Most of the vehicles have a standard hose in their AC fittings. But you may have listened by many people to replace it with a reduced barrier hose. If you do not know much about the hoses, surely you should need to know what is reduced barrier ac hose.
A reduced barrier ac hose is used for a similar application as the standard ac hose. They are almost similar except for the thickness of the wall; the reduced barrier ac hose has a thinner wall that makes it better and more flexible for ac fittings than the standard hose.
However, you need to know more about reduced barrier ac hose. Stay here; you will be taught about reduced barriers and a hose with detailed information support.
What is a Reduced Barrier Hose? Let’s Know The Basic
Reduce barrier AC hose is a modern style of traditional AC hose with a smaller diameter. Because of its thinner diameter, it is easier to route it in ac fittings. It also has a better ability to crimp as well as a clamp.
Reduce barrier hoses because their thinner wall, flexibility, design, and outside diameter are suitable for many fitting applications.
Why Are Reduced Barrier AC Hoses Better Than Standard AC Hoses?
Reduced barrier ac hose found a better choice for the ac fittings for the following reasons.
- Easy to route
Ac lines are smaller in diameter; sometimes, running the hose through ac fittings becomes challenging. But reduced barrier ac hose because of thinner diameter makes it easy to run through ac lines.
- Better performance
Reduced barrier ac hoses come in smaller diameters, but it does not mean they are less durable. They are made of high-quality, sturdy material that makes them excellent for protecting from leakages.
- Lightweight
Standard ac hoses are bulky because of thicker walls. While the reduced barrier hoses are lighter and look minimalist.
- Versatile
Reduced barrier ac hose offers versatility in use. They are compatible to use in R-12 and R-134 refrigerants. So whatever system you have, you can use a similar ac hose.
- Light Design
Because of light specifications, reduced barrier ac hoses have light designs and look better than standard ac hoses.
- Flexible use
Reduced barrier ac hoses also offer more flexibility because of the thinner wall. They are easy to clamp, crimp and route in different fittings.
What Fittings Do I Need for Reduced Barrier Hoses?
When it comes to fittings, for the reduced barrier hoses, you need barrier hose fittings.
Barrier hose fittings have the same id as the standard hoses but have a thinner wall. Only the barrier hose fittings give correct and tighter bends with reduced barrier hoses.
What Size Reduced Barrier AC Hose Do I Need?
A single reduced barrier AC hose is not fit for all AC fittings. You need different sizes of reduced barrier AC hoses for the perfect performance of AC.
Before choosing the reduced ac hose size, you should also consider the fitting size and diameter of the ac line.
Below is the AC barrier hose size; it may help you quickly find the best hose and fittings for the AC line system.
AC barrier hose Size Chart:
| Hose Size | #6 | #8 | #10 | #12 | #14 |
| Inside Diameter | 5/16” | 13/32” | 1/2″ | 5/8” | 3/4″ |
| Outside Diameter | 39/64” | 45/64” | 25/32” | 61/64” | 11/8” |
| Fitting Size | 3/8” | 1/2″ | 5/8” | 3/4″ | 5/8” or 3/4″ |
What Does It Mean That #8 Reduced Barrier Hose Size?
# 8 read as 8AN, in hoses size AN refers to the number 16. So when you say #8, it means 8/16″. It is the same as 1/2″ size. You can do simple calculations to know the size of different AN hose sizes.
Example: # Reduced Barrier Hose
| #6 = 6/16” = 3/8” |
| #8 = 8/16”= 1/2″ |
| #10 = 10/16”= 5/8” |
| #12 = 12/16”= 3/4″ |
| #14 = 14/16”= 7/8” |
What Is the Difference Between R-134 and R-12 Fittings?
The major difference between R12 and R-134 fitting is the amount of time they remain in the earth’s atmosphere. R-12 is found to be more efficient than the new R-134 fittings. It can spend more time in the atmosphere than the newer R-134.
Where Can I Use Reduced Barrier Hoses?
Because of their small size and flexibility, reduced barrier hoses are compatible with several other applications than the AC lines. Reduced barrier hoses are compatible with both hydraulic and pneumatic applications in the industry.
Barrier Hose and Hydraulics: Things You Need to Know
Hydraulic hose uses of reduced barrier hoses included their use for transferring liquid fluids from one point to another without leakage.
It is used for transporting water, fluids, and different chemicals. Manufacturing and construction industries use hydraulic hoses to transfer liquid, fuel, or water in machines.
Barrier Hose and Pneumatic: An Overview
Pneumatic applications of reduced barrier hoses involve the transfer of gases from one point to another. Here you need very tight sealing to protect from gas leakage.
Reduced barrier hoses are used in air brakes, air compressors, pressure regulators, jackhammers, and many others.
What Is the Average Cost of a Reduced Barrier AC Hose?
The cost of barrier hoses varies from hose to hose, depending on the brand and material used. The average cost for an AC hose ranges between 8$ to 280 dollars.
A complete AC hose line may cost you between 500 to 550 $ excluding taxes and labor costs. You may pay 100 to 150 dollars for complete installation.
What Is the Best-Reduced Barrier AC Hose?
You can find hundreds of reduced barrier AC hoses, but we have sorted out the two best quality AC hoses for you. They ensure high performance, long-lasting, affordable, and sturdy materials made that are easy to install.
Zomia Portable Air Conditioner Hose is excellent and available in 5 inches in diameter and 80″ in length. You will find it compatible with LG, Haier, and many other ACs.
TURBRO Portable Air Conditioner Universal Exhaust Hose is another top quality but affordable barrier ac hose. It is compatible with all AC systems.
Final Verdict
Reduced barrier ac hoses are a better alternative to standard ac hoses. They are used for similar applications as standard hoses but come with more flexibility than standard ac hoses. Smaller diameter and light design make them suitable for ac lines and many hydraulic and pneumatic applications.
