Kind

Hose — a hollow tube for irrigation of a garden plot. Connected to a water intake.

Coil – simplifies storage of the hose, which prolongs its service life. There are stationary and portable options. A stationary reel is fine if you don’t need to move the hose — otherwise a portable model is better.

Cart – facilitates the movement of the hose. It is made in the form of a frame on wheels, where a hose reel is installed.

• Hose
• Coil
• Cart

Council

• Protect the hose from exposure to UV rays and extreme temperature fluctuations, as well as insects and rodents. Avoid rubbing the product against sharp objects and corners. Being on the street at night is also disastrous for him.
• Smoothly adjust the water pressure and do not exceed the maximum pressure for which the pipeline is designed.
• Do not put heavy objects on the hose, such as a bucket or a wheelbarrow. It is better not to use the product in the cold season.
• To prepare the hose for storage, it is necessary to drain the remaining water and dry it thoroughly.
• It is recommended to store inventory in a rolled form, while the room should be cool and dark. Do not leave the hose on the ground.

Execution

Reinforced — durable, resistant to deformation and cuts, but expensive and heavy. The reinforced model is optimal for working in difficult conditions with increased load. Practice shows that hoses with mesh reinforcement are more reliable than «brothers» with cruciform reinforcement.

Important: when choosing a hose, pay attention to the size of the reinforced cells — the smaller it is, the more reliable the product.

single layer — an inexpensive and lightweight hose, but sensitive to negative external factors and quickly fails. Suitable for operation at temperatures up to +40°C. Not the best option.

multilayer — withstands UV rays, chemicals, wear, twisting and temperature changes. Provides good water pressure. It is used for daily watering of a garden or kitchen garden. Such a model is more expensive and heavier than a single-layer counterpart.

Spiral — compact and lightweight model, not afraid of creases and does not interfere with watering. Forms a point jet for manual directional watering. Temperature range – from -5°C to +60°C.

Corrugated — a rigid pipeline that resists bends and creases. At the same time, the hose is quite flexible and light. Universal option for any irrigation work.

lengthening — consists of two hoses (internal — stretchable, external — resistant to wear). Recommended for watering flowerbeds and ornamental plants with a stable pressure.

Purpose

Watering — designed for watering plants in the garden or in the garden. Helps to keep the garden or garden area clean.

drip tape — a special hose for drip irrigation. Located above the beds. This method of irrigation is characterized by economical water consumption, minimal involvement of the gardener and high efficiency. Drip tape installation requires special skills.

There are three types of drip tape.

• Emitternaya – equipped with emitters (droppers). Such a device allows the use of unfiltered water (with foreign particles) and rarely clogs. Emitter tape is the most expensive.
• Labyrinth — has a labyrinth channel on the surface of the hose, which reduces the rate of water supply. This product is the cheapest. This tape is difficult to install, does not provide uniform watering and quickly clogs. Often damaged during unwinding. Outdated variant.
• slotted — equipped with a labyrinth channel hidden inside the hose. Favorably differs from the previous type in more uniform watering and resistance to damage during unwinding. True, the slotted tape needs carefully filtered water, otherwise it will quickly become clogged.

Oozing (porous) — equipped with micro-holes through which water slowly passes. This hose is designed for underground and above ground use. Alternative to drip tape. True, the oozing hose becomes clogged when watering with unfiltered water. The best choice for watering plants that are afraid of drought.

pressure head – supplies under pressure gases, liquids, solids and granular substances. Used in construction, food industry and other fields.

Suction – sucks up under vacuum gases, liquids, firm and loose substances. Compared to the pressurized model, the function of this hose is opposite: substances move in the opposite direction.

Pressure-suction — is designed to solve both problems.

Pressure, suction, pressure-suction hoses consist of several layers.

food — provides drinking water supply. Made of environmentally friendly rubber, PVC, silicone. It is used in the household, food and chemical industries.

Sprinkler — sprays water through special holes, creating fog. Ideal for gentle watering of plants with shallow root systems.

Usage

Ground — the hose is located on the surface of the earth. This usage is typical for most models.

