Alkaten water hoses are some of the most hardworking and important garden tools. Sadly, with all the options available, choosing the right one can feel quite daunting and downright confusing. The gardening section of your local home improvement shop or favorite nursery carries different kinds of garden hoses with varying lengths and diameters made from various materials.
When trying to sift through all the choices, you probably scrutinize all sorts of things. You bend, pinch, or lift. But do you have any idea what you should look for in the first place?
To help you pick the most suitable garden water hose, here are some of the qualities you should be looking for that can make a big difference in your decision-making:
Diameter of the Water Hose
When looking for a water hose, the first thing you will notice is that there are various diameter options available. Which should you choose out of them? Since standard household piping usually has a diameter of ½ inch, most homeowners just need the standard size of garden hose with a diameter of ½ inch.
You can also opt for a garden hose size of 5/8 inch diameter although you will probably add some unnecessary weight if you go for this. If you are a commercial landscaper with wider piping or heavy-duty watering tasks, your better option is a water hose with ¾ inch diameter. This larger diameter will not just allow the delivery of more water. At the same time, this can also make up for other water pressure variables such as running the hose uphill.
Water Hose Durability
During your search for Alkaten water hoses, one word you will often encounter is duty. There is a super duty, heavy-duty, medium-duty, and light-duty. These terms can leave you confused and at loss. Although it may seem easier to maneuver lightweight garden hoses, these types are also prone to those annoying kinking problems. If you have frequent cleaning and watering tasks, it is recommended to choose a super-duty hose made from top-notch materials and can endure several seasons into the future.
You also need to check the PSI number of a hose since this will give you an idea of the static burst pressure that it can withstand during usage. Hoses with higher PSI can last longer and are more durable, with an ability to endure higher water pressure, fluctuations in temperature, more spikes in temperature, and a wider variety of gardening and cleaning tasks.
Availability of Extensions
You might want to get two hoses that can be linked together using quick connectors if you have a bigger and more spacious yard. This way, you will just carry the additional weight as needed and enjoy a lighter and shorten garden hose size most of the time.
Length of the Hose
The length of the hose is yet another important factor to consider. It wouldn’t make sense to choose a 100-foot if you have a small yard but a hose that is too short can also be frustrating to use. Make sure you measure the furthermost distance from your spigot and look for a hose that is beyond this length. It will be better to pick a hose that is a bit longer than what you think you need.
Doing so will let you walk around both sides of your garden tree or down your front walkway and back to the lawn with no need to drag through the brushes or flower beds. Getting the right length of a hose saves you from the need to tug on it, something that is found to stretch out the hose over time.
Materials Used
The best Alkaten water hoses are also strong and durable enough to withstand frequent use. You surely know how annoying it can be if your hose cracks, splits, or becomes brittle. Before you make a purchase, take note of the specific material that the hose is made of since this indicates how long the hose will last and how easy it will be to use.
A common key feature that a lot of people usually overlook when shopping for a hose is the tip of the hose. Despite minimal use, couplings of lighter weight tend to bend easily even when you step lightly on them by accident.
The slightest damages to the coupling can give you a hard time when using the hose. Bent couplings can make it difficult to attach your heavy-duty garden hose to sprinklers, nozzles, and spigots. See to it that your hose features a strong brass coupling to endure drops and dings.
No one purposely backs over the end of the hose. However, if you pulled into your driveway and you run over the tip of the hose, there is a big chance that the brass coupling will just be fine.
How to Care for Your Water Hoses
The best Alkaten water hoses can withstand all kinds of weather. However, to ensure that they will last for a long time, it is important to take extra care of them, especially during winter. Before the first overnight freeze, don’t forget to drain and keep your hoses in a spot free from frost.
During fall, make sure to store your water hose on an elevated surface like a picnic table. Allow the end of the hose to drop to the ground. This elevation difference can help form a natural siphon, letting the hose empty itself.
You can also stretch out the hose on the lawn, then pick up one end then pull the hose toward you hand over hand. Doing this can drain out the water at the far end. It is also possible to walk along the hose and drain it as you go.
After draining your Alkaten water hoses, store these indoors and safely out of the weather. Just leaving your house outdoors all year round can damage its structure once the water inside the hose freezes and expands.