Flexi hoses are a type of plumbing pipe made from a variety of different materials. They have the advantage of being relatively flexible and easy to install and replace. This makes them popular among do-it-yourself (DIY) plumbing enthusiasts and professional plumbers.
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Flexi hoses come in several sizes, shapes, and colors to suit even the most complex pipe systems. The length of the hose can also be easily adjusted, making them ideal for hard-to-reach places. Flexi plumbing hoses are also known for their watertight connections, which help prevent any water leaks in your home.
While there are benefits to using flexi plumbing hoses, there are also drawbacks to using them. To help you choose the correct piping material for your house, we have created an extensive outline of the advantages, disadvantages, and applications of flexi hoses.
What Causes a Braided Water Hose to Break?
A braided water hose consists of a rubber inner tube surrounded by tightly-woven fabric and metal bands. These features offer greater resistance to abrasion and higher pressure ratings than traditional hoses. However, the design of flexi plumbing hoses is not indestructible.
As with standard water hoses, there are several common causes for breakage in a braided hose. Most involve external damage such as cuts or abrasions, over-flexing at tight angles, exposure to sunlight, freezing temperatures, or high temperatures that can cause cracking to the rubber tube.
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Prolonged kinking or incorrect fittings can pull apart components of the effective braid layers. Long-term exposure to UV radiation is particularly destructive and should be avoided whenever possible. Finally, chemical immersion or contact with certain substances can eat away at coatings or otherwise weaken sections of the flexi hose, eventually leading to failure.
How to Prevent Flexible Water Hoses From Rupturing at Your Property
To prevent flexible water hoses from rupturing at your property, it is essential to routinely inspect them for signs of wear and tear. It&#;s important to take the time to look for any cracks or leaks that could lead to a rupture.
You should also regularly replace flexi plumbing hoses every five years to ensure they operate safely with minimal risk of malfunctioning or rupturing. Lastly, follow these steps below to help prevent flexi hoses from rupturing in your house.
1. Always Hire a Plumber to Install the Flexible Water Hose
Hiring a plumber to install your flexible water hose is an important decision that can save you money and prevent damage to your home. Plumbers have a wealth of knowledge on the correct types of hoses, connections, and fittings best suited for your situation.
They will also inspect the entire system to ensure everything is functioning correctly and up to code. If not installed properly, a flexible water hose can cause costly damage to walls, floors, and ceilings due to flooding and leaks.
Furthermore, since plumbing is a requirement for health codes, a do-it-yourself (DIY) job could leave you liable for fines or other penalties if the installation does not meet local standards. So, while hiring a plumber may cost more upfront, it&#;s the wisest decision in the long run.
2. Regularly Check Your Flexible Hoses For Rust Or Fraying
Checking your flexible hoses for signs of rust or fraying is a significant maintenance step. Run your fingers along the hose every three to six months to see any changes.
If the flexible plumbing hose is rusted, or braids are unraveling, it&#;s time to call a licensed plumber for replacement. It&#;s also best to turn off the water until a plumber arrives for extra caution.
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3. Install Mini Stop Taps On All Water Feed Connections
Another wise step for you to take is to add mini-stop taps on the fixtures and taps. This will help provide more protection in case of an emergency. Have your plumber install flexible hose connections with mini stop valves on all water lines. If the hose breaks or leaks, you can use the valves to stop the water.
4. Replace Existing Hoses With More Current and Durable Flexi Hoses
Flexi hoses have an excellent reputation for a reason, and your plumber will likely recommend that you replace your existing hoses with them. When speaking with your plumber, consider asking them for recommendations. They can provide you with options and may even be able to supply their own flexible braided hoses.
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Water Line Repair and Inspection Services
Our team of local plumbers in Baltimore, MD and other areas offer reputable water line repair and water line replacement services for homes. If you&#;re experiencing clogs, strange odors, or lawn problems, we can provide water line repair services to solve your issues. In addition, our technicians offer a variety of other plumbing services including sink installation, water heater repair, drain cleaning, and sump pump installation. Give our plumbers a call at 1-800-642- to receive assistance installing a flexi hose or to get support with other plumbing issues in your house.
How well do you know your flexible hoses? Do the terms &#;permeation,&#; &#;post-sintered&#; or &#;bend radius&#; have meaning or do they seem more like unintelligible industry jargon? If it&#;s the latter, you&#;re not alone! Bottom line, it&#;s easy to order the wrong hose.
Ratermann is here to help. Below we&#;ve got the basics you need to understand hose terminology, and more importantly, choose the correct hose for your application.