Underground — the hose is placed underground. Such a pipeline is invisible and does not interfere with various work, such as lawn mowing. True, the underground hose is more difficult to lay than the ground counterpart.

Material

Hose

PVC — eco-friendly, lightweight and relatively cheap material. Products made of polyvinyl chloride are presented in various designs (one-, two-, three- and four-layer, with or without reinforcement). Hoses can be connected using fittings, and reinforced (reinforced) solutions do not twist or break.

At the same time, PVC models are relatively short-lived and lose their shape due to sensitivity to UV rays, frost and strong water pressure. Multilayer hoses are widely used by gardeners and gardeners.

Characteristics of PVC hoses:

• scope – manual watering of horticultural crops, chores (single-layer);
• temperature Range – from -5°C to +50°C;
• lifetime — 5 years or more (multilayer), up to 2 years (single layer).

Silicone — according to the characteristics it resembles PVC, but it is more elastic. Silicone models are not afraid of twisting or creases, regardless of modification, and stretch well. These hoses burst due to strong water pressure.

Characteristics of silicone hoses:

• scope – food industry, watering plants by gravity;
• temperature Range – from -20°C to +40°C;
• lifetime – 3-5 years (reinforced).

Rubber — high-strength and elastic material, resistant to temperature fluctuations, deformation, high pressure, UV rays and chemicals. True, rubber is heavy, which can injure plants when dragged, and in some cases contains toxins that are harmful to plants and humans. These hoses are the most common.

Specifications of rubber hoses:

• scope – systems for manual / automatic watering of lawns and horticultural crops, industry, car washes;
• temperature rangen – from -30°C to +90°C;
• lifetime — over 10 years.

Important: When choosing between two hoses, choose the softer rubber model as it will last longer.

Plastic — lightweight material, resistant to UV rays and temperature extremes. Similar models will cost less than rubber counterparts. However, plastic products are subject to deformation during bending, limescale and algae (from inside the pipe). Some types of plastic contain toxic impurities, which negatively affects the future crop.

Characteristics of plastic hoses:

• scope — temporary irrigation of horticultural and horticultural crops in greenhouses, farms and cottages;
• temperature Range – up to +65°C;
• lifetime — up to 2 years.

Nylon — cheap, flexible, lightweight material. Sensitive to high and low temperatures, as well as strong water pressure. Like the plastic counterpart, it serves no more than 2 years.

Thermoelastoplast (TEP) — light and elastic material, resistant to deformation, frost, high pressure, chemicals. Products do not twist or bend. These hoses are not suitable for pumping oils and solvents.

Characteristics of TPE hoses:

• scope – year-round watering, other horticultural tasks;
• temperature Range – from -50°C to +90°C;
• lifetime – over 15 years.

Important: the temperature range should be taken into account, since the hoses are used in the warm season, but are stored in unheated rooms during the winter. Not all materials are well tolerated by low temperatures.

Coating

Coating (braid) – the outer sheath of the hose, which protects against wear and damage. There are hoses with a synthetic, polyester, polyester, rubber, Kevlar, nylon coating. Kevlar and polyester braid have proven themselves well.

Length

This characteristic affects the quality and comfort of irrigation. The hose sleeve should reach anywhere in the garden or garden. Products are supplied in coils (coils) of 10-50 m each. The tubes can be connected to each other with connectors, but this reduces the water pressure.

The longer the hose, the better. Too much length increases cost and weight, but does not make it difficult to use and store. The problem of excess length is solved with a coil. Also, a long hose can be cut into shorter tubes if necessary.

Important: when choosing the optimal length, take into account the distance from the tap or other water intake point to the extreme point of irrigation. If the pipeline is pulled around, and not directly, then its length increases.

Diameter

This characteristic determines the compatibility of the hose with a faucet or pump, as well as the throughput of the product. In this case, we are talking about the inner diameter of the hose and the outer diameter of the water pipe. The unit of measure is inch. The larger the diameter, the higher the throughput. At the same time, as the throughput increases, the water velocity at the outlet of the hose decreases.

