I'm hopeful that many of you have faced this situation and can help. I can't recall how many garden hoses I've gone through. I'm sick of buying expensive hoses with 'lifetime warranty' or 'never kink warranty' and fighting their stiffness, their weight and unwieldiness, etc. If a hose seems to last a few months and not leak then it seems that it is for sure going to get run over by the car right over the brass end and get deformed and start leaking that way.
The ones that are a few seasons old are splitting. The ones that are stiff will kink and the kink spot has 'memory' meaning it always rekinks in that area.
I bought a heavy 3/4" red hose but the weight of lugging that around is not so good.
I'm intrigued by the coil up hoses with the stretchy soft cover on them (can't recall brand names) but read tons of bad reviews on them with spontaneous ruptures, poor connector ends etc.
I went back through the hardware again a week ago and I see only 2-3 brands anymore. It is basically elcheapo or quite expensive. In the higher end they all look similar, and feel stiff and heavy. I doubt I'm going to be happy. I also have an assortment of broken ones at home that I'm not sure if I should cut off the end and replace the end or not. When I've tried that in the past the fitting on the end is never tight and when you go to attach a sprayer or something the replaced end just spins and you can't get it tight either....
I was going through the tunnel car wash the other weekend and noticed they had a length of generic looking tubing, it was red, maybe it was 1" diameter? They had added their own pipe fitting and plumbed it to a larger water line with a ball valve (quarter turn shut off) for the on off. The other end had fittings added to allow for a pressure washer wand with hose clamps. Clearly it was not standard pressure washer hose, much larger diameter.
If a car wash can make it work and chose not to use commercial garden hoses (even the top end ones) maybe I should too. Where can you find lengths of larger bore tubing that I could add my own fittings to? I'm trying to get more water flow in my garage and a larger diameter hose would help with that too.
I can't seem to find something like the car wash had. Was theirs likely rubber, pvc? something else?
Or if there is a go to hose in the 3/4" size I'm all ears.
I wish there was a way to test first. The ones I'm seeing on their web page seem to be for air not water. The water hoses are about $1.50/ft so I'll have $200 into a hose by the time I get all set. They have lots of options, a little hard to know what you are getting.
For example I wonder what their 'Pliovic' and 'Insta-grip' hoses are for?
DO you think the the carwash staff will think it strange that I pull in the tunnel and roll out of my car and ask if I can go feel their hoses?
I have had good luck with this Nebraska-born/family-owned company's hoses & hose reels. They are pricey, but well made. I guess each geographic area has it own variables as far as hose lifespan.
Eley Hose Eley Hose Reel
Your trying to get more flow to your garage and are tired of heavy bulky hoses....
Ever think about trenching and laying pvc pipe out to the garage to a frost free hose bib? That way you could run shorter lengths of hose that are lighter weight and easier to handle/coil up and the car won't run over them???
I use Pocket Hose brand. The braided fire hose style. Very durable. I've had 5 for the past 6 years no issues no leaks what so ever. Weigh absolutely nothing.
TBar,
My garage is attached to my house. The cold and hot supply lines are 1/2" lines and I have exposed plumbing in my basement yet so could upsize the supply lines to 1". But I have a moen spigot in the garage (frost free as it shuts off in the basement) and it is the single handle type where you rotate right and left to set temp and pull out to get water flow and control flow. It is a nice set up, but its brass lines that connect inside the house are also 1/2" I considered upsizing the fixture to 3/4" feed lines and then would probably just go with a standard spigot with separate hot and cold handles with 3/4" line feeding. I would then do 1" feed from my basement with a reduction to 3/4 at the back of the fixture.
Of course the hose hookup is also a restriction. Then because I have 100' hose in the garage there is some restriction along the length of the hose.
I had the plumber come out as while I'm at it I want to change the cold line from hard water to softened water for washing cars.
However the way the lines come from the basement and into the garage they actually go under a finished stairwell in my back entry, go under the stair tread, then a big hole is bored in the side of the stair tread stringer and then out in the garage. (the stair tread in the back entry goes up to the bonus room above the garage)
So the plumber said without ripping up stair treads he can't get at those pipes to upsize them. So I'm probably stuck with my current fixture without removing drywall and carpet. I could go on the basement side and upsize the feed.
