


Photo: Safeguard your hose to avoid future damage. Connect the hose to a spigot or nozzle and turn on the water to ensure the coupling doesn’t leak. Push the exposed end of the hose into the connector of the coupling, and then twist the collar of the coupling clockwise to tighten it. Turn off the water, disconnect the hose, and remove the entire bent coupling with a hose cutter. Both the coupling type and diameter will be stated on the packaging. Also be sure to choose a coupling with the same diameter as that of your hose (e.g., 5/8-inch coupling for a 5/8-inch-diameter hose). There are two types of couplings: female (e.g., Nelson Female Hose Repair, available on Amazon) connects to the spigot and male (e.g., Nelson Male Hose Repair, available on Amazon) connects to a nozzle or sprinkler. Replacing a bent coupling with a new one that suits your needs will provide a permanent solution for the leak. A bent coupling loses the watertight seal between the hose and a spigot, nozzle, or sprinkler, causing a leak. If the coupling on either end of the hose continues to leak after a gasket replacement, the coupling may have gotten physically misshapen by a run-in with a lawn mower or other piece of heavy equipment. Replace a bent coupling with a new hose coupling. RELATED: The Best Hose Nozzles for Your Gardening Needs 4. Reconnect the hose to a spigot or nozzle and turn on the water to ensure the coupling no longer leaks. Generally, the thicker O-ring gaskets (e.g., Nelson O-ring, available on Amazon), the more watertight the seal flat gaskets don’t mold to the contours of the coupling quite as well. Use your fingers to push the new gasket inside the hose coupling. Turn off the water, disconnect the leaky hose end, and use needle-nose pliers to pull out the existing gasket inside the coupling on that hose end. Gaskets naturally wear with time and water exposure, so plan to switch out your hose gaskets every three to 10 years. If you spot a steady drip coming from the hose couplings when you connect it to a source, the gasket may need to be replaced. One of the peskiest garden hose problems is a leak in the coupling: the metal or plastic fitting found on both ends of a hose used to connect the hose to the spigot, a nozzle, or a sprinkler. Fix a leaky coupling with a new hose gasket.

Reconnect the hose to the spigot or a nozzle and turn on the water to verify there are no leaks. Attach the cut ends of the hose to the connectors of the hose mender, twisting the two collars on the mender clockwise to tighten. Turn off the water, disconnect the hose, and remove the torn section with a hose cutter or garden shears.

Water will gush from such tears when you turn on the tap, but a hose mender-a short plastic or metal tube that replaces the damaged section, available (e.g., Nelson Compression Fit Hose Mender on Amazon)-can come to the rescue. Larger tears in a hose often result from snagging on a tree or bush, cracking with exposure to extreme heat or cold, or chewing by a naughty pet. Reconnect the hose to the spigot or a spray nozzle and turn on the water to verify that you’ve solved the problem. Take care not to wrap so tightly that the hose creases, as this might impede water flow. Mark the punctured section with a marker, then wrap electrical tape around the marked section, overlapping a few times to ensure good adherence. Turn off the water, disconnect the hose, and wipe it dry with a rag. Such small leaks can direct water away from the lawn or plants you’re aiming for-not to mention squirt you in the eye! Electrical tape, usually made of a PVC backing and a rubber-based adhesive, has the elasticity, insulation, and weather resistance needed to effectively plug these holes, but you may eventually need a hose mender (see below) if leaks persist. Pesky pinholes are often only visible to the eye when you connect the water and spot small, geyser-like spurts of water from the punctured section of the hose. RELATED: 7 No-Kink Garden Hoses That Test True 1.
