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A garden hose, hosepipe, or simply hose is a flexible tube used to convey
water Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as ...
. There are a number of common attachments available for the end of the hose, such as sprayers and sprinklers (which are used to concentrate water at one point or to spread it over a large area). Hoses are usually attached to a hose spigot or tap.


Terminology

The alternative term "hosepipe" is a chiefly British, South African, and southern US usage; "hose" or "garden hose" is the predominant term in other English-speaking areas. The term "
hose A hose is a flexible hollow tube designed to carry fluids from one location to another. Hoses are also sometimes called '' pipes'' (the word ''pipe'' usually refers to a rigid tube, whereas a hose is usually a flexible one), or more generally ...
" is also used for other types of flexible, water-carrying tubes such as fire hose used by fire departments.


Description

Garden hoses are typically made of extruded
synthetic rubber A synthetic rubber is an artificial elastomer. They are polymers synthesized from petroleum byproducts. About 32-million metric tons of rubbers are produced annually in the United States, and of that amount two thirds are synthetic. Synthetic rubb ...
or soft
plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adapta ...
, often reinforced with an internal web of
fiber Fiber or fibre (from la, fibra, links=no) is a natural or artificial substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The strongest engineering materials often incorporate ...
s. As a result of these materials, garden hoses are flexible and their smooth exterior facilitates pulling them past trees, posts and other obstacles. Garden hoses are also generally tough enough to survive occasional scraping on rocks and being stepped on, without damage or leaking. Each male end of a typical garden hose can mate with the female connector on another, which allows multiple garden hoses to be linked end-to-end to increase their overall length. Small
rubber Rubber, also called India rubber, latex, Amazonian rubber, ''caucho'', or ''caoutchouc'', as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other organic compounds. Thailand, Malaysia, and ...
or
plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adapta ...
washers (often confusingly called "hose washers") are used in female ends to prevent leakage, because the threads are not tapered and are not used to create a seal. Most garden hoses are not rated for use with hot water; even leaving certain hoses in the sun while pressurized can cause them to burst. Hoses used to carry
potable water Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, ...
are typically made of
NSF International NSF (an initialism for National Sanitation Foundation) is a product testing, inspection, certification organization with headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan. NSF also offers consulting and training services worldwide. History NSF Internatio ...
-listed polymers tested and shown not to leach harmful materials into the drinking water, such as the
plasticizer A plasticizer ( UK: plasticiser) is a substance that is added to a material to make it softer and more flexible, to increase its plasticity, to decrease its viscosity, and/or to decrease friction during its handling in manufacture. Plasticiz ...
s ( phthalates) used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC, or vinyl) hoses.


Use

As implied by the name, garden hoses are commonly used to transport water for gardening, lawn care, and other landscaping purposes. They are also used for outdoor cleaning of items such as vehicles, equipment, building exteriors, and animals. NSF-approved hoses may be used for connecting drinkable water to recreational vehicles and trailers. Whenever a flexible hose is connected to a drinkable water supply, the spigot or tap should be fitted with an approved
backflow prevention device A backflow prevention device is used to protect potable water supplies from contamination or pollution due to backflow. In water distribution systems, water is normally maintained at a significant pressure to enable water to flow from the tap, s ...
, to prevent contaminated water from being
siphon A siphon (from grc, σίφων, síphōn, "pipe, tube", also spelled nonetymologically syphon) is any of a wide variety of devices that involve the flow of liquids through tubes. In a narrower sense, the word refers particularly to a tube in a ...
ed back, in the event of a pressure drop. Many water suppliers require this, and
plumbing code A plumbing code is a code that provides regulations for the design, installation and inspection of building plumbing and sanitary systems. In the United States, jurisdictions enact their own codes, some of which are based upon model plumbing codes ...
may legally require permanently installed backflow preventers.


Porous or perforated soaker hoses

Special hoses designed to leak throughout their length are sometimes used to gently distribute water on a lawn or garden. These hoses have either many small holes drilled or punched in them, or are made of a porous material, such as
sintered Clinker nodules produced by sintering Sintering or frittage is the process of compacting and forming a solid mass of material by pressure or heat without melting it to the point of liquefaction. Sintering happens as part of a manufacturing ...
rubber particles. These "soaker hoses" are a simple, low-cost, substitute for a drip irrigation system.


Expandable hoses

These differ from traditional hoses in that the inner membrane expands when filled with water, much like a balloon. An outer cover protects the delicate expandable membrane from punctures. Such hoses "grow" when pressurized, and shrink back down when the pressure is released, allowing for easier storage.


