Power Spray Hose Problems: Wear, Heat Damage, Pressure Loss & Prevention

Your spray hose takes more abuse than almost any other part of your power sprayer. It gets dragged across concrete, left in the sun, and wound and unwound dozens of times a day. Here are the most common spray hose problems we see, and how to prevent them before they cause a leak or a lost day on route.

Wear and Damage

When your pest control spray hose shows significant wear, such as cuts, scrapes, or gouges, fix it now. Don't wait for it to leak. A hose that fails mid-job costs far more in lost productivity and chemical cleanup than a planned repair.

The first 30 feet of hose, the end you handle and drag the most, wears out first. When that section is worn, cut out the bad portion and re-couple the hose with new hose barbs and fittings. If the wear is more extensive, replace the whole hose before it causes a serious problem.

Heat, Cold, and Sun Damage

Temperature extremes shorten hose life, so protect your hose from extreme heat and cold whenever you can. In Arizona, we see a lot of sunburned hose. If a reel sits in the same position for long periods, the exposed outer wrap of hose bakes in the sun, turns black, and breaks down faster. Park in the shade when you can, cover the reel, or occasionally pull the hose out and rewind it so the same section isn't always on the outside. This applies to landscape spray hose on weed and turf rigs too.

Pressure Problems Caused by the Hose

If your pump and gun seem to be working but you're not getting pressure at the end of the hose, the hose itself may be the problem.

Hose wound too tightly. If the hose is wound too tightly on the reel, it can flatten and restrict flow enough that you lose output. This is most common with low-pressure 12-volt pumps. To fix it, unwind the hose, turn on the pump so the hose fills and rounds out, then rewind it onto the reel less tightly.

Old, spongy hose. As hose ages, it can get soft and spongy. Under pressure, it expands, which absorbs pressure and significantly reduces what you get at the gun. The only fix is to replace the hose.

Hose too small or too long for the job. Smaller hose and longer runs both create more friction and lower pressure at the gun. If you're not sure your hose is the right size, read What Size Spray Hose Do I Need?

Simple Habits That Extend Hose Life

• When winding hose back onto the hose reel, run it through a rag to wipe off dirt and debris.
• Wind it evenly and not too tight.
• Don't drive over hose or drag it across sharp edges.
• Inspect the first 30 feet regularly and fix wear early.
• Fix a leaking reel swivel right away, since leaks there drip chemical onto your truck.

Don't wait for hose problems to cause chemical leaks and downtime. If the end is damaged, cut off the bad section. If the damage is more extensive, replace the hose.

Shop Spray Hose

We stock spray hose in 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" sizes, including pest control spray hose and weed and landscape spray hose, plus hose reels and fittings. Questions? Call 602-371-1993.