How To Unkink A Garden Hose – A Homeowners Guide To Hose Maintenance And Repairs

In this informative blog post, we give you information and solutions on “How to Unkink a Garden Hose”. This is a question on most gardeners’ and homeowners’ minds as hose kinks can be quite annoying, especially if you have no idea how to fix them.

Hoses are essential tools as they can be used for many different applications. These include irrigation systems, car washing, cleaning, gardening, and much more. Maintaining them is of vital importance, especially if you want them to last long. However, negligence and exposure to the elements can flaw your hose, leaving you with leaks and kinks.

If you are left with a kinked hose, then the tips in this article will be of great benefit to you. Instead of replacing your hose, have a look at the information below and learn how to unkink a garden hose.

Types Of Hoses

There are several types of hoses available on the market with each having its advantages and disadvantages. The quality, durability, and versatility of a hose will depend on its structure, materials, and build.

If we go back to the early 20th century, hoses were generally made of rubber and had a protective cloth cover as the outer lining. Today, hoses are made from various materials and have an inner and outer lining that is reinforced with PVC that is UV-resistant.

Let’s Have a Look at the Different Hose Types Below:

1. Rubber Hoses – These are the most commonly used hoses as they are versatile and durable. They last longer, are flexible, and are affordable.

2. Metal Hoses – Although metal hoses are a bit more costly, they are durable and long-lasting. They are flexible hoses that do not easily kink.

3. Expandable Hoses – These hoses are great if you want to wash or water a large area. They can expand thrice their original length and are easy to store. However, if left unattended for long periods of time, these hoses are prone to damage and kinking.

4. Vinyl Hoses – These hoses are lightweight and perfect for gardening. However, ensure that you have a fair knowledge of how to unkink a garden hose because this hose type is prone to kink.

5. PVC Hoses – These hoses come in different varieties. They include wire braided hoses, rubber hoses, and lay flat hoses among others.

Causes Of Hose Kinks

The most annoying part of having a garden hose is dealing with a nasty kink. Not only is it a sight for sore eyes, but the kink also affects water pressure and flow rate. As most gardeners and homeowners would agree, this type of hose problem can be frustrating.

However, we should ask ourselves what causes a hose to kink. Knowing how to unkink a garden hose is good but avoiding the problem altogether is a more reasonable solution. We have often heard that ‘prevention is better than cure,’ so why not treat our faithful hoses with the same attitude?

Hose kinks are usually caused by negligence. Exposing a garden hose to the elements especially if your region experiences harsh weather conditions is the most common cause of hose kinks. To avoid kinks, it is best to maintain your hose and ensure that it is properly stored. If not, a coiled hose that is left thrown about will definitely flaw over time. Watch the next video for more tips on how to repair and take care of garden hoses. 

How To Unkink A Garden Hose

Knowing how to unkink a garden hose is not rocket science. It is easy to do, especially if you follow the correct procedure. Also, you should beware that mishandling a kinked hose can result in complete damage so careful care is needed.

Firstly, the best way to avoid kinking is to ensure that your hose is properly stored after usage. There are many storage options that you could opt for. These include storage pots, hose reels, hose stands, and more. This will avoid the problem of damage to your garden hose which will ensure that it lasts much longer.

Here are a Few Tips to Unkink a Garden Hose:

• You can use splints to straighten up a kinked garden hose.
• Splints are best used in cross-section kinks as they aid in keeping the round shape of the hose pipe.
• A piece of PVC pipe can also be used to compress the hose pipe so it resumes its rounded shape.
• A piece of PVC pipe can also be passed through the hose to straighten out the kink.
• You can also opt to expose your kinked hose to sunlight. If you’re doing this, ensure that your hose is under water pressure as the exposure to light and pressure will enable it to expand and resume its original shape.
• Make sure to remove the garden hose fittings on one end when repairing a kink. These include the hose couplings, nozzles, and connectors.
• If your hose has multiple kinks, then using several splints to repair it is recommended. Ensure that you slide the splint through the hose until it reached the kinked area.

Garden Hose Maintenace Tips

So, now that you know how to unkink a garden hose, how about avoiding this problem altogether? Hose maintenance is of utmost importance especially if you want it to last for a long time. All you need to do is put in a little effort to ensure that your hose is properly stored and cared for.

There are many different options when it comes to hose maintenance and storage. Cleaning your hose with a little soap and water regularly will avoid the build-up of algae and other unwanted particles. Also, neglecting a hose and leaving it laying around in direct sunlight or icy cold weather will cause great damage, some irreparable.

Here are a Few Maintenance Tips that you Can Use:

– Storage – There are several storage options that you can use when it comes to garden hoses. These include wall-mounted racks, storage boxes, hose pots, hose baskets, car rim hose reels, retractable hose reels, and more.
– Kinks – To avoid kinks and other damages, your garden hose should be well-protected. This includes storing them correctly and unfolding them properly before use.
– Drainage – You should never leave your hose excess water after use. Ensure that you drain it properly otherwise you can damage your hose.
– Cold Weather Conditions – If you live in a region that experiences harsh winters, ensure that your hose is protected. Leaving it exposed to the elements may freeze the hose and cause it to explode.
– Hot Weather Conditions – Exposing your hose to the harsh rays of sunlight for long hours can flaw it substantially. Your hose may dry out and crack if left out in the sun.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed how to unkink a garden hose a much more. A hose is amongst the most used garden tools as it is versatile. Seeing that it makes watering tasks much easier, protecting it should be of vital importance.

This is because your garden hose will last much longer if it is well maintained. A kinked hose can be a pain and avoiding this problem is easy. If you opt for the convenient storage ideas mentioned above, the chance of damaging your hose will be minimal.

Whether you use a rubber, metal, or PVC garden hose, they all serve the same purpose. While some hoses are not prone to kinking, others are, if left neglected. So, my advice to you would be to house your hose as best as you can and enjoy its long service of fulfilling your watering tasks. Click on the link for information about soaker hoses. 

FAQs