I might be better just upsizing the 100' hose in the garage and not worrying about it.
I can run shorter hose for washing cars while in the garage, but then my wife likes to hose down the driveway and that frequently has her using the hose in the 75-100 foot range
Snakebite, I need to search for these pocket hose fire style ones...
Try a hose intended for RV/camper use. Safe for drinking out of, and intended for near constant exposure to the elements.
Try a hose intended for RV/camper use. Safe for drinking out of, and intended for near constant exposure to the elements.
I got a 50' heavy duty one for my camper back in 2007 and it's been outside ever since. Yep, it's just fine! I think it was like $80.00, or around there.
Big difference drinking out of it from a regular garden hose tho.
I looked at a heated hose for the winter and they don't give them away. Yikes!!!
FWIW, Pocket Hose also has a life time warranty.
Man it is extremely difficult to not comment on lifetime warranties for pocket hoses.
Bob-O, you should get an award for your ability to exercise an extreme amount of posting constraint!
I did buy some brand fold up hose with the slinky coating over it. It was pricey and lasted a period of time that is easier to measure in hours rather than days.
However, if it was ever as simple as bring it back to the hardware store, big box store or whatever and swap it out, I do like the other features of the pocket hoses. Amazon reviews on all of the lightweight, pocket or hose in a bucket type hoses are very poor.
My dad in law has one in his garage used strictly for filling his car wash bucket and rinsing the garage floor. I imagine it will last a while for him due to light use, not a heavy traffic environment, no kids, no pets, safe drivers entering the garage etc.
Aww CC, ya missed my intent. When I was a kid all the ol boys would give me and my buddies crap about playin pocket pool.
My warranty has expired.
FWIW I got yer intent my friend just didn't quite know how to reply without getting slapped by a mod!
So, this is no longer about hoses?
Gotta say I bought a Gag gift for a friend...
What is the scoop on the potability of garden hoses? Saw an RV hose labeled as lead free. Someone else told me that's a marketing ploy and lead hasn't been used in hoses for years.
All I know is I use a garden hose to fill fish tanks from my well distribution manifiold to my RAS's, and another to transfer water from my iron filter to fish tanks, and the fish seem fine.
RoHS. Elimination of lead and other toxins so you live longer.
This is big enough that major manufacturers are dozing facilities world wide. Discontinuing products as well.
For sure. Lead is bad stuff but is it in the garden hoses? I guess I can do a google search.
You will not like the weight but go to a commercial farm store that specializes in farm chemical application (sprayer) equipment. Get EPDM sprayer hose and they will have assorted fittings, including ones to go to the straight threads of garden hoses. You can get it in half or 3/4 inch and even one inch (which would be way to heavy for your use).
Man it is extremely difficult to not comment on lifetime warranties for pocket hoses.
The problem with those tends to be the opposite of garden hose. Whereas a garden hose gets stiff with age, the problem is with excessive flexibility.
I've got a couple RV hoses that must be pushing 20 years old. Still in fine shape.
I just use the contractor grade red rubber hose in 3/4" and 50 footers. I will put them together if I need more length and 50 feet of that is not a big deal to lug around. This is much easier than having to sort out a 100 foot contractor hose.
Cheers Don.
What is the scoop on the potability of garden hoses? Saw an RV hose labeled as lead free. Someone else told me that's a marketing ploy and lead hasn't been used in hoses for years.
All I know is I use a garden hose to fill fish tanks from my well distribution manifiold to my RAS's, and another to transfer water from my iron filter to fish tanks, and the fish seem fine.
Kind of like my uncle who says his vodka is healthy because its gluten free. Snark
Snrub, how old are you to possess such knowledge?
FWIW, Pocket Hose also has a life time warranty.
I keep two of these for use on the patio. One last about 6-8 months then blows out and I get the spare and keep on trucking.
Return the blown out one for free exchange at my leisure then repeat the above. Very handy for use where I don't want a large unsightly hose.
Tbar, what is the return process? package in a box with original receipt and ship the whole hose back to the factory/manufacturer? Or return at the place you purchased it?
