What’s worse than dragging around a hose that kinks up every time you try to turn with it? Not much, unless you’re trying to work against the clock (which can also be frustrating). Kinking is a common problem that many people face when using hoses hence these tips on how to keep a hose from kinking.
You know how annoying this can be if you’ve ever tried to move it too fast and stopped pumping, only to have the hose inflate and create its knot. While some of these kinks can be worked out once you get them, others are permanent.
Over time, you will notice that the more kinks you get, the fewer times the water reaches its full potential and pressure. While this can be a serious problem for some, it doesn’t have to continue this way forever!
Here are tips you can utilize to keep your hose from kinking.
How To Keep a Hose From Kinking
1. Keep It Straight
The first thing you should try is to keep the hose as straight as possible. Don’t allow it to coil up tightly when not in use, as this will cause permanent kinks that may be impossible to remove. When you are done with the hose, uncoil it and allow it to drain before storing.
Additionally, you should store the hose in a straight line or hang it up on a reel to prevent future kinks. If you don’t have a reel, you can invest in a reputable hose guide which will help prevent tangling. It works great for long hoses.
Hose guides are available in local hardware stores and home centers or make one yourself out of scrap lumber.
2. Consider the Length of the Hose Pipe
Hoses have threshold points beyond which they will kink. As such, you should consider the length of the hose needed for your project and select one that is long enough to allow you to move around freely while keeping most of the hose straight.
If it turns out that you are using a short hose, consider placing a sprinkler at its end instead of manually watering plants with it. Although lengthy hoses tend to be more expensive than shorter ones, they will prove helpful in the long run. It will prevent your hose from kinking.
Read: What happens if your water hose freezes?
3. Add a Hose Reel
Nothing beats the time-tested method of using an actual hose reel to keep a hose from kinking or twisting. They can range from simple wall-mounted models to large drums set on the ground that hold up to 100 feet of hose.
First, you will have to decide whether you will use a freestanding or wall-mounted design for your space. Similarly, you will have to consider the hose length you will need to store.
Ultimately, look for a reel that is easy to wind and unwind—the best models have a ratcheting locking mechanism that ensures smooth reeling when watering.
4. Use a Swivel-joint Hose
Want your hose to move freely in any direction without kinking? Then you want to use a swivel-joint hose with a joint at the top. This will allow the hose to turn in any direction without kinking up.
Additionally, a swivel-joint hose is more flexible and resistant to kinking than a standard garden hose.
Read: Garden hose nozzle won’t shut off
5. Make a Hose Jacket
You can also make a hose jacket-less likely to kink. A hose jacket is a long tube-shaped piece of foam that you slide over your garden hose. It protects the hose from twisting, turning, and bending so that it bends too much and kinks.
You can find foam pipe insulation at most hardware stores, but there are some tips you must keep in mind when you buy one. The diameter of the pipe insulation should be a little bit bigger than that of your garden hose.
Also, make sure that you secure the pipe insulation with duct tape or something similar before using it on your garden hose.
6. Unhook It When You’re Done
Once you’re done watering your garden, unhook the end of the hose from the spigot. Don’t let the loose end flop down onto the ground — this will cause more kinks than anything else.
Instead, coil it back up neatly to stay in position through its “downtime,” when nobody’s using it and needs access to water.
7. Go With a No-kink Hose
Kinks are caused by hose coils overlapping. That’s why traditional hoses need to be coiled in a straight line. If you’re willing to spend a bit more on your next hose, try one that has ridges to prevent coil locking and kinking. However, if you already have a kink-free hose, great! Here are some tips for using it:
- Unroll the hose before use.
- Do not hang your new hose from anything like a nail or a hook because this can stretch out the sides and invite kinking and leaks.
- Keep it away from foot traffic so that people do not step on it or flatten it out, again inviting breaks and kinks.
8. Store the Hose Properly
You can buy one of those fancy holders that wraps the hose up for you, so it doesn’t get tangled. However, if you don’t want to incur the expense, coil the hose up neatly on a hook or post it somewhere when you’re not using it.
9. Replace Your Hose
Try replacing it if you have an old hose prone to kink. Newer, reinforced hoses are typically less likely to kink than older hoses, so upgrading could fix the problem. However, consider upgrading your existing hose if you don’t want to upgrade to a brand-new hose set.
Ultimately, when shopping for a new hose, invest in a high-quality pipe that will be less likely to kink. So the kind of material used in constructing the hose pipe will play a key role in its durability.
Bottom Line
Now that you have some tips on keeping hoses from kinking, you’ll decrease the chance of damaging your entire system. If you happen to have a fire hydrant in your yard, it’s a good idea to keep a strap or hose clamp around it just in case.
Inspect your hoses regularly and replace any that may appear worn out or damaged. Ultimately, the number one way how to keep a hose from kinking is to invest in high-quality hoses, which are less likely to kink than their lower-quality counterparts.
Read: How to fix a garden hose female end