How can I join the broken ends of a pond filter/pump hose?
May 20, 2018 3:59 PM Subscribe
I'm having such a terrible time with the hose that goes from my
filter/waterfall to the pump!
The hose broke. I didn't want to replace
it completely, because attaching one of its ends to the bottom of the
waterfall/filter box is such a pain -- (that box is put on the ground at
the perfect level/angle for the waterfall not to backflow, and it took
hours of work and several people to get it that way!) -- so -- I left
that end there. Then there is another end that goes into the pump
which is in the pond. Then I wanted to JOIN the two pieces of hose
(neither one is long enough on its own). So -- no problem, right? I
bought an attacher/adapter, watched a YouTube video about how it's so
easy to stick each end of the adapter into an end of the hose, and then
clamp each end with one of those round clamps you can buy that have a
screw in them that you tighten and -- voila! -- except -- it doesn't
WORK! The clamp just doesn't get the seal on each end tight enough, and
the hoses leak like crazy!
Here's a photo of my non-working, leaky set-up.
so what is my next step? Is there a
waterproof sealant I can get to sort of glue the adapter ends into the
ends of the hoses? How about waterproof epoxy? I assume there is no tape
that is going to be waterproof enough. Any suggestions welcome!!!!
thanks
The hose broke. I didn't want to replace
it completely, because attaching one of its ends to the bottom of the
waterfall/filter box is such a pain -- (that box is put on the ground at
the perfect level/angle for the waterfall not to backflow, and it took
hours of work and several people to get it that way!) -- so -- I left
that end there. Then there is another end that goes into the pump
which is in the pond. Then I wanted to JOIN the two pieces of hose
(neither one is long enough on its own). So -- no problem, right? I
bought an attacher/adapter, watched a YouTube video about how it's so
easy to stick each end of the adapter into an end of the hose, and then
clamp each end with one of those round clamps you can buy that have a
screw in them that you tighten and -- voila! -- except -- it doesn't
WORK! The clamp just doesn't get the seal on each end tight enough, and
the hoses leak like crazy!
Here's a photo of my non-working, leaky set-up.
so what is my next step? Is there a
waterproof sealant I can get to sort of glue the adapter ends into the
ends of the hoses? How about waterproof epoxy? I assume there is no tape
that is going to be waterproof enough. Any suggestions welcome!!!!
thanks
Not a good adapter. You need one that's smooth on the outside and pretty rigid. I have a 2 inch hose for a pump, and the fittings on the end are metal and attached with hose clamps. My hose also does not have the scalloped sections yours does. I'm not sure if there is a special kind of adapter for what you have.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:07 PM on May 20, 2018
posted by SemiSalt at 4:07 PM on May 20, 2018
Usually those "scalloped" hoses have smoother sections every few feet that are intended to be used with hose clamp connections. Trying to clamp it where it's lumpy is kind of a non-starter. Is there some reason you can't just replace it with the proper length of hose? That stuff is really quite cheap at home stores, and it's sold by the foot/meter.
posted by seanmpuckett at 4:58 PM on May 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by seanmpuckett at 4:58 PM on May 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Attaching a new hose to the input hole of the waterfall/filter box would be a horrible job, because that box is put on the ground at the perfect level/angle for the waterfall not to backflow, and it took
hours of work and several people and many mistakes first in order to get it that way -- and there are rocks all around it, and some of the rocks are glued together with pond foam and epoxy, and plants planted around the waterfall box, etc etc. and the waterfall has a perfect flow now, after all that work --- Otherwise of course I'd get a new, long hose and not have this problem at all!
posted by DMelanogaster at 5:50 PM on May 20, 2018
hours of work and several people and many mistakes first in order to get it that way -- and there are rocks all around it, and some of the rocks are glued together with pond foam and epoxy, and plants planted around the waterfall box, etc etc. and the waterfall has a perfect flow now, after all that work --- Otherwise of course I'd get a new, long hose and not have this problem at all!
posted by DMelanogaster at 5:50 PM on May 20, 2018
Best answer: Uh huh. Well, you'll have to make a gasket then.
