How an Expandable Hose Works

Expandable hoses are a new innovation that is small in length but expands when the water pressure is on. It has made our life a lot easier. Whether watering the garden or washing the car, an expandable hose can come in handy. But, how an expandable hose works? 

An expandable hose has two layers, including elastic rubber or expandable latex for inner tubing and the outside layer is usually waterproof fabrics. When the water flow is on, it creates pressure on the expandable materials and causes the hose to stretch to 2 or 3 times its original length.

More detailed information may help you to understand the process better. We have covered everything about expandable hoses in this article. You can use the knowledge to select a suitable expandable hose for your work.

Do Flexible Hoses Really Work?

Traditional hoses require a lot of maintenance work. You need to coil them after you have finished watering and then uncoil the next day again. That’s why experts suggest using expandable or flexible hoses. You may ask, do flexible hoses really work?

Yes, flexible hoses work absolutely fine and are a perfect replacement for traditional hoses. The use of stretchable materials enables them to expand or coil up on their own.

How an Expandable Garden Hose Works

Expandable hoses are quite flexible to use, but how? You need to get an idea of the expandable hose materials in order to understand its working process.

The design of the expandable Garden hose uses two layers. First is the inner tube through which water flows, and second is the outer fabric to protect the hose.

Different manufacturers may use different materials in these layers. Elastic rubber and thermoplastic copolyester (TPC) are most common for inner latex tubing. Similarly, the hoses use PVC coating or any other waterproofing materials for the outer layer.

You will also find hoses with several layers of inner latex tubing. Though many say the higher the layer, the more durable the hose is, that’s not entirely true. More layers enable the hose to handle pressure better; other than that, there are no additional benefits.

These materials have stretchable or expandable properties. So when water starts to come through the Garden hoses, pressure starts to build up. In consequence, the hose starts to expand and reaches a length of two or three times the original.

Then when you turn off the water, the pressure will be gone. As a result, the hose will shrink again and back to its normal and smaller size. Overall, this is how an expandable hose functions.

Are Expandable Hoses Worth It?

Though expandable hoses sound good, many people who haven’t used them doubt if expandable hoses are worth it. Yes, expandable hoses offer many benefits that you will not get from traditional hoses.

Some of the advantages of using expandable hoses are:

• Self-coiling: The major benefit of an expandable hose is that they coil automatically. When you finish watering with your traditional hose, you need to coil it or roll it up. But the elasticity of expandable hoses enables self-coiling.

• Self-draining: Another problem with traditional hoses is draining the remaining water out of the hose after finishing work. But the latex tubing in the expandable hoses automatically pushes out the water.  

• No tangles: If you have a traditional hose you know very well how that tangles or kinks when getting it out for work. But the innovative technology of the expandable hoses reduces the possibility of such problems. They are designed in a way that even if you try to tangle or kink the hose, you are less likely to succeed.

• Lightweight: Expandable hoses are not only small but also lightweight. The materials used in this type of hoses weigh a lot lighter than that of traditional ones.

• Highly Portable: Expandable hoses are also highly portable due to their low weight and size. Even a kid can carry them easily.

• Less Maintenance & Easy Storing: As the expandable hoses offer so many benefits such as self-draining, coiling, and no tangling, the maintenance required is close to nothing. While traditional hoses are bulky and large, expandable hoses are completely opposite. Hence, expandable hoses do not require much space, making them easy to store.

Almost every problem you face with traditional hoses can be solved with expandable hoses. So, there is no doubt that expandable hoses are worth it. If you are confused about whether to buy one or not, our recommendation is that if you need a new hose, an expandable hose is the best choice.

Can an Expandable Hose Be Used With a Pressure Washer?

Yes, you can use an expandable hose with a pressure washer if the faucet fits the inlet of the hose. However, you need to be careful about the hose’s pressure handling capacity. If the expandable hose is not rated for high pressure, but you put excess pressure, there can be adverse effects. 

