An Overview of the Types, Benefits and Applications of Flexible Plastic Tubing and Hose

Flexible plastic tubing and hoses are commonly found in almost every major industry including automotive, power, medical, military and agriculture. Applications vary widely, but the most popular are gas and liquid transfer, material handling, blower, intake, and vacuum. Made using plastic compounds with varying degrees of flexibility and rigidity, they have revolutionized the ways liquid and gas is transported and used. In several applications, flexible plastic tubing and hoses have been largely replacing metallic tubing as they are lighter to carry and cheaper to produce. This post focuses on flexible plastic tubing and hoses, their types, benefits, and applications.

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Types of Flexible Plastic Tubing and Hoses &#; Based on Material

Today, you will find a variety of custom plastic hose and tubing that facilitates the movement of fluids and gases for an expansive range of applications. With so many options available, you should make a choice depending on the type of material to be transported, compatible pressure/temperature, environmental influences, and life span requirements, among others. Common material options include:

• Polyethylene Tubing
• Nylon Tubing
• Urethane Tubing
• PVC tubing
• PTFE Tubing
• Polyamide Tubing
• Polypropylene Tubing

Benefits of Plastic Tubing and Hoses

Custom plastic hose and tubing are a great solution when medium to large volumes are needed. In-stock solutions are quite diverse, so even lower volume projects can be successfully completed.

• Durability: Plastic tubing and hoses come with a wide variety of durability ratings, ranging from disposable to those that can handle rugged industrial environments.
• Versatility: Plastic hoses and tubing come in different sizes, colors, and shapes. The tubes can be bent, flexed, coiled, and cycled through various movements. Thread-on or glue-on ends can allow for better attachment.
• Corrosion Resistance: Plastic tubing and hoses resist corrosion, and this is a great benefit for industries that have corrosive liquids flowing through their systems. Diversity of material options makes finding a tube that can withstand corrosive media such as acids and alkalis, as well as caustic chemicals to meet your needs will not be difficult.
• Lightweight: Compared to metal hoses and tubing, plastic hoses are light in weight and thus are convenient for day-to-day handling, transportation, and storage.
• Recycle: Not all plastic tubing can be recycled, but many of them are.
• Safety: Many plastic tubing options have been approved for food and beverage use and for medical use. Check for certifications before buying.
• Cost Effective: Compared to metal and rubber, plastic tubing is by far the least expensive. If you can get the performance you need, there&#;s no better value.

Applications of Flexible Plastic Tubing and Hoses

Common uses include:

• Irrigation systems
• Material handling
• Air conditioning and refrigeration systems
• Water drainage systems
• Automotive connections
• Wire sleeves
• Industrial cooling systems
• Pool plumbing
• Breathing hoses and tubes
• Medical devices
• Vacuum
• Air intake
• Blower/ventilation

Flexible plastic tubing and hoses can also be customized to fit the needs of the applications. They can be manufactured with thin or thick walls, long or short, with wire or without, custom cuffs, stretchy or fixed length, and in unlimited colors. Since there are several customization options available, it is highly recommended to get the tubing and hoses from a leading manufacturer like Crushproof Tubing Company that specializes in custom building of flexible tubes and hoses. Take advantage of the customization possibilities of the company by contacting the team through their Build&#;a-Hose form.

As a veteran gardener, I love expandable hoses. They&#;re light, agile and kink-free. The Flexi Hose maneuvers around obstacles with ease and is less likely to damage plants in its wake than a heavy rubber hose. 

After sending way too many kinky and inferior hoses to the landfills, I&#;ll admit, I&#;ve become a hose snob. I bought my first expandable hose at a home and garden show before they were ever &#;Seen on TV&#; and I never wanted to use anything else again. When the plastic connectors popped off within a month, I was devastated that I couldn&#;t find them in the big box stores&#;yet.

I generally use a reliable 50-foot hybrid polymer hose plus an expandable hose for maximum maneuverability. When you&#;ve been gardening as long as I have, it&#;s a pain to drag around a heavy hose. 

To top it off, I&#;m hard on hoses. I try to take care of them, but I&#;ve definitely been hosed in the past with subpar products. As a result, I&#;m pretty darn picky now and I&#;ll pay more for quality. Expanding hoses have been around for decades now. Unfortunately, my experience is that they only last a season or two. I had to find out why 49,000 Amazon customers love the Flexi Hose, for myself.

What is a Flexi Hose?

Sheri Kaz/Family Handyman

Flexi Hose is a kink-free expandable garden hose that shrinks to a compact size and fits into a small box when not in use. It expands up to three times its length and is super soft to the touch. This hose is absolutely kink-free and easily travels with you. 

Flexi Hose comes with a rotating spray nozzle with eight settings. With the 3/4-inch diameter and brass connectors, expect great water pressure. If you&#;re looking for lightweight, this 50-foot hose only weighs 4.69 pounds. Flexi Hose is available in 25, 50, 75 and 100-foot lengths and has four color options.

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Product Features

Flexi Hose is not only lightweight and flexible, it&#;s strong.  It&#;s been tested for over uses and is designed for heavy-duty use. The four-ply inner tube is puncture resistant. The crush-proof solid brass fitting has a convenient on/off toggle and is adjustable to control water pressure. Bonus points for four extra rubber washers included in the package.