Why flexible hoses?
Let&#;s start with the &#;why&#; behind flexible hoses. Flexible hoses are a staple in the cryogenic and compressed gas industry for the transfer of gases and liquids, and they&#;ve come a long way in terms of safety and durability. Flexible hoses are THE answer to the biggest problems created by rigid hoses: cracking and leaking.
Ratermann has an exhaustive selection of flexible hoses for cryogenic and compressed gas applications from high pressure to CO2 to tube trailers. Whether you&#;re working with liquified nitrogen, oxygen or argon or compressed gases like oxygen, helium and hydrogen, we have a hose in-stock for your application. And if an off-the-shelf hose doesn't fit the bill, we can create a custom solution.
Most common flexible hose materials:
There are several choices to consider when choosing a hose: stainless steel, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and composite materials are among the most common. These are chosen for their ability to withstand extreme temperatures, high pressures and corrosive environments. The hose material you choose will depend on your application. (Stay tuned for Flexible Hoses Part 2, where we&#;ll deep dive into hose materials and applications.)
Important hose terms:
There are a number of terms that pop up when talking about flexible hoses for cryogenic and compressed gases. Here&#;s a brief glossary of some of the most common terms, phrases and acronyms you&#;ll see:
Adapters: Refers to accessories to reduce or enlarge the size of a connection or hose line, used to bridge a hose assembly.
Adiabatic Compression: This refers to the heat generated by compressing air that remains in the compressed air.
Armor Casing: Armor casing can easily be installed over a braided hose to prevent kinking and whipping in the event of a hose burst. It also protects the hose exterior from incidental damage.
Bend Radius: The minimum distance a hose can be bent without causing damage.
Braiding: A stainless steel braid that encases the inner core and gives the hose its strength to hold pressure. A high pressure hose can have from one (3,000 PSI) to four braids (5,000 PSI) depending on pressure requirements.
Burst Pressure: Maximum pressure before a hose will rupture. Make sure the average working pressure of the hose is well above the required maximum pressure of your application.
CCB: Clean, Capped & Bagged - meaning that a hose is cleaned and ready for oxygen service.
CGA: The Compressed Gas Association is a trade association for the industrial and medical gas supply industry, and publishes standards and practices to codify industry practices.
Diffusion/Effusion: Diffusion occurs when gas molecules disperse throughout a container. Effusion occurs when a gas passes through a small opening, often described as a pinhole. Hoses that effuse gases can also diffuse gases. Diffusion can introduce contaminants that could affect the high purity gas stream. If this is a concern, consider using an all-metal hose.
FNPT: Female national pipe threads.
MAWP: Maximum Allowable Working Pressure is the maximum pressure for which the hose assembly is designed.
Molecular Size: The size of molecules that a hose can effectively contain or prevent from passing through. For example, hydrogen and helium have the smallest molecular weight, and thus present a higher risk of permeation loss.
Permeation: How gas molecules pass through the pores of a hose. If permeation is a concern, consider using an all-metal hose. Make certain the flow rate is below the suggested threshold level. Alternative options are ETFE or PTFE post sintered hoses, which reduce effusion by around 75 percent.
Post Sintered: A process used to enhance the properties of a material by improving strength, density, etc. Essentially, heating or &#;baking&#; a material to a temperature just below its melting point, causing it to fuse into a solid mass.
Swivel Fittings: Fittings that allow the coupling and hose connection to rotate, preventing kinking and excessive bending.
Velocity or SCFH: The amount of flow a hose is rated for, as standard cubic feet per hour (SCFH).
Choosing a hose? Ask these questions.
As we mentioned earlier, it&#;s all too easy to order the wrong hose &#; either because of a misunderstanding of hose terminology or of how important it is to match the hose with your application. To prevent wasting time and money, ask these questions when selecting a hose:
- What is the application? Do you need a hose for high pressure gas or cryogenic liquids?
- What is the maximum pressure in your application?
- What is the flow rate (SCFH)?
- What length is needed? Standard lengths are in-stock and ready to ship, custom lengths can be ordered. It&#;s also a good idea to give yourself extra length, just in case.
- What type of end fittings do you need? The most common are ¼&#; female NPT.
- Do you need armor to protect the hose from kinking and reducing whip?
- Do you need CCB for oxygen service?
- Do you need swivels, tethers, or other special options?
Ratermann has the hoses you need in-stock and ready to ship!
Shop our extensive hose collection or check out our Hose Builder tool to build the right hose for your application!
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