How to Prevent Your Garden Hose from Kinking

Even if you have the best expandable hose and the manufacturer claims the hose is kink-free, it can still kink up if you don’t take care of it properly. Learning how to stop a hose from kinking will take all the hassle out of watering your lawn, especially if you have a large backyard or garden.

A hose will get kinked up because it has been coiled too tightly and tossed in the corner of your yard. Thicker, more expensive hoses aren’t as likely to kink up because they’re more durable. However, you can reduce the odds of dealing with this problem by storing your hose wound up loosely and not overly tight. I’ll go over the common reasons a hose kinks up, how you can prevent it, and what type of hose to buy that truly features a kink-free design.

Keep it Straight

As I mentioned above, a hose will kink because it’s been coiled up repeatedly, which can disrupt its shape, making it bend and tighten up, which will lead to kinks. Below, you’ll find a few options you can try that will prevent kinks in the future.

Keep the hose straight when you’re not using it. While this may not seem like a smart idea because it can actually create a tripping hazard, many gardening enthusiasts swear that they never have to deal with kinks if the hose is stored straight.

To store your hose correctly, stretch is out around the perimeter of your patio or walkway. If you have a driveway that stretches into your backyard, then stretch out the hose in the grass, running it off the edge of the driveway. Be sure that the hose is not on the path itself in order to prevent it from getting stepped on, then move it when you mow.

L-Hook Method

If you want to store it on L hooks, then start by drilling a pilot hole at eye-level on an open corner of your garage. Drill another hole on the other end of your garage at eye level. Install the hooks by screwing each one into the holes. Next, you’ll twist the hooks, making them as tight as possible. The hose should be wrapped around the hooks by draping each end over the hook. Bring the hose over to the second hook and wrap it around it. Then bring the hose back to the first hook, repeating the process. You’ll coil the hose with most of its body remaining kink-free and straight.

Draining the Hose Before Storage

If you’re planning on installing L-hooks, then make sure you drain it before storing it. To drain, stretch it out on a downhill slope in order to drain water. The hose should be wrapped around the base of a garbage can in order to make the coils as loose as possible. Next, wrap a soft cloth around the loops in order to prevent them from uncoiling. Looped hoses can then be hung from the hooks. When a hose is hung from a single hook it will end up concentrating all of the weight of the hose in one spot, which will compress the material, which can lead to kinks eventually.

Use a Hose Reel

You can install L hooks in your garage to store it, or you can buy a good garden hose reel to loosely wind the hose up and keep it neatly out of the way. Using a reel allows you to keep your hose stored somewhere safe, out of the way. Make sure you use a reel that features a large loop. A reel with a larger loop will prevent you from accidentally overtightening the hose, which will help it to retain its shape. These reels are often priced affordably and are compatible with a wide range of hose lengths and widths.

If you don’t want to use a reel, you can also screw a couple of holders into the ground ten to twelve feet apart, wrapping the hose around it.

Other Tips to Prevent Kinks in Your Hose

• Avoid turning off the water pressure until after the hose is wound up. If you’re using a reeling system or a large hose loop reel, then you’ll want to keep the water running until the hose has been wound up neatly. This is because when you begin to reel up the hose and the water isn’t running, then the hose will lost the tightened pressure and will begin to seize up, kinking since there’s no pressure sustained within the hose. So, keep the water running in order to prevent kinks in the future.
• Many people claim that rubber hoses are the best option and are less likely to kink because they don’t have memory in the material. If you have to choose between vinyl or rubber, I recommend going with rubber since it’s more durable, stronger, and rubber hoses don’t tighten up easily, which can help to prevent kinks.
• Try burying your garden hose. Some people will bury their hose in the ground. This completely prevents kinks because the hose is always kept straight and tight. Yet burying it will defeat the purpose of ease of use and convenience since you’ll only be able to use the hose for three to four feet if the hose sticks out from under the ground. If you decide to go with this option, then you’ll need to keep multiple hoses buried all over the yard to use for your different lawn maintenance
• Buy an expandable hose. These hoses are much less likely to kink than vinyl and rubber hoses because of their ability to expand when in use and the types of materials they’re made out of. A flat hose is also a good option, but an expandable hose has a better reputation in terms of a kink-free design and hassle-free use.

How to Remove Kinks

Regardless of how much care you put into storing your hose or how much money you spent on it, a kink can still happen. If you’re looking for a fast and easy way to get rid of kinks, then check out the tips below.

The first spot is identifying the kinks and unbending it. Then, you’ll straighten out the kinks and watch for the water to begin flowing out again.

If you have a kinked-up hose, then you can use splints. Doing so can minimize the drag on specific areas of pressure. Place a splint over the area that’s constantly kinking up. Once you have the splint in place, the hose should bend and release the pressure.

Final Thoughts

A hose that constantly kinks can be a serious problem, especially if it’s having a big impact on how much water is getting to your plant life and lawn. Fortunately, there are a number of solutions you can try.

So, how do you prevent a garden hose from kinking? You can try storing your hose straight, use a hose reel, install L hooks in your garage, hooks in the ground, or even bury your hose. Investing in an expandable hose is also a great option and probably your best bet when it comes to significantly minimizing issues with your hosing becoming tangled and difficult to roll up. The tips in this article will help prevent kinks in the future, but they may not prevent the problem entirely. Once you reduce your kinking problem it will lead to proper water flow, better gardening, and a well-maintained lawn.