Expandable hoses with multiple layers of inner tubing can withstand higher pressure than normal ones. So, if you are going to use the hose with a pressure washer, the best solution is to check the pressure rating when you are purchasing. 

Can You Attach an Expandable Hose to a Regular Hose?

Yes, you can attach an expandable hose to a regular hose. However, you will need to use a push-in adapter if your existing hose has a push-in connector. The adapter should be of female thread for connecting two hoses. 

How Long Does an Expandable Hose Last?

Expandable hoses can last at least ten years to a lifetime. How long your expandable hose will last depends on the quality of materials used and how well you maintain and store it.

Best Expandable Hose

Is the wide range of options for expandable hoses in the market confusing you? If you are not sure which one to buy, here are our top picks:

1. HBlife Expandable Water Hose with Solid Brass Fittings

Highlighted Features:

• 9 Function Spray Nozzle
• Multipurpose and expandable water hose
• 1/3 the weight of a regular hose
• ¾” brass connectors
• Highly flexible 3750D polyester fabric cover

The Expandable Water Hose from HBlife can be a perfect choice for your work. HBlife is popular for its high-quality products and superior customer service. It is perfect for watering gardens and washing cars.

HBlife Expandable Water Hose review:

Materials: This hose uses a double latex pipe on the inner side and an extra-flexible polyester fabric cover for the outer layer.

Durability: The outer layer is pretty strong and protects the hose from leaking, and also helps to prevent tangling, kinking, or cracking. Brass connectors and other materials ensure long durability.

Design: You have different size options starting from 25 feet to 150 feet. It comes in black color, and the overall design is very lightweight. The hose nozzle has nine functions.

Other features: This hose from HBlife expands three times its original size when the water pressure is on. The pressure rating ranges from 60 to 180 PSI. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. Mahoon Expandable Hose

Highlighted Features:

• 100ft heavy duty Water hose
• 9 function spray nozzle
• 3/4” solid brass accessories (USA standard)
• Material: Rubber, Polyester, Latex 
• 100% 4-layer latex
• Outer Layer: 3750D polyester fabric

Mahoon is well known for offering high-quality hoses and related equipment. This Expandable Garden is one of their best products. Whether you want to wash your car or water your garden, this one can satisfy you.

Mahoon Expandable Hose Review: 

Materials: It uses a four-layer latex core and polyester fabric cover. These are highly elastic materials. 

Durability: Four layers of inner tubing extend its lifespan. It performs pretty well in 41° to 113° Fahrenheit. 

Design: The design of the hose is pretty flexible and never tangles or kinks. It comes in black color and is 100 feet in length.

Other features: This one also stretches to three times the original size. It also has a 9 pattern nozzle for extra convenience. The pressure rating is 43 to 174 PSI. When you finish working, it will automatically get back to its original length.

3. INNAV8 Expandable Garden Hose

Highlighted Features:

• Made with premium quality materials
• 35% longer life than normal hose 
• 3X expandable hose 
• Top grade triple layer technology 

Though we have listed it on number three INNAV8 Expandable Garden Hose is one of the best in the market. It is an ideal choice for watering in the garden or yard and washing cars.

INNAV8 Expandable Garden Hose Review:

Materials: This one uses high-quality latex, and the fittings are made of strong brass. It has a two-layer of core or internal tubing.

Durability: The use of rigid and sturdy materials protects it from twisting and tangling, which makes the hose pretty durable.

Design: Like other hoses, it also comes in black color. It has only one length option, 50 feet. It’s easy to carry and store due to its lightweight design.

Other Features: When you turn on the waterline, the pressure will make the hose expand to 3x. The on-off switch on the hose outlet makes the user experience pretty convenient.

Video: Expandable Garden Hoses Most 5 Fast Facts

Conclusion

We hope you now understand how an expandable hose works. Its stretchable materials play the main role in expanding the hoses. Additionally, these hoses come with many benefits, which is why more and more people are switching to expandable hoses for work. And, you also can go for one if you need a hose.