by Rynaldo Stoltz

Created on: September 04, 2009   Last Updated: September 05, 2009

How to repair holes in your garden hose

Many people would not take the time to repair their own garden hose if they find it damaged, instead they will go and buy a new one, but since the world is currently in a mild state of recession, this might not always be such a good idea. In my personal opinion, I find it hard to just get rid of something because of a small hole in it. Repairing your garden hose is a simple job and will take you a few minutes at most.

So what causes your hose to leak? Well, there are several factors such as gashes, slices and rips that cause your garden hose to leak. In some cases, fixing a garden hose can be rather expensive, but with a few tools on hand, you can fix this problem yourself. Before you start, make sure you have the following tools at hand:

- Plastic connectors or replacement end
- Hose clamp
- Screwdriver
- Knife (Preferably a Stanley knife)
- Cylindrical medicine bottles

Your next step would be identifying the leak or leaks in your garden hose. If the holes are big, it will be easy to locate but if the holes are small, simply turn on the water. Another good idea is to spray your hose with some soapy water before turning it on. The air pressure in the hose will cause the soap to bubble where the holes are. Observe the entire garden hose and make sure you find all the holes.

After locating all the holes, it is now time to "amputate" the leaking parts. Using a sharp knife, cut the leaking sections of the hose. Make sure that you cut straight and clean on either side of each hole. Not too big and not too small.

The next thing you will do is to attach your plastic connectors and pit the pieces back together. These plastic connectors are available in male and female parts and can be bought in different sizes at all hardware stores. Simply clamp the connector on the end of the hole and tighten with a screwdriver. If you do not plan on buying a connector, you can easily make your own. Take a cylindrical plastic bottle with a similar diameter to that of the garden hose, (preferably old medicine bottles). Now cut off the closed side of the medicine bottle and slide over the hole area on the hose. Voila! This method is usually more temporary than permanent, but works well.

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