If returns were pretty painless (like Amazon returns where they come the next day and pick up the box for you) I might do as you suggest.
I agree the pocket hoses are light and easy to put away although the covers on them have lots of wrinkles....
Red lion pumps are terrible for warranty. They say 5 year even with box and original receipt they wouldn't do it.
The 5 year warranty sold me on the pumps.
I wish there was a life time warranty on my vodka bottle but that wont fly ether.
Tbar, what is the return process? package in a box with original receipt and ship the whole hose back to the factory/manufacturer? Or return at the place you purchased it?
If returns were pretty painless (like Amazon returns where they come the next day and pick up the box for you) I might do as you suggest.
I agree the pocket hoses are light and easy to put away although the covers on them have lots of wrinkles....
We buy ours at the local store.
https://bedbathandbeyond.com/m/s/HoseWhen I return it I take to the counter and tell them it busted......they tell me to go get a replacement.....I walk out the door. No receipt, no credits/debits. In and out in under 1-2 minutes.
Your mileage may vary......
I have returned three so far. If I would take better care of them they might last longer.
Well after doing some research of reliable sources that did lab testing of hoses it looks like for fish I will be converting over to RV hoses or hoses that indicate they don't have lead. The amount of lead in some of the hoses out there is indeed quite high!
Texas has Bed, Bath, and Beyond?? After several years hearing about Texas here on the forum, I figured the Lonestar state for something more perceived as ......well, look-at-us, we're Texas?
"Bunk, Bushes, and Out Yonder", maybe.
Returning stuff is a waste of my time, so I get decent stuff up front if possible.
If I buy something I know is only temporary, then I'll go cheap and feed it to the trash can when done.
I'll be watching this thread closely. I too would like to find a hose that's large diameter, light weight, doesn't kink, doesn't split, stays flexible, has couplings that can withstand getting run over, and lasts forever.
I've had good luck with 3/4 inch, heavy duty hose I bought at the farm store. It's slightly heavy, slightly stiff, but very durable!
Zep, I am going to add a STAR in front of your name today
I recently read the book " The Red River Campaign" or I think that was the name, it told of how the Yankees were kept out of Texas during the Civil War. Except for some deserted island in the gulf of Mexico, the Yankees never made it. I still don't think our government or others understands Texans
Tracy
PS, I will always remember what Dave said here on another thread, We talk slower here so the Yankees can understand us
So yer saying the Yankees went for the island beaches and ocean front property.....
Bill, Ha, more like a swamp, I think lol
Tracy
Purfect trap fer them vermin
Just kiddin
Tracy
PS, I will always remember what Dave said here on another thread, We talk slower here so the Yankees can understand us
So that's what it is???....
I figured the slow speech was due to hearing your own voices reverberating in your eardrums, caused from wearing those huge, unwieldy sound collectors you call hats!
The things you learn on this forum.
Sounds like mister fancy pants elevator repairman might be feeling his oats...
Nah, just having some fun. I'm sure we're all proud of wherever we call home.
I do have some fancy black BDU elevator britches, though.
Nah, just having some fun. I'm sure we're all proud of wherever we call home.
I do have some fancy black BDU elevator britches, though.
Oh, just wondering what this might mean with the acronym, then one brain cell said to another, might just be a quick release panel...
Spark - I'm sure you are getting some decent training. I mean, elevators and their operation is nothing to take lightly, and quite sure you will be in a slot on a need to know basis of what you will be doing as a maintenance person.
The cool thing is you are actually going thru the training that a lot of companies consider useless...
BDU.....battle dress uniform. Fancy name for ripstop fabric with a lot of pockets.
The training so far is quite enjoyable. I've always appreciated an opportunity to learn something new, and develop new skills. The fact that your paycheck skyrockets once that CET patch goes on your uniform doesn't hurt, either. Elevator technicians consistently place among the highest paid technician jobs in the country, and from what I've read you can pretty much start adding additional zeros to your paystub once the certification is complete. Salaries well over six figures are commonplace.
