Hoses, Nozzles and Hose Accessories

Rubber Hose

• Reinforced with tire cord fiber.
• Resists weathering, cracking and kinks.
• Heaviest and most durable of hoses.
• Use with full-flow couplings.
• Can be used with hot water.

Rubber-Vinyl Hose

• Combines the strength and durability of rubber with the lightness of vinyl.
• Easiest hose to use.
• Reinforced with tire cord fiber.
• The type with an expanded or foamed cover is easy to handle and has better kink resistance.
• The type with an extruded or non-foamed cover had good flexibility and has better abrasion resistance.

Vinyl Hose

• Most common type of hose and functions for most applications.
• Reasonably priced.
• The most common size garden hose sold is 5/8" and 50".
• The two-ply type is typically used as a promotional item and is susceptible to sun damage and deteriorates more rapidly than a rubber hose. It is lightweight and tends to kink easily.
• The non-reinforced vinyl type is adequate for "open service" only, which means it is suitable for use with rotary or oscillating sprinklers, but is not recommended for use with any accessory featuring an integrated shut-off valve.

Flat Hose

• Lies flat until water pressure rounds it into a 5/8" hose. Stores more easily and compactly than a conventional hose.
• Must be completely extended before water will pass through and completely drained before storing.
• Because it is drained after use, it is less susceptible to freezing and cracking and will not wear on edges.
• Weight is one-third that of a conventional hose but delivers same amount of water.
• One type is made with a polyurethane liner and a tightly woven polyester jacket. The liner is bonded to the jacket to reduce kinking and leaking. Another type has a construction similar to a conventional, reinforced vinyl hose.

Soaker Hose

• Uses thousands of tiny holes to allow water to seep out slowly over its entire length.
• Saves water compared to sprinklers.
• May be made of canvas, vinyl, plastic or rubber.
• Can be run on top of the ground, under mulch or buried. If buried, wrap the end of the hose in plastic to prevent dirt clogging it.
• Generally, vinyl and rubber hoses are the most durable because they do not decay when buried.

Coil Hose

• Shaped like a coil or a spring, this hose rebounds gently after each use for convenient storage.
• Withstands sun and rain and has solid brass or nylon fittings for drip-free connections.
• Usually made of nylon or polyurethane and is available in a variety of colors.

Hose Hanger

• Provides compact and efficient hose storage.
• Mounts easily to the side of a house or garage.
• Hose is simply draped over hanger brackets for easy storage.

Hose Reel

• Provides compact and efficient hose storage.
• Uses a rotary action to unroll and roll hose.
• Some models can be mounted on the house or garage, others ride on a caddy or cart.
• Usually incorporates a leader hose that attaches directly to the water supply.
• Some models feature storage trays for accessories.
• Typical capacity is 150&" for 5/8" hose. A large capacity reel basket holds 400" for 5/8" hose.
• Some feature a screw-sliding guide mechanism for keeping the hose neatly wrapped on the reel.

Pistol Nozzle

• Gun-type hose spray accessory constructed of metal or plastic.
• Many have adjustable spray patterns from a fine mist to a solid stream to full flow by squeezing the handle or by turning an adjusting screw or using a multi-position clip.
• Some models have a dial control for different spray patterns.

Straight Nozzle

• Usually constructed of brass, diecast zinc or plastic.
  
• Better models use an o-ring to seal off the waterflow, protect the inside adjustment threads and allow for smoother and easier spray adjustment.

Hose Mender

• Used to mend or connect hose.
• Metal clincher couplings have metal cleats around a brass insert.
• Can be used on rubber or plastic hoses. To install, push the hose over the insert and pound down the cleats with a hammer or crimp with pliers to hold the hose.
• For plastic hoses, use a compression fitting with a threaded collar as it is less likely to puncture the outer covering.
• Plastic menders include a barbed tubular insert and clam shell-shaped clamps used on either plastic or rubber hose.

Hose Connector

• Used to link garden hose and watering devices to the home water source, to connect sections of hose and to provide linkage for sprinkling devices.
• Usually made of plastic or brass.
• Some have a built-in shutoff valve.
• A Y connector is another type that attaches to the water supply to control two hoses at the same time.

Courtesy of NRHA.org