Square Foot Gardening Soaker Hose

How to Repair a Garden Hose

Fix leaky garden hoses quickly and cheaply.

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Time

An hour or less

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

$5–10

Introduction

There is nothing more frustrating than a leaky garden hose. Half your water goes down the storm drain or onto your shoes and not on your lawn. It doesn't have to be that way. Read on to learn some quick, inexpensive and easy garden hose fixes.

Tools Required

Materials Required

Garden hose repair couplings

Project step-by-step (5)

Step 1

Where is the Leak?

If water is leaking from either end of the hose, such as at the faucet or spray attachment, the fix could be as simple as replacing the rubber washers in the female end of the hose and or spray attachment.
If a leak is within a foot of the male or female connectors, cut off the end of the hose and replace the connector.
If the leak is in the middle of the hose, cut out the damaged section and splice the hose back together with a repair coupling.

Garden Hose Washer

Step 2

Measure

Before heading to the hardware store for repair parts, measure what size garden hose you have. The three common sizes of garden hose are 1/2-, 5/8-, and 3/4-inch. That is the ID (inside diameter) of the hose.
The OD (outside diameter) is typically 1/8-inch larger than the ID. So a 5/8-inch hose has a 3/4-inch OD.

Hosesize

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Step 4

Four Easy Repairs

Clench Hose Menders

Replace the ends or splice the middle of a hose with clinch hose menders. Once you have the damage section cut off the hose, stick the barbed end of the repair fitting into the hose. Bend the tangs down and into the hose, squeezing it evenly with a pair of pliers, channel locks or vice grips.

Clenchhosemenders

Clampingtangs

Clamp Couplers

Clamp couplers for ends and splicing hoses are another easy hose fix.
Remove the screws and cover from the coupler.
Stick the barbed end into the hose.
Replace the cover and tighten the screws.

Clampcoupler

Tightenclampcoupler

Hose Clamps

Hose clamps and a three-inch piece of 1/2-inch copper tubing work well for a splice repair.
Slip a hose clamp over the end of the cut hose.
Insert the 1/2-inch piece of copper tubing into the hose, letting 1-1/2 inches stick out. Now, tighten the hose clamp with a screwdriver.
Slip another hose clamp over the end of the other piece of cut hose. Insert the 1/2-inch piece of copper tubing and tighten the clamp with a screwdriver.

Hoseclampinsert

Tightennuts

Compression Mender

Compression mender probably is the easiest garden hose fix.
Unscrew and separate the collar from the repair fitting.
Slip the collar over the hose.
Push the repair fitting onto the hose, then screw and tighten the collar to the repair fitting.

Compressionmender

Step 5

Test for Leaks

Connect the hose to the faucet and turn it on, checking for leaks.
If a repair leaks, try tightening the screws or collar on the fitting.

Hoseleak2

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