Hoses and Connectors

[steamclean]

Pressure hoses, how long do they usually last before you change them?
Is it by hours, years or when ever you feel the need?
Does the brass take a beating or do they leak, etc?

Thanks

 

[Lee Stockwell]

It depends on how much we baby them. If you let water freeze inside a steel reinforced hose its days are very numbered. We drain them at the end of each day. We never drag hoses, but reel them from hand held reels. Avoid getting them scissored in metal door frames. Good bend restrictors minimize premature end failures.

From new I get one year (700hrs) trouble-free.

Then, replace ends and reverse flow direction to get another trouble-free year.

After that Murphy's Law seems to rule, but 4 years is my limit because I hate nasty surprises.


Thanks,
Lee

 

[Out of Character - 0]

Lee, please elaborate on changing of flow direction and why. Never heard that one.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

When putting the male and female ends back on I switch them around.

The end that gets closest to the machine bears a lot of extra heat. The end that gets closest to the tools gets a lot of extra flexing. Switching seems to even out those factors.

 

[Out of Character - 0]

I never thought about the flexing.

Do you have an illustration of how to switch the qd's around. J/K

 

[lance]

Thank you Lee, that is a good idea.

When you change connectors how much hose do you cut off at the end? Is six inches good or should it be a foot?

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Look closely for delamination of the cover, or displacement of the wire (lumps similar to steel belted radial tire defect). Cut off six inches, examine the end. If not perfect, cut off six inches more and repeat if needed.