Choosing Hose in 2 Minutes (Video)

A hose's looks can be deceiving: the hidden core, layers, and other factors make one right and another wrong

“Hose reinforcement affects pressure containment, kink and crush resistance, electrical conductivity, torsion strength, volumetric expansion control, and flexibility. And reinforcement is just one of the factors to consider.”

- Jeff Hopkins, Swagelok Northern California

A hose may look like the simplest component in a fluid system, but there's more to it than meets the eye.

Hose core

The most important layer is the core. Hose cores come in metal, silicone, nylon, fluoropolymers and various kinds of rubber. The core material will be in direct contact with the fluid in your system, so it's crucial that you pick something compatible. That starts with chemical compatibility, but it also means choosing a material that can handle the temperature range of your fluid. You want to consider permeability, and how easy it will be to clean.

Hose reinforcement

Next consider the type of reinforcement. That can be a layer integral to the hose, or it can be the cover. This is the time to think about the physical stresses you'll put on the hose, including pressure, twisting, bending and any weight that will be sitting on it. Reinforcements can be made of several materials, from fabric to metal.

Hose cover

The third item to think about is the hose cover. It provides extra protection against permeation, abrasion, kinking and temperature extremes. It can be an integral part of the hose, or an added accessory. Covers include Fire Jacket woven fiberglass coated with silicone rubber, Thermosleve braided fiberglass saturated with a synthetic coating, Armor Guard stainless steel, Spiral Guard helical plastic, and Spring Guard helical stainless steel.

Hose end connections

Don't forget about the end connections. You can order from a wide variety of options, so pick the one that eliminates the need for adapters. That way your hose will be easier to install, have fewer leak points and be easier to maintain. Make sure the connectors meet industry standards as well as your system's specs.

The training video above is short, so you might end up wanting to know more. We're glad to give you as much information as you need, individually or in one of our training courses.

What's next: Visit our Hose Assembly ("Hose My Way") page and get our new Hose Pocket Guide:

(Prefer to talk live? Please give us a call at 510-933-6200.)

More on this topic:

• When Will It Burst? (series of videos)
• Going to Extremes In Our Hose Cell (blog article)
• How this OEM stopped backward hose installation (case study)