When shopping for a garden hose, you need to be well informed about some of its specifications as well as use with regard to your intentions for it. There are various types of gardening hoses in the current market, which makes it harder to make a quality pick (though you can get a garden soaker hose here if that is what you are looking for.)
Nonetheless, a top-quality hose that is useful and best for the job often depends on a few factors like your yard or garden size, its intended use as well as your budget and where you will store it during winter.
You can always ask around for some buying tips or read some top garden hose review articles related to the type of garden hose you want. For instance, you can read on some stainless steel garden hose reviews if you are looking for a durable stainless steel hose.
Here are some top tips on selecting a top-quality garden hose for your watering needs or DIY Gardening Projects.
1.Material Construction
You need to know the type of material that the hose is made of, this way you make your pick based on durability and ease of use and care. Generally, rubber hoses are more durable than vinyl but they tend to cost more than vinyl.
The most durable ones made from rubber are often reinforced with nylon or polyester tire cord. This way they become highly resistant to cracking and weathering.
As much as vinyl is least durable, there are some that are reinforced with tire cord while others are made from a combination of rubber and vinyl and secured with tire cord, for longevity purposes. There are also some with a kink-resistant foam cover. As you already know, more kinks equal more holes, therefore less longevity.
2.Hose Length and Diameter
You should get to know the amount of water the garden hose can deliver in a minute, with regard to your use for it. This way you buy something that will be of benefit during use.
A hose with a small diameter is likely to deliver fewer gallons of water compared to that one with a bigger diameter. Besides, a large diameter hose often compensates for loads of things that can affect your water pressure for instance, if you want to water an uphill yard.
As for the length of the hose, it is often based on your own preference and uses but the longer the better for convenience. Nonetheless, for constant water flow the couplings used for hose connections should always be the same diameter as the garden hose itself.
3.How it behaves Under Pressure
Every type of water hose has a burst pressure. This is the point at which its casing will flop. As a result, reinforcements often help when it comes to determining a hose burst pressure. For instance, a water hose with two polyester tire cords is less likely to rupture, than one with only one or none.
You can check the burst pressure, on the specifications section. Nevertheless, the burst pressure should always be 4x the average pressure of your faucet. This way it allows for surges as well as the use of a water hose nozzle.
4.Is it Retractable
There are varied types of garden hoses, even those that retract when you want to use them and when you want to store them. You just have to ensure that its rewind mechanism works properly for effective long-term use.
Moreover, you should ensure that the hose is of top-quality. Also, take note that high-speed rewinding can cause some kinks as well as cuts on some garden hoses, especially those made from thin and less-durable materials.
5.Cost
This matters a lot, especially if you are on a tight budget. Nonetheless, longer hoses with bigger diameters tend to cost more compared to shorter hoses with smaller diameters.
Besides, material construction also plays a major role in determining its price tag. The more durable the material, the more it will cost but remember it will last for the better of time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you should be aware of some of the merits and demerits of any garden hose, no matter your watering needs. This way you buy a quality durable piece.