The most common specimens are 1/2 inch (13 mm) in diameter. Other diameters: 5/8″ (16 mm); 3/4″ (19mm); 1 inch (25mm); 5/4″ or 1 1/4″ (32 mm); 1 1/2″ (38 mm). Models of 2 inches (51 mm), 3 inches (76 mm) or 4 inches (102 mm) are not common.

If the hose is connected to the water supply, then it is better to choose models with a diameter of 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch (European equipment) or 3/4 inch (Ukrainian equipment). To connect to the pump, you will need a larger pipe — 3/4 inch or 1 inch.

A hose with a large diameter does not pass water well with a low pressure, and a product with a small diameter gives a narrow jet.

The choice of hose diameter depends on the length of the product and the pressure of the water. Remember that as the length of the pipe increases, the pressure decreases. For example, the length of models with a diameter of 1/2 inch should be no more than 15 m. Therefore, to correctly select the diameter, follow these rules:

• the longer the pipeline, the larger the diameter (for high water pressure);
• the lower the water pressure, the smaller the diameter.

Important: To achieve good water pressure, use a model with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the pipe.

Max pressure

This parameter means the maximum allowable water pressure that the hose can withstand without degrading its characteristics and breaking. Allows you to evaluate the reliability of the hose when working under high water pressure. Measured in bars.

The maximum pressure depends on the hose material:

• PVC — up to 3 bar (single-layer), up to 10 bar (three-layer, reinforced);
• silicone – up to 3 bar;
• rubber — more than 8 bar;
• plastic, nylon – up to 5 bar;
• thermoplastic elastomer — more than 8 bar.

The single-layer hose withstands pressure up to 2 bar, the multi-layer reinforced version — 6-8 bar. There are products designed for a pressure of 40-50 bar. In irrigation systems, the water pressure is 3-6 bar. The working pressure should be 3 times less than the maximum — in this case, the hose will not work at its limit and will last longer.

The weight

The comfort of working with the hose also depends on this parameter. The weight of the hose is determined by the material, length, diameter, version, wall thickness. Multilayer PVC hoses with a coil of 15 m weigh up to 8 kg, and the weight of 20 and 25 m products reaches 10 kg and 13 kg, respectively.

A hose that is too heavy is not suitable for teenagers, women and the elderly. Therefore, a reasonable balance should be found between weight and other parameters of the product.

Number of layers

This characteristic determines the reliability and durability of the hose, its resistance to negative factors. Most often, pipes have 1-3 layers, but there are solutions with 5 layers. The more layers, the stronger the product and the longer the service life. True, its price and weight increase accordingly.

Important: Durability is affected by the wall thickness of the hose. It is advisable to choose models in which this value is at least 3.5 mm.

Color

It is preferable to choose hose in bright colors that are easy to spot in the grass. This reduces the risk of accidental damage to the pipe when aerating the soil or mowing the lawn. Transparent hoses are prone to algae blooms, reducing throughput and clogging irrigation accessories. Therefore, such models must be equipped with a reflective layer.

Equipment

Gun (sprayer) — regulates the intensity of watering. A useful option, since the irrigation regime depends on the type of plants and the weather.

Sprinkler — unlike watering with a hose, it evenly sprays water onto the moistened area, creating a microfog. It is applied in systems of automatic watering.

pressure reducer – reduces pressure in drip tapes. Mandatory component of the drip and micro-drip irrigation system.

Water flow regulator — saves water and prevents excessive moisture of the soil and plant roots.

Connector – connects the hose to irrigation accessories and/or other hoses (to increase the length of the product). Some connectors (couplings) allow you to quickly repair a damaged pipeline.

Adapter – connects hoses of different diameters.

Adapter (fitting) — used in conjunction with a connector for connecting hoses. Also used to connect the pipeline to the faucet.

Stub – stops the flow of water at the end of the hose.

Security and protection

Anti-twist, anti-kink, algae build-up, UV resistant extends hose life. A model without phthalates and heavy metals will not harm plants and humans. Such products will cost more than their less reliable and safe «brothers».