As far as taking it lightly, elevators now fall under the domain of Homeland Security. And as I'm discovering, they don't take it lightly either. And while the 30 hours of OSHA I recently completed seemed kinda' useless to me, I was informed that having that little card in your wallet actually meant something. Seems a lot of companies would rather hire someone that already carried the necessary certs, rather than have to implement the programs, spend the time, and foot the bill themselves.
Yes there is a lot of maintenance on an elevator. But in our shop we are more than guys running routes. We also re-cable cars, rebuild gearboxes and drive machines, swap out motors, generators, door openers and clutches, and controllers. We do all our own troubleshooting and diagnosis, and will remove circuit boards to remove and re-solder faulty components when the need arises. Dis-assembling a hydraulic cylinder 40+ feet long and 10 inches in diameter to replace a leaky seal or packing is part of the job.
Some of the journeymen in the shop can walk into an empty hoistway and build and install a complete, state-of-the-art functioning elevator where there is nothing but bare concrete walls. And while we don't do new installs here in this shop, my training does include some of this stuff.
There certainly are elevator maintenance folks who walk in with a five gallon bucket, some shop rags, a grease gun and oil can, but they call for someone else if they discover an issue....we don't.
Then there's the matter of stand by. Elevators run 24 hrs a day, and this is a college campus. Pretty much non-stop operations. When I reach the point a few years from now, when I need to take my turn in the rotation, I will be expected to show up whenever the call comes in. Many are benign, but there are entrapments from time to time. I'll need to maintain a sense of calm while the eyes of the fire dept, the police, and who knows how many onlookers all turn to me the second I walk in. A lot of elevator shops rely on the fire dept to handle their extractions. Not us. When I'm faced with that situation, I hope I can display the same professionalism and expertise that I've witnessed from the guys in our shop.
So to answer your question, I don't think I'm taking things too lightly. But you know what? In the five weeks I've been in the shop I've discovered that those same serious, dedicated, and professional journeymen and apprentices I've been describing here, also have a sense of humor. They're human, just like me. And I'm proud to say they share much of the same philosophy that my deceased friend and mentor Dennis had....they have the ability to discern when it's time to laugh, from when it's time to get it done, period.
I'm boasting here, and I know better than to do that. It will surely come back and bite me in the ass. But I'm going to let myself have one, brief, useless moment. there were 52 candidates for this position, including electrical journeymen, mechanics of various disciplines, and at least one engineer from a particle accelerator project. Those folks are undoubtedly far more intelligent than I can ever hope to become, yet they chose me for the position. In the beginning I had doubts, wondering if I was the correct candidate or simply a statistically mandated choice. After months of skills assessment testing, interviews, and more tests, I finally screwed up enough courage to ask. They were polite, professional, and firm. "We hired you because you were the right person for the job. You're here, because you're supposed to be here...YOU are who we want."
So yeah, I'm not taking it lightly. I've worked overtime when offered just to be able to see and do more, and I'm ordering additional textbooks besides those already included in the curriculum, on my own dime, in order to try and further my education above and beyond the pace set by the NAEC and the department of labor. I will own this vocation, lock stock and barrel. I will become that technician who they know can sort it out, wring it out, and run it out.
Sorry for jacking the thread. Back to garden hoses, and I stand on my original recommendation. Buy an RV hose.
Yeah Spark, that's a pile to pick up and really glad you smoked everyone, because they don't choose lightly.
I'm sure you will be buying new tools to accomindate the new job that you may not have in your shop tool box.
spark, you can hijack my thread anytime you want. I love hearing about what you are learning. What a great opportunity for you. I'm sure they saw talents, and experience in you that they missed in others when they selected you.
Keep us posted. WE all love to hear the updates.
Appreciate the latitude, canyon!
JKB, c'mon now......I've never met a mechanic or technician who wasn't looking for a reason to buy more tools. I'm buying several new goodies even though I already own perfectly good examples!!
Even eyeballing a new Milwaukee backpack to carry em' in!
spark, you can hijack my thread anytime you want. I love hearing about what you are learning. What a great opportunity for you. I'm sure they saw talents, and experience in you that they missed in others when they selected you.
Keep us posted. WE all love to hear the updates.
Spark has a lot of interesting stuff ahead of him.
Can't wait to see some of the latest controls they use these days.