Standards and connectors

Garden hoses connect using a male/female thread connection. The technical term for this arrangement is a "hose union". Spigots or sillcocks have male hose connectors only, and the mating end of a hose has a captive nut which fits the threads there. The thread standard for garden hose connectors in the United States, its territories, and Canada is known colloquially as "garden hose thread" (GHT), but its official designation is NH ("National Hose"): *-11.5NH designates full form threads as produced by cutting material such as the brass spigot outlet or hose male or female end fitting found on more expensive hoses. *-11.5NHR designates thin-walled couplers produced by rolling thin material, usually brass, typically found on less expensive hoses. *-14NPSH designates female hose ends that mate a hose to a tapered pipe thread without a spigot. The US standard was defined by NFPA 1963, "Standard for Fire Hose Connections", then later by ANSI-ASME B1.20.7, which specifies diameter straight (non-tapered) thread with a pitch of 11.5
threads per inch A screw thread, often shortened to thread, is a helical structure used to convert between rotational and linear movement or force. A screw thread is a ridge wrapped around a cylinder or cone in the form of a helix, with the former being called a ...
(TPI). The female thread is abbreviated FHT (for "female hose thread"), and the male part is abbreviated MHT (for "male hose thread"). This fitting is used with -inch, -inch, and -inch hoses. In other countries, a
British Standard Pipe British Standard Pipe (BSP) is a set of technical standards for screw threads that has been adopted internationally for interconnecting and sealing pipes and fittings by mating an external (male) thread with an internal (female) thread. It has b ...
(BSP) thread is used, which is and 14 TPI (male part outside diameter is ). The GHT and BSP standards are not compatible, and attempting to connect a GHT hose to a BSP fitting, or vice versa, will damage the threads. Various adaptors made of metal or plastic are available to interconnect GHT, BSP, NPT, hose barb, and quick connect fittings.


Quick connectors

In the 1980s, the use of quick-connector systems became increasingly popular. These are fittings that attach to the hose and or screw into common hose connectors and equipment, allowing hoses and accessories to be easily connected together using a snap-fit type system. The first plastic connector was invented in the UK by Hozelock in 1959 and the style has now become the de facto standard throughout Europe and the wider world, compatible with and imitated by many other manufacturers. Some connectors incorporate an 'autostop' feature. This is an internal valve that is shut off by water pressure coming from the hose; it is opened by connecting a fitting or appliance, so that a disconnected hose using this adaptor will stop the flow of water. This eases connecting and changing appliances without the need to shut off the water first.


Health risks from aerosols

In 2014, it was reported that use of common garden hoses in combination with spray nozzles may generate aerosols containing droplets smaller than 10 μm, which can be inhaled by nearby people. Water stagnating in a hose between uses, especially when warmed by the sun, can host the growth and interaction of '' Legionella'' and free-living amoebae (FLA) as
biofilm A biofilm comprises any syntrophic consortium of microorganisms in which cells stick to each other and often also to a surface. These adherent cells become embedded within a slimy extracellular matrix that is composed of extracellular po ...
s on the inner surface of the hose. Clinical cases of
Legionnaires' disease Legionnaires' disease is a form of atypical pneumonia caused by any species of '' Legionella'' bacteria, quite often ''Legionella pneumophila''. Signs and symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, high fever, muscle pains, and headaches. Na ...
or Pontiac fever have been found to be associated with inhalation of garden hose aerosols containing ''Legionella'' bacteria. The report provided measured microbial densities resulting from controlled hose conditions in order to quantify the human health risks. The densities of ''Legionella spp.'' identified in two types of hoses were found to be similar to those reported during legionellosis outbreaks from other causes. It was proposed that the risk could be mitigated by draining hoses after use.


Gallery

File:Herten - Kurt-Schumacher-Straße - Rathaus 05 ies.jpg, Garden hose in use (Germany) File:Gardenhose.JPG, Closeup of a garden hose shows the crisscrossed fiber reinforcements File:Gardena hose pistol.jpg, Gardena quick-connect hose fittings File:Garten Schlauchwagen 5749.jpg, Hose cart and some quick-connect fittings File:Great Swamp Greenhouse photos coiled watering hose close in.JPG, This
greenhouse A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse, or, if with sufficient heating, a hothouse) is a structure with walls and roof made chiefly of transparent material, such as glass, in which plants requiring regulated climatic conditions are grown.These ...
is equipped with a hose suspended on
pulley A pulley is a wheel on an axle or shaft that is designed to support movement and change of direction of a taut cable or belt, or transfer of power between the shaft and cable or belt. In the case of a pulley supported by a frame or shell that ...
s File:Elastikvandslange (9074754591).jpg, Special expandable hose can be stretched to reach farther


See also

* Drip irrigation * Fire hose * Hose coupling *
Outdoor water-use restriction An outdoor water-use restriction is a ban or other lesser restrictions put into effect that restricts the outdoor use of water supplies. Often called a watering ban or hosepipe ban, it can affect: *irrigation of lawns * car washing *recreational ...
, or "hosepipe ban"


References


External links

{{Garden tools Gardening tools Hoses