Different garden hoses
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The two main materials for hoses are vinyl and rubber.
Additionally, hoses are built from layers of materials. Each layer is called a ply. The more layers, the stronger your hose will be. Hoses range from one to six ply.
Before buying a hose, consider how you plan to use it. If you occassionally drink from the hose, or plan to use it for backyard water activities (like filling the kiddie pool), make sure it is safe to drink from the hose. Some hose materials contain lead, which is dangerous in small quantities.
Obviously, you need a hose long enough reach everything you want to water. Hoses come in increments of 25', so the longest individual hose you can buy is 100'(30 1/2m) long. However, water pressure drops through the length of the hose, so you don't want a hose that's longer than you need. If you usually need a short hose but occassionally need a longer hose (e.g., for occasionally cleaning jobs), you might be best off buying two shorter hoses and only connecting them when you need a long hose. After all, you don't want to have hose in different area codes.
The other important dimension of a hose is its diameter. Hoses available for household use come in 1/2"(1.3cm), 5/8"(1.6cm), 3/4"(1.9cm), and 1"(2.5cm). The two most common widths are 5/8"(1.6cm) and 3/4"(1.9cm). A bigger diameter will allow you to spray more water at once.
The fittings, also known as the couplings, are the ends of the hose where it attaches to something else- either the water tap or the nozzle. Fittings may be metal (usually brass) or plastic. Brass is more durable, but plastic is easier to tighten. A tight fit is important for water conservation, so be sure that you can tighten the fitting adequately.
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