How We Tested It

Sheri Kaz/Family Handyman

At the dawn of the spring, I pulled out my trusty Flexzilla hose and the expandable hose that I purchased three years ago (with a five-year warranty). I winterized them and stored them in the garage. But the expandable hose sprung a gusher before the gardening season even began.

I have a 1/4-acre property and no water spigot in the front, so an expandable hose is a necessity to reach the far corners of the lot. When the Flexi Hose arrived, I was struck by how strong the outer material felt compared to other expandable hoses I&#;ve owned. Once filled with water, it felt more substantial than others and very smooth. It felt less like fabric and more like strong vinyl. I was immediately impressed. 

Maneuverability with the Flexi Hose was sleeker than others, it slid through the tall dry grass and around rocks without a hitch. I love that this hose doesn&#;t need to be wound up after each use, whereas other hoses can grow mold or damage grass if left on the lawn. Flexi Hose quickly shrivels into a soft little pile that can be stowed in a flower pot.

One of my least favorite chores in the fall is finding room in my single-car garage to store my big rubber hose. Whereas an expandable hose takes up such little space it might even be hard to spot in the spring.

Ample Water Pressure

Sheri Kaz/Family Handyman

I was blown away by the pressure that came out of this garden hose, especially compared to the previous expandable hoses. It&#;s sized properly for a standard outdoor faucet with 3/4-inch fittings and diameter for maximum flow (no wonder the others blew up so quickly). It works really well to clean the patio using the spray nozzle on the jet or angle setting.  The user manual warns that water pressure must be in the range of 40-145 PSI. Not sure what that means for you? Learn more about water pressure from our Family Handyman experts.

Nozzles and Sprinkler Heads

I used all my favorite nozzles and sprinkler heads with the Flexi Hose. When using the sprinklers I fully extended the hose out about 20 feet, set it down and turned on the water. Once it was filled with water, I could stretch it out to its 50-foot length, but I got wet. My former expandable hoses couldn&#;t handle a sprinkler head without recoiling. Although light, this garden hose has bulk that keeps it in place when using the soaker or a sprinkler.

Multi-function Nozzle Included

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Sheri Kaz/Family Handyman

It&#;s nice to have a free lightweight spray head. My last expandable hose seemed too fragile for the solid metal Dramm I enjoy using. The eight features on the Flexi Hose spray nozzle work for almost any situation, from soaker mode to mist, I easily adjusted the flow of water to match my needs by using the toggle on the fitting.

Pros

• Lightweight

• Kink-free

• Easy to use

• Spray nozzle included

• Compact

• Solid brass hardware

Cons

• Pricey

• Some users report snags with concrete surfaces

FAQ

Sheri Kaz/Family Handyman

What is the downside of expandable hoses?

In my experience, the biggest downside is longevity compared to more durable hoses. The fittings pop off or they develop a gushing leak near the faucet. Getting a longer hose than you need helps to reduce over-pulling and stress near the spigot. 

The lack of longevity is one of the reasons why I searched for a reliable 50-foot polymer hybrid hose in addition to an expandable hose. Getting a properly sized expandable hose (3/4-inch) will reduce water pressure stress. Likewise, hoses with brass fittings are stronger than plastic fittings.

Storing your new expandable hose in the shade will also help to prolong its life.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

&#;This is a great hose&#;, says five-star Amazon reviewer Jay Handley, adding, &#;I could really not be any happier with this purchase. This is a highly flexible and durable product. I had purchased a half-inch cheaper hose and had no water pressure from my garden spigot. This hose which is 3/4-inch works beautifully and provides a great flow. There are cheaper flexible hoses on the market but this one is made to last. Great product!&#;

Another verified Amazon reviewer, Fagan E. Brown wrote, &#;I recently purchased the Flexi Hose with the 8 Function Nozzle, and I must say, it has been a game-changer for my gardening needs. This expandable garden hose has exceeded my expectations in every way, making watering and cleaning tasks a breeze.&#;

Product Comparison

The Flexi Hose has a 3/4-inch flow to accommodate high-pressure watering, compared to cheaper 5/8-inch expandable hoses. The fabric itself feels stronger than other expanding hoses I&#;ve owned and it&#;s significantly lighter than rubber hoses. Plus, it&#;s kink-free, unlike plastic hoses. 

Final Verdict

I was so happy when the Flexi Hose arrived that I&#;ve now come to rely on an expandable hose. They&#;re easier to carry, drag and store. The Flexi Hose is less likely to take out a pepper plant than a heavy rubber hose and generally makes watering a joy, rather than a chore. 

This hose easily navigates and avoids obstacles so I can water the flowers and bushes behind my fence with its generous flow. Flexi Hose feels solid and strong with its brass couplings and strong material. 

The free spray nozzle is a bonus and it was extra nice of them to include four extra washers. This expanding hose works great and based on its construction I&#;m confident it will last longer than the last ones.

If you&#;ve never experienced an expandable hose, you&#;ll love the kink-free feature that Flexi Hose offers. No more struggling, tugging and wasting time winding it up. 

Where to Buy the Flexi Hose

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Flexi Hose makes watering fast, fun and easy. You&#;ll be a smooth operator with this slick expandable hose. Grab one today at Home Depot or Walmart for around $60.

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