How to Repair a Leaky Garden Hose

Garden hose leaks are easy to fix.

Garden hoses are made of vinyl or rubber, and these materials suffer from prolonged exposure to sunlight. Freezing temperatures are also hard on hoses, especially if they haven't been drained. Ice can crack older hoses that are weathered and brittle. The rubber washers in the hose connections also wear out over time. A leaking hose is not necessarily a sign that you need a new one because most minor leaks are easily fixed.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber hose washer
• Screwdriver
• Utility knife
• PVC, duct or electrical tape
• Plastic hose connectors
• Plastic hose coupling

Instructions

1. Turn off the water and unscrew the hose from the hose bib if water is leaking from the connection. Pry out the old washer and replace it with a new one. Screw the hose back on and turn on the water.

2. Replace the hose connection if the old one is cracked or if replacing the washer doesn't stop the leaking. Cut off the old connection with a utility knife and insert the barbed end of a new connector into the hose. Tighten the clamps of the new connector with a screwdriver.

3. Wrap tape around pinhole leaks in the hose to stop them. PVC tape works best for this, but you can also use duct tape or electrical tape. Wrap the tape tightly around the hose, starting and ending about 6 inches from the leak. Do this when the hose is cool, and overlap the tape about a third of its width. Don't wrap the tape too tightly, or it will creep over time and begin leaking again.

4. Cut out sections of hose that have cuts in them or holes that are too big to patch with tape. Join the cut ends with a barbed hose coupling. Insert the barbed ends of the coupling into the ends of the hose and tighten the clamps with a screwdriver. Another way to join the hose is to attach a female hose connector to one end and a male connector to the other and screw them together. This method gives you two hoses from one.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the connectors you buy are the correct size for your hose. If you are not sure, bring a cut-off piece of hose with you to the hardware store.

• Glue barbed couplings and connectors to the hose with epoxy cement for a more secure connection that will withstand more pressure.

• To prolong the life of your hose, roll it up when not in use to protect it from direct sunlight and don't stretch it across a driveway where it might get run over by cars.

References

• Community Online: Repairing Garden Hoses
• Accurate Building: How to Repair a Leaking Garden Hose