Goodbye kinked hoses
We’ve all been there: you’re ready to tackle the big task of watering the whole garden only to find out when you turn the tap on, there are a few kinks in the hose. No matter how expensive your hose is or whether it bears the optimistic “kink-free” label, if we don’t treat our hoses correctly, they will kink. Sometimes a good old yank can set the hose free but more often than not, we have to retrace our steps, find the kink, straighten it out and start again.
Why hoses kink
Hoses kink because they’ve been stored rolled or looped up in a tight coil. Old, rigid hoses are also more likely to kink. A kinked hose can lead to cracks and leaks, as well as impede the flow of water from the tap which has led many a hose to burst apart from the tap. More expensive hoses are generally thicker so less likely to bend but you can ensure a permanent kink-free hose if we store it properly. Here’s what to do:
- Don’t store hoses in a reel or wind it up tightly. Keep the hose straight when not in use. Stretch it along the path, edge of lawn or perimeter of patio and then loop the end back to the tap.
- If you prefer to keep your hose out of sight, look for a bracket that stores the hose in large loose loops. Wound up hoses can be straightened by lying them out in the sun before they are used.
- Spiral hoses don’t kink and are a great option for those with small gardens as they are easy to store and carry around but aren’t very long.
- When looking to buy a new hose, coil about two rulers back on itself and bend the hose at a 90 degree angle to see if it kinks. Generally, the thicker the hose, the less likely it is to kick. Reinforced hoses made with a thermo plastic rubber outer case are built to last and resist kinking, although more expensive.
Related links:
8 money-saving landscaping tips
8 great uses for Epsom salt in the garden
7 ways to make sure your garden is eco-friendly