Water Hose Gaskets That Last Longer Than 15 Minutes

[edatlanta]

I think the title says it all. I full time and I have never found a gasket that lasts any length of time in full time use. My main white water hose has been in use since August 2010 and it is still going strong, but I couldn't even count the number of gaskets I have put is it and others.

Any suggestions of a source? I know they are cheap, but drips drive me crazy.

[nunyadamn]

I can't say they are better than any other, but I know Home Depot and lowes sells them.

[Camper_bob]

I just got done chasing down my drips, I can't stand them either.

I discovered it's as much about the fittings as the gaskets. I replaced all the gaskets as I've done plenty of times, and still had drips. Upon close inspection, one of my male ends (factory fitting) wasn't quite round anymore, somehow it had gotten bent just slightly. So I went to Home Depot, and in the spot where they have the garden hoses I found some really crappy replacement ends. But like I often do, I went wandering around the store just to see what I could see. I came to the spot where all the other brass and copper threaded fittings were and found a MUCH better brass hose fitting. I cut off the factory male hose ends and replaced them with the new ones (don't forget hose clamps) and no more leaks!

I think I have all the male ends done for my hoses, now I just have to replace all the females and I should be completely drip free! Of course I will still have to replace gaskets, but I'm hoping the better fittings extend that service interval somewhat!

[slabat]

I know the ends of hoses are made cheap and ben easily. However if you make sure you take care of them and don't drive over them, step on them etc they will last a long time . When I buy gaskets I make sure they are soft rubber ones and not the hard plastic ones.

[SouthCo]

Like Bob, the fittings on my home hose (for car washing and such) has become slightly bent and now drips. I did relpace the gasket which helped but it still drips a little. I hadn't even thought of replacing the fittings, but now it's on the list. Thanks Bob....

[Brownie]

You might also try a couple of wraps of Teflon tape on the male fittings. It can keep those slightly "out-of-round" fittings from dripping until you can get replacements.

[Seann45]

It is not really the washers it is the cheap hose fittings.. they seem to last one use then die.

[clutch]

Seann, I agree. Just tightening them causes them to warp out of shape.

[edatlanta]

Your coment makes more sense than anything I have heard so far Seann. Some of the warping could be so little that it couldn't be seen easily. Obviously stepping on a hose end or running over one would be a lot more obvious.

I think my solution, other than moving back into a s&b which won't happen, will be to buy better hoses and to replace the ends on the ones that are still serviceable with quality brass ends.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by clutch

Seann, I agree. Just tightening them causes them to warp out of shape.

I have to think that's how mine bent. I'm always VERY careful with my hose ends not to step on them or run them over. The bend in the male end of the last "leaker" was so slight that I messed with it for quite some time, and even replaced the "female" side of that joint before I noticed it. I had to look REALLY close and the bend was SO slight. But as soon as I cut it off and replaced it with a quality fitting and used a good washer, I was in business with no more drips.

Like has been mentioned before, use the softer rubber washers; I use the orange or tan flat ones from Home Depot and they seem to work pretty well. Also, the higher quality fittings won't bend (or at least not nearly as easily), so replacing with a good quality brass end (not the ones from the garden hose section) is definitely the way to go.

[SecretCoveDave]

That's the system I put in place Ed.

[edatlanta]

I did find some "rubber" gaskets yesterday at Tractor Supply. I bought several packs.

As a side note, my mail fresh water hose that I have used full time for the past 4 1/2 years started leaking when I was setting back up after a move. I was leaking right at the pressure reducer connection and it was not the gasket. This original brass (thin) fitting finally started leaking through the fitting. I will probably just retire this hose vs new ends, etc. It was the first hose I bought when I started full time and I don't remember the brand, but it was originally 1/2" and now it is probably closer to 3/4" due to swelling. I have been watching it for months to see just when it would blow. If it wasn't so stiff and impossible to roll up I might repair it just out of nostalgia. But I think it is retirement time.