Flexible Garden Hoses

Use a Flexible Garden Hose to Water Your Yard

When you have outdoor plants to take care of and a yard to maintain, it's important to have access to water. A flexible garden hose can let you move around and reach all the areas of your outdoor space. There are several different types of these hoses available on eBay.

What are expandable garden hoses?

These hoses can expand in length when the water is turned on and contract when the water is turned off. This design makes them easy to store since they don't take up much space and don't weigh much. Many expandable hoses can increase their length by three times when the water is turned on. When you're all finished, these hoses can self-drain and coil themselves up.

What are some materials used in hoses?

There are some variations that you'll find in the products available on eBay. You could find hoses made out of materials like the following:

• TPU or latex for the inner tubes
• Brass or plastic connectors
• Vinyl, nylon, or rubber for the exteriors

How do you assess the strength of a garden hose?

Strength is typically measured with "burst pressure." Burst pressure is the pressure at which a hose is likely to rupture. If you anticipate using a hose nozzle or hooking up your hose to a sprinkler, you will create more pressure within the hose. In this case, you'll want to find something with a burst pressure of at least 350 psi. If you use high-powered nozzles or are planning on using your hose with a pressure washer, you'll likely need an even stronger one. Lightweight hoses for watering plants may not need to be as strong.

What else can influence the selection of a garden hose?

When shopping on eBay, you'll also want to consider the following:

• Length: Typical lengths are 25 feet, 50 feet, 75 feet, and 100 feet. Since the price and weight of a hose increase as you go up in length, you might want to measure out how long of a hose you'll need.
• Hose diameter: This indicates how much water the hose can carry. You can usually find hoses with 3/4-inch, 5/8-inch, and 1/2-inch diameters. At larger widths, you'll have more water flow but may experience a loss in pressure.
• Reinforcements: Some of the higher-end hoses come with a mesh lining in-between the layers for added strength. This can prevent kinking and bursting. They usually also have a collar that reinforces the hose near the spigot.