Turn it off, let it all dry out, find a rigid piece of pipe that fits snug in your hoses without a clamp, then get some underwater rated silicone caulk and shoot a ring of it inside each "scalloped pipe" so it covers up the scallops flush, then gently twist the rigid pipe in there and run another bead of silicone around each outside edge. Wait several days for it to dry. Then put a hose clamp on it. That should hold for a few years. Probably.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:54 PM on May 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Turn it off, let it all dry out, find a rigid piece of pipe that fits snug in your hoses without a clamp, then get some underwater rated silicone caulk and shoot a ring of it inside each "scalloped pipe" so it covers up the scallops flush, then gently twist the rigid pipe in there and run another bead of silicone around each outside edge. Wait several days for it to dry. Then put a hose clamp on it. That should hold for a few years. Probably.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:54 PM on May 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Measure the hose. Go down to the big-box hardware store and get a threaded PVC coupling for the hose, it will be just a tiny bit big. Get some hose clamps too if you like.
The threaded PVC coupling will twist into the hose with some force. This is what is at the top of my homemade pond filter, a PVC fitting. The hose twists on and doesn't come off.
posted by rudd135 at 6:08 PM on May 20, 2018
The threaded PVC coupling will twist into the hose with some force. This is what is at the top of my homemade pond filter, a PVC fitting. The hose twists on and doesn't come off.
posted by rudd135 at 6:08 PM on May 20, 2018
Response by poster: seanpuckett, now we're tawkin'!!!!!
posted by DMelanogaster at 6:09 PM on May 20, 2018
posted by DMelanogaster at 6:09 PM on May 20, 2018
Measure the outside diameter of the tubing. You should be able to buy a barbed adapter (barbs on both sides) for that size, with similar barbs to what are on your hardware. Like one of these.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 6:50 PM on May 20, 2018
posted by Huffy Puffy at 6:50 PM on May 20, 2018
Cut a short piece of PVC pipe of whatever size just barely fits over the hoses. Slip the two ends of the hoses into the pipe and fix them in place with epoxy putty. Mush that putty on there good so that you get a good seal, and build up a nice fat collar of it where the joints are. Allow 24 hours to cure. Should last a good long time.
This is what plumbers and electricians do to repair pipes and conduits that can't be removed and replaced. I've also used it to make all kinds of unholy plumbing contraptions (Compressed air potato cannons. Don't do it.) and it holds up great. Good stuff.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 7:31 PM on May 20, 2018
This is what plumbers and electricians do to repair pipes and conduits that can't be removed and replaced. I've also used it to make all kinds of unholy plumbing contraptions (Compressed air potato cannons. Don't do it.) and it holds up great. Good stuff.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 7:31 PM on May 20, 2018
The phrase you want to google for is "pond barbed hose mender" or "pond barbed hose coupler". You will get lots of hits from pond suppliers, for example this one. Or this. Or this.
The coupling will be slightly oversize so that you have to force it into the plastic hose. The barbs will grip the hose. No sealant should be required, although clamps might help.
When you order, you might want to get two sizes. It isn't clear whether the diameter is the inside of the hose or the outside of the hose. More likely the inside.
The one you have is a sort of one size fits all coupler that is tapered on both ends. So it doesn't provide a good seal because of the taper and also won't work with a clamp because of the taper. A real coupler should be sized to fit your hose and of constant diameter. This will make a better seal even without a clamp.
posted by JackFlash at 8:05 PM on May 20, 2018
The coupling will be slightly oversize so that you have to force it into the plastic hose. The barbs will grip the hose. No sealant should be required, although clamps might help.
When you order, you might want to get two sizes. It isn't clear whether the diameter is the inside of the hose or the outside of the hose. More likely the inside.
The one you have is a sort of one size fits all coupler that is tapered on both ends. So it doesn't provide a good seal because of the taper and also won't work with a clamp because of the taper. A real coupler should be sized to fit your hose and of constant diameter. This will make a better seal even without a clamp.
posted by JackFlash at 8:05 PM on May 20, 2018
« Older Enrich my Web Accessibility Curriculum | What kind of designing pro do I need and where do... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by DMelanogaster at 4:02 PM on May 20, 2018