How to Replace a Hose Washer

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What are garden hose washers?

There are an incredible number of hoses and hose attachments you can buy and use. Some are sturdier than others, some are novelty attachments like this mist stand by PMREINDL. However, the one thing which ruins any attachment, no matter how cheap or expensive, is a water leak. The best, easiest solution is a hose washer.

Garden hose washers are rubber, or silicone, gaskets which fit between two connecting hoses to minimize, or prevent, leaks. As the male hose is threaded on to the female hose, it squeezes the washer ensuring no water leaks out. We personally prefer silicone gaskets because they typically last longer. According to gasket and sealant manufacturer ElastoProxy, rubber gaskets have a shelf life of 3-5 years, but silicone gaskets can last up to 20. They write about gaskets in storage, so you may not get 20 years of use out of your hose washer, but it will certainly last much longer than a rubber one.

Our favorite hose washers are these silicone hose washers. They are not a name brand washer, but it doesn’t need to be because it works well. This is a pack of 40 washers, you will never buy another hose washer again. There is nothing special about this brand we simply like the large quantity, the fact that it works, and the low price. Check them out yourself.

How to replace a hose washer

When to remove an old hose washer?

As garden hose washers age they start to deteriorate. If you’ve ever stuck your finger into an old hose and noticed a weird grime come loose, that is a hose washer which is past its useable life.

You can also tell if a hose washer needs replacing by looking inside the hose end. Look at the example below:

If the hose washer has permanent indentations then it will also need replacing. The indentations will make it hard for a new hose to get a good fit in the existing washer and will therefore probably leak excessively.

You can also tell if the hose washer needs replacing if the hose connection leaks even after tightening sufficiently with a set of Channel Lock Pliers.

How to remove a hose washer?

The easiest way to remove a hose washer is by using a medium sized flat head screw driver. Insert the tip under the old hose washer and pry it out. If the hose washer falls apart or is too difficult to remove then a good set of needle nose pliers should help.

How does a garden hose washer go in?

The easiest way to remove a garden hose washer is to place it with your fingers and then use a flat head screwdriver to push it to the bottom of the female hose connection.

Hose washers fit in any female hose end. Whether it is your brand new Flexzilla, a sprinkler attachment, or a brass hose nozzle, they can all be fitted with a garden hose washer to prevent leaks. For more information about hoses and attachments, be sure to check out these posts on the best lightweight hoses and the best high pressure hose nozzles.

How to fix a leaky hose connection

Inserting a new hose washer in the female end of a hose connection should fix just about any leak. To completely remove leaks you’ll need to connect the two hose connections and apply sufficient pressure to squeeze the washer to ensure a tight seal. Some hose attachments can be tricky to get a good grip to twist with your hands. I find quick connects to be the hardest to work with because of the all the smooth rounded parts and small plastic bits.

The best tool to tighten your hose connections are a good set of mole grips, vise grips, or Channel Lock Pliers. The key is a set of teeth that conforms to the roundness of a hose.

To super leak proof your hose connection

There is also a way to double leak proof your hose connections. Using plumber’s tape is my favorite way of leak proofing hose joints because it’s super cheap, simple, and it effective. Really, it adds an extra layer which the water needs to defeat to leak.

To use plumber’s tape you’ll need to wrap the male hose threads with enough tape to ensure no water gets through. Usually, about 4 to 6 wraps is enough to ensure a leak proof connection. Using too many wraps can be counterproductive and cause leaks, so don’t add more than 6 unless you really need to.

After you’ve wrapped the threads and inserted the hose washer, you are ready to connect the two hose pieces and enjoy a leakproof connection. Remember that undoing this connection will cause the plumbers tape to degrade therefore you’ll need to remove and replace the plumber’s tape before making up the connection again.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at how to replace a hose washer and find it helpful. If you’re frustrated with your hose or hose accessories, make sure to check out these guides to discover more about hoses, hose nozzles, and other hose accessories.