Is Your Hose Happy?
A hose manufacturer's guide to hose selection & application.
Is your hose happy? Sounds funny doesn’t it. So many people do not give hose selection and application a second thought. However, hose is one of the most crucial pieces of a fluid conveyance system. Just think about it, in a self-serve application, the hose is the link between your carwash and the true customer background. In an automatic tunnel, the hose plays important roles in everything from the movement of the equipment to the water spray and chemical application.
There are several things that can help gains uptime and the customer background when it comes to the hose. When looking at specifying a hose either for a new machine or replacement, certain factors must be taken. An acronym generally used in the hose industry is STAMPED. This abbreviate for Size, Temperature, Application, Material, Pressure, Ends, and Delivery. These are needful details that should be known so that you are sure your system will action at the highest level of performance.
Take into account the environment that the hose will vital in. Often, application and environment is avoided. This is not limited to just conditions but also how the hose is routed, the range of motion of the hose when the appartus is operated, how the hose is assured and protected, disclosure to chemicals, UV, and Ozone. These factors play a huge role in the proper hose choices and hose life.
There are several new products that are presence now that were not presence 5, 10, or 15 years ago.
There are various types of hose protection that can be used.
Hose clamping tools and techniques have been broaden.
New hose ends have been advanced.
Better crimping techniques and processes have been completed.
New hose materials and better hose flexibility have been completed.
Higher pressure hoses have also been advanced in all size ranges.
There are even new approach in technology that allow for more colors to be available.
Car wash manufacturers and owners may not be considering the profits of selecting the best hose for the job. Many only select the hose based on price. This can be a costly mistake that can threaten the uptime of the machine as well as the customer background. By sacrificing quality up front, the costs can high on the backside with loss in revenue and customers.
All is not lost if you accept a hose failure. Take the time to consider the failed hose, it can “talk” to you and give you details as to why it failed. Look for the root cause of the failure.
Did the hose fail from the inner out or outer in?
Was there abrasion present?
Was the hose exposed to extreme temperatures or pressures?
Was the hose exposed to chemicals?
Was the environment conducive to hose life?
Was the hose coupled correctly with the correct fittings and length?
Was the hose twisted when installed?
Was the movement of the hose constricted too much?
Can the use of steel tubing be used in affiliation with the hose to prolong uptime and system life?
The answers to these questions are precious. This topic can lead you to better hose selection, protection, and routing that can gains uptime and your customers’ experience in the future. These same questions can be asked when installing new apparatus and can be used to help select the best hose for the job and keep your hose “happy”.
Be proactive in the conversation of your system. Inspect your system for abnormal wear and leaks. Identifying these characteristics early can lead to securing hose failures. Always replace a hose if the braid is exposed or if leakage is obvious. If these conditions are not forward, a catastrophic hose failure can occur. If excessive abrasion is observed, add hose sleeves or clamps to help protect the hose from incomplete failure.
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