My garden hose split open while watering the tomatoes yesterday afternoon

I was out back giving the vegetable patch a good soak when I heard a loud pop and got sprayed in the leg. The old green hose, which I've had for maybe seven years, had a three-inch split right near the faucet connector. Water was going everywhere except on the plants. My first thought was a quick trip to the hardware store, but then I remembered a roll of that heavy-duty waterproof tape in the junk drawer. I cut the water, dried the hose with an old towel, and wrapped the split section tightly with about eight layers of tape. It held perfectly long enough to finish the job. It made me realize how often I jump to 'buy a new one' before even trying a simple fix. Has anyone else patched a hose successfully, or is this just a temporary bandage before it fails again?

3 comments

3 Comments

willowh206d ago

That tape fix is a solid move. In my experience, those patches can last a whole season if you wrap it real tight and keep it out of the sun. Just keep an eye on it for leaks.

carr.lee5d agoMost Upvoted

Oh man, I'm team @willowh20 on this one. I've definitely made that tape work, but only after I messed it up the first three tries. My first attempt looked like a mummy's bad day, and it sprayed me right in the face. The trick is pulling it so tight your hands hurt, and then doing another layer just in case. It's a pride thing now, seeing how long my janky fix can hold out.

lopez.quinn5d ago

Come on, that tape is a total gamble. I've had it fail in a week when the hose gets any real pressure. The sun breaks it down fast, and even a tiny wrinkle in the wrap lets water sneak right through. You're way better off just getting a cheap new hose section and a couple of clamps.