsty, bit in. We wanted to mend the hose... usually easy... but a hose mender was not readily available for that size... only 5/8". Yes, they CLAIM to work with 3/4, but they didn't. |
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- Posted by cearbhaill Zone 6b Eastern KY (My Page) on Sun, Jun 10, 12 at 6:53
| I bought a "Lifetime" hose years ago- can't remember the brand, I'd have to go to my filing cabinet to find out. Point is, we are very heavy hose users and it failed after several years and they replaced it. Then years later the replacement hose failed and they replaced that one as well. It's just a matter of keeping receipts. But now I find myself in need of a lighter weight hose. Anything strong yet lighter? |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, Jun 10, 12 at 10:08
| hey chicken.. have you consider uncoupling them.. and letting them drain.. AND THEN PULLING THEM AROUND ... i fully understand the end of the day exhaustion and lack of clarity of thought ... but really .. water is heavy.. empty the hose.. lol ken |
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| We have the longest length the hose reel will hold. I think that's 120 feet. Dh buys the heavy duty 5/8". I think the current two are Apex Professional. A good hose reel makes all the difference in the world. We have a Liberty and Ames. They're very similar. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Ames wall mounted aluminum hose reel
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| Speaking of uncoupling hoses, who uses those snap in "instant connectors.?" If they work and last, they would also save time and effort in multiple shorter hoses connections. |
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| We have the instant connectors on the hoses, nozzles, and all the sprinklers. No screwing. I love it! |
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| Gee, IMO, uncoupling the hoses and then dragging them around would be even MORE work! I'd rather just put a little more oomph into pulling them all together. But then again, I guess I cheat a bit. I pull the hoses out, drag them where I need them, and just leave them wherever I finish. Why put it back if I only have to drag it out again? Sometimes it does get pulled back and coiled by whoever is mowing the lawn, but then I just pull it out again and leave it. I do have to pull it from one area to the other, but all my gardening areas are far from the house, so I never drag the hose back to the house area; I just leave it near the last bed I was watering. I just make sure to check that no connections are laying in the driveway. DH once drove over a connnection and ruined two hoses in one instant. Dee |
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