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July 24, 2015 in Easy Garden DIY

DIY fix the garden hose

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I'll make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
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Tom here. I recently garbaged picked a very nice 75′ garden hose from the curb. It certainly didn’t looked damaged.

At the same time I’m not naive enough to think that somebody threw away a garden hose because it was in good working order.

I ended up finding a small hole in the hose. But for $1.92 I fixed the hose and now it works perfect.

Have you thrown out a garden hose that has a hole, or because one of the ends got run over by a car or the lawn mower?

Does it drive you crazy if you see a little drip coming from one of the ends?

Stop fretting over your hose and fix it yourself!

​Confession time. I just learned how to fix these common problems… The good news? So can you!

Fixing the Female End

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The female end of the hose is the end that screws onto the water spigot or screws onto another hose increasing the hose length.

Most hoses are 5/8 inch or 1/2 inch. If it’s dripping where the female end connects to the spigot or hose most likely you need to simply replace the rubber washer inside.

You can get a 10 pack for under $4.

​You replaced the washer and it’s still leaking. Many times it leaks on the metal ribs of the hose. If that’s the case you need to fix it.

  • Make a clean/straight cut through the hose
  • Purchase a female mender for your size hose. Not sure of the size? Bring a piece of your hose to the hardware store.
  • I like the metal ones that use a simple hose clamp, picture 1 (much cheaper than the metal clamp with screws, picture 2).
  • Put the clamp over the hose and then push the mender as far as it allows.

​

  • Tighten the clamp about a quarter of an inch below the top of the mender and tighten along one of the ribs.
Pictures of female hose menders
Picture 1
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Picture 2
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Picture 3
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Fixed Female End
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Fixing the Male End

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The male end of the hose is the end that allows the nozzle to screw onto it. It allows the female end of the hose to attach to it making a longer hose.

Once again start with a washer check. It’s always a good idea to replace the washer if unsure.
​

  • Make a clean/straight cut through the hose
  • Purchase a male mender for your size hose. Not sure of the size? Bring a piece of your hose to the hardware store.
  • I like the metal ones that use a simple hose clamp, picture number one (much cheaper than the metal clamp with screws, picture 2). I ended up using one similar to picture 3 because I had an extra lying around the house.
  • Put the clamp over the hose and then push the mender as far as it allows.
  • Tighten the clamp about a quarter of an inch below the top of the mender and tighten along one of the ribs.
Picture 1
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Picture 2
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Picture 3
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Fixed Male End

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Fixing a hole in the middle of the hose

You notice that water is dripping or even spraying out of the hose in the middle of the hose. You take a closer look and notice a hole. 
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  • Make a clean/straight cut through the hose.
  • Purchase a mender for your size hose. Not sure of the size? Bring a piece of your hose to the hardware store.
  • If the hose doesn’t have a line make one with a Sharpie marker. Combine the line to keep the same curve in the hose otherwise the hose will not want to wrap properly.

​

  • Make sure clamp is nice and tight (use a socket wrench if you can’t tighten enough with a regular screw driver.
Pictures of hose menders
Picture 1
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Picture 2
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Picture 3
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I personally like the one in the first picture the best.

I prefer using metal because they last longer and have less problems even though they cost a little more.

With the first mender you need to know the exact size of the hose but costs a lot less than the second mender.

​They also come in the plastic variety like picture 3. 

Putting it all together
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If Tom helped you fix your garden hose.. Like the Video 🙂

Secret code: frog

Do you typically buy a new hose or fix the one you have when a problem occurs?

152 Comments

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fast Food Near Me says

    November 24, 2020 at 5:51 am

    Hello buddy,
    I really enjoy your blog and your work is quite interesting.
    I have to appreciate your work andefforts..

    It is incredible.
    Best regards,
    Balle Hessellund

    Reply
    • Tasha Cain says

      July 7, 2021 at 6:58 am

      I never knew there was a female and male parts for a hose. Thanks for the information 😊

      Reply
  2. Bradley Marquis says

    February 21, 2021 at 1:21 pm

    cool

    Reply
  3. Brenda Williamson says

    February 21, 2021 at 1:23 pm

    I rent a small apartment attached to my landlord’s house, wish I could have a hose. I would love to learn to grow some flowers and a few vegetables.

    Reply
  4. LAURA BETHUREM says

    February 21, 2021 at 2:29 pm

    Thank you for the great information and helpful tips..They are very useful.🤗

    Reply
  5. Ronnell Storie says

    February 21, 2021 at 2:47 pm

    I keep parts on hand, hoses are going to mess up sooner or later. I have switched mainly to the flexible hoses. I keep repair parts on hand for them to. I like the flexible hoses because they are lighter and easier to drag around. Downside is they aren’t as durable as the standard garden hose.

    Reply
  6. Audrey says

    February 21, 2021 at 3:06 pm

    I leave all this stuff to my husband 🙂

    Reply
  7. Lisa Cress says

    February 21, 2021 at 3:18 pm

    Great post! Thank you!

    Reply
  8. Monica McConnell says

    February 21, 2021 at 4:01 pm

    Great info I always just got rid of and got a new one, never even thought to try to fix it.

    Reply
  9. Monica M says

    February 21, 2021 at 4:06 pm

    Thanks for the tips! I always throw away hoses when they have holes in them, never thought about fixing them

    Reply
  10. rajee says

    February 21, 2021 at 4:11 pm

    Thanks for the tips Love to learn more

    Reply
  11. Lisa Alden says

    February 21, 2021 at 6:03 pm

    Havent bought a hose in years because my neighbors know to give me their broken ones som I can fix them..

    Reply
  12. Brittany Gilley says

    February 21, 2021 at 6:06 pm

    very helpful, thanks!

    Reply
  13. Rhonda Martin says

    February 21, 2021 at 6:24 pm

    This is good to know. I didn’t realize they have repair kits.

    Reply
  14. Liz Kilcher says

    February 21, 2021 at 6:48 pm

    great tips for keeping it out of the landfill

    Reply
  15. Michael Coovert says

    February 21, 2021 at 6:55 pm

    You have no idea how many hoses I have thrown away.

    Reply
  16. Tamra Phelps says

    February 21, 2021 at 7:00 pm

    I always seem to wind up with a hole in a new hose. I swear, I don’t abuse it, lol, but I manage to damage the hose every time, usually in just a few weeks. Buying new ones can get pricy.

    Reply
  17. Crystal Walker says

    February 21, 2021 at 7:04 pm

    I didn’t know you could do this, I’m happy I read your article, thank you very much.

    Reply
  18. Barbara Calder says

    February 21, 2021 at 7:50 pm

    Thanks for the information! I love the fact you go step by step and have photos.

    Reply
  19. Janis C says

    February 22, 2021 at 12:34 am

    Thanks for the tips!

    Reply
  20. Chris Civitello says

    February 22, 2021 at 1:29 am

    Thank you I always end up with holes in my hoses and now I can go back to this BLOG! Very helpful!

    Reply
  21. Kelly Kimmell says

    February 22, 2021 at 12:43 pm

    Thanks for the helpful tips. I have thrown out several garden hoses.

    Reply