How to maintain a garden hose

STEP 1

Locate and secure the washer

Before watering with your brand new garden hose, locate the washer. Sometimes it’s already inserted in the coupling, but on others it may be attached to the packaging. Make sure it’s set firmly into the coupling with no deformations, nicks or gaps, to help prevent leakage at the spigot. If you are using hose accessories, check their washers, too.

For older hoses, perform a quick check of the washer. If the washer has become compressed or dislodged, this could impact the seal in turn causing leakage. Make sure to replace worn washers to ensure maximal seal performance for your hose.

STEP 2

Acclimatize your hose

To prevent kinking in a brand new hose, uncoil it and attach an accessory on the end of the hose. Turn on the water and lay it out in a straight line, allowing it to sit under the sun for a short period of time to acclimatize. This will help condition the hose, allowing it to be more flexible.  

STEP 3

Avoid over-tightening

When attaching your hose to a spigot (also known as faucet) or hose accessories, attach it securely, but do not over-tighten. Over-tightening can crush the washer, which may cause leakage. Therefore it is not recommended to tighten with a wrench; hand tightening will provide the optimal force needed. 

STEP 4

Store after using

When you’re all done with your watering needs, coil hose and store in a shaded area. Avoid leaving out in the sun, which could negatively impact the hoses durability.

STEP 5

Drain before storage

When you’re ready to store your hose at the end of the season, make sure to disconnect it from the spigot, detach all watering accessories and drain it thoroughly. 

STEP 6

Winterize your hose

Roll the hose and store it in an environment that stays above freezing. While your garage or your shed might seem like a good spot, the temperature in those areas will dip below freezing during the winter. To maintain your hose’s flexibility and resistance to kinks, it’s best to store indoors in a room temperature location.