With as many rainy days as we have had these past few weeks, I admit I was shocked when I went out into the back yard today. Some of the plants in the planters were starting to shrivel. Of course, all I would have had to do is wait a few hours, and the sky would have opened up and watered them for me.
However, the hose was at the ready, so I turned on the faucet and began spray water into a planter. All of a sudden I heard a pop, and the water slowed to a trickle. I looked behind me, only to find the hose had blown a hole in it.
Last summer, I switched to those new stretchable hoses, and this is the third one that has blown a hole. At least this one was in the middle, so I didn’t get soaked. I went into the garage and picked up one that I had purchased a few weeks back, and finished the watering task.
I love those hoses for many reasons. They are light, easy to handle, stretch out when in use and creep back in when not being used. There is one thing wrong with them: The ones I have had tend to pop. Perhaps I should read the instructions.
I don’t remember getting instructions with those that I purchased last year, but I did for the one I purchased this year. It tells me it must be used with a spray nozzle. OK, I have that. It cautions that the water should be turned on gradually. OK, I did that.
Then at the bottom of the page it further cautions me to use the hose outdoors only, not for use indoors. That made me stop and think as to how or why anyone would want to use it indoors.
The next warning is to not drink water from the hose, or use it in any way to supply drinking water. Also, do not use it for hot water.
I was also told to not stretch the hose, that water only is to be used to stretch the hose. After all, if I were to stretch the hose while empty of water, it could quickly retract and cause bodily harm. At the reading of this I had an image of someone trying to stretch the hose and getting snapped kind of like a rubber band.
The last bit of information kind of explained what this hose is all about and why I might be having problems. Readers are instructed to drain the hose after each use and store indoors during extreme hot or cold temperatures. Plus, do not leave the hose in the sun for extended periods of time.
Of course, I took the hoses inside for the winter, after draining them. I did store them in the unheated garage, so maybe the heated basement would be better.
In the summer, the best place for a hose used for watering is outside, where the sun will likely be hot.
As of now, I still like that type of hose but do not like the lack of durability. Will I carry it in and out during the summer? At least the one in the back of the house can be put in the shade.
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