How to Fix Garden Hose Kinks? – (Complete Guide)

Watering your garden and finding out water flow has been greatly reduced or stopped entirely can be frustrating, especially when you’re in a hurry. This water flow problem is most likely caused by distortions known as kinks somewhere along the hose.

If you’re an old-time gardener, you must have at one time or the other noticed kinks in your hose. 

Now, having kinks in your garden hose doesn’t mean you have to get a new hose, most of the kinks can be fixed, and in this piece, I’ll be showing you how. I’ll also show you some little tricks on storing your hose to prevent kinking.

how to fix garden hose kniks

What Causes Garden Hose Kinks?

Before we go through how to fix your kinked hose, you should know what causes kinks in the first place. These kinks restrict the flow of water, making your easy task tedious and time-consuming.

Here are some causes of garden hose kinks 

  • Improper storage

Kinks occur when a garden hose is twisted and compresses down into itself. When you do not store your hose after using it in your garden, you run the risk of enabling kinks to form in your hose.

Improper storage

Storing your hose in a heap or rolling it too tight can cause an area of the tube to compress and collapse causing kinks.

Even though most hoses can withstand mild heat, leaving it under the sun when not in use is not a good idea. The constant change from softness to hardness can cause it to kink or break.

  • Old hose

The saying all good things must have an ending holds here. An old hose is more likely to start having kinks in it than a new one.

An old hose is rigid and will quickly form kink when bent.

  • Low-quality hose

An inferior quality hose is susceptible to kinking, no matter how careful you are with it. A low-quality hose can even kink before its first use. 

How to Fix Kinks in Garden Hoses?

Sometimes, kinks still appear despite your carefulness, slowing down your work in the garden. Buying a new hose is an expensive option so you may be looking at ways to remedy the situation.

Now, it is better to prevent kinks in the first instance, but if your hose already has kinks, you may want to look at some ways to fix that hose.

Straighten kinked areas

Straighten kinked areas of hose

When kinks happen for the first time, they can easily be rectified by untangling. This is because the damage is still forming. When you’re using your hose in the garden and notice a reduced water flow, trace your steps back and untangle the areas with the kinks.

Use kink braces/splints

Kink braces can be used to rectify kinks that have formed over a more extended period but not wholly damaged. You can purchase kink braces from your local garden store, and you can even choose to make these braces yourself from old PVC pipes or cutting a small part of the hose.

To make this brace, cut out a small PVC pipe. The PVC should be wide enough to fit into the hose and tight enough to prevent the collapse of the hosepipe around the kink area. Pass the PVC through the hose to the kink areas and its cylindrical shape will prevent the kink areas from collapsing and forming kinks.

Cut out the kinked parts

In severe kinks, especially where the kinks have led to a tear or break in the hose, you’ll be left with no other option than to cut out the kinks.

When kinks are left for a long time without fixing, it results in a break in the hose. For you to keep using this hose, you’ll need to cut off the damaged areas caused by the kinks. When you cut off the kinked regions, you simply join the good parts back using matching garden hose fittings.

How to Stop Garden Hose From Kinking?

Stop Garden Hose From Kinking

Preventing a situation is most times better than fixing it. That is why prevention of kinks is even more important than fixing a bad one. Taking proper care of your hose, especially when not in use, will prevent kinks from appearing and this will save you a lot of stress and money.

Let’s look at some prevention techniques that’ll surely increase the lifespan of your garden hose and make watering your garden fun again.

  • Buying quality kink resistant hoses: The number one prevention technique is getting quality hoses. No matter how careful you are, using a low-quality hose will almost always lead to kinks. There are also new and improved hoses now that are kink resistant. They’re made with lighter polyurethane, with lesser coil memory(it quickly regains its shape when exposed to a little heat) than the regular hose made from vinyl.
    You Can Consider buying a Retractable Hose.
  • Store In L-shaped hangers: A significant cause of kinking is the poor storage of hoses most gardeners exhibit. Tubes left in heaps and dirt are most likely to form kinks. To prevent your hose from kinking, it is advisable to store your hose on L-shaped hangers. To make these hangers, simply make L-shaped hangers with wood, or you can buy wood or metal L-shaped hangers from your local store. Nail these hangers a few feet away from each other and unto a wall in your garden shed or under a shade outside your garden. Carefully roll your hose round the first hanger and across the second, continue till the hole is completely turned on the hooks.
  • Stretch along your walkway or patio: If you have a long walkway in your garden, you can store your hose by stretching it along the walkway or by the edge of your patio. This will keep it almost straight as kinking occurs when a hose is bent. It is advisable to first straighten the hose in the sun before storing it.
  • Wrapping around a round metal bucket: You can also store your hose by wrapping it around a big round metal bucket kept standing in your shed. First, drain the water out and wrap the tube around the bucket, then use a piece of clothing or tape to hold it, this will stop it from falling apart.

Wrapping around a round metal bucket

Buying a hose every year will drill a hole into your pocket. That is why proper maintenance of your garden hose is vital for your watering needs.

About Jennifer Igra

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York City known for it’s green gardens. Jennifer, a 30 year old gardener and green living fanatic started Igra World to share her gardening journey and increase gardening awareness among masses. Follow Igra World to improve your gardening skills.

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