Raise Your Garden

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in Easy Garden DIY

DIY fix the garden hose

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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

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
Picture 2
Picture 3
Fixed Female End

Fixing the Male End

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
Picture 2
Picture 3

Fixed Male End

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. 
  • 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
Picture 2
Picture 3
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

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?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Brenda Williamson says

    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

  5. Ronnell Storie says

    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

  16. Tamra Phelps says

    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

  26. candy says

    We have fixed several ….I guess depends on how many holes there are. Eventually it seems you have to get a new one.

    Reply

  44. Rosanne says

    I’ll have to forward this to my husband who is always looking for a way to keep our old one rather than buy a new one

    Reply

  45. Laurie Nykaza says

    I have repaired mine over the years as well.its easy and is such a cheap fix. I like the information you gave its easy to follow is you have not done it before.

    Reply