What you'll need to fix a hose. Jaymi Heimbuch
- hose repair materials photo What you'll need to fix a hose. Jaymi Heimbuch
- cutting the hose photo Cut the hose on either side of the leak. Jaymi Heimbuch
- fitting the hose photo Fit the hose pieces together. Jaymi Heimbuch
- screwing the hose screw photo Tighten the hose clamp. Jaymi Heimbuch
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It's starting to inch towards spring and you might be pulling out the gardening supplies in preparation. If you find that your hose has sprung a leak, there's a great, easy way to fix it so that you don't need to spend money or the earth's resources in replacing the whole thing.
Instead of throwing away a hose with a small leak, save money by patching it.
What You'll Need:
Screwdriver
Scissors
Hose Repair that is the size of your hose (1/2, 5/8 or 3/4 inch)—these vary in type and price, ranging from $0.98 for a plastic set to $4.00 for a copper set. Usually a plastic set will suffice, but these can snap, making a copper version a better long-term investment. It just depends on your needs which you choose.
What To Do:
- Locate the hole in your hose. Cut the hose on either side of the leak, making sure you have a straight even cut on both sides.
- Fit the insert inside the end of each hose piece and fit together. Push the hose pieces together as close as they'll possibly go.
- Slide the clamps on to the hose. Tighten one clamp over each of the hose pieces close to where the two pieces meet, but not touching.
- Test your hose and make sure it doesn't leak. If it does, you may have to tighten the screws again.
Be sure to check out these water conservation tips as well as tips for going green in the garden before starting your spring planting!
What To Do With Old Pieces of Hose
If your hose is beyond repair, or you have a fairly large section that had to be cut out, don't chuck it into the garbage. There are a lot of great ways to use the hose for years and years more, despite its damage.
For instance, turn it into a soaker hose by poking more holes all along it, and adding couplers on each end. Voila! Cheap drip irrigation. Or, use it to line the chains on the kids' swing set. Add a length of rope through it and you have a toy for the dog. There are lots of ways to reuse the scraps and keep them out of the landfill.
Read more about repairs around the house:
What to Do with a Broken Vacuum Cleaner
How to Reclaim Gutters
5 Ways to Green Your Windows for Under 30 Bucks
How To Reclaim a Light Fixture
Remove the Wobble From Your Chairs
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