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1775's avatar
1775
Explorer
Jul 10, 2015

Fresh Water Hose fittings

I need a short fresh water hose - about six feet or so. I have several 25 foot fresh water hoses that we no longer use. I want to cut one down and put on a new male or female fitting on the cut end.

Are the brass or plastic fittings sold in home store garden departments OK for a drinking water hose? They say nothing about drinking water safe. I can't see that the hose ends on a drinking water hose are any different.

Thanks.

10 Replies

  • Any brass fitting has a California label because brass has some lead in it...
  • How much water over what period of time would one have to consume for there to be a health issue, be it from any hose or fitting. Many of us grew up getting a drink of water from hoses as we played in our or our neighbors yards. And who knew there the end of that hose had been before we drank from it. JMHO but the likelihood of getting sick from the hose or its fittings is so minute that it is not worth the time to worry over it. Bacteria growing in the hose is probably a greater issue. How often do we sanitize the hose? Or do most of us just roll it up and store it till the next time.
  • If you want QUALITY flexible water hoses that will last this is the guy to buy from. http://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/Hoses.htm
  • Thanks for the responses. My main concern was for any lead used on a brass fitting or chemicals from a plastic fitting that contaminate the drinking water coming through the hose. It seems to me also that a brass garden hose fitting should be no different when it comes to potable water than the brass fittings used on drinking water hoses.

    I know that I can buy a four foot hose from Camping World but there are no Camping World stores within 200 miles from here and it is not worth the shipping and the cost of the hose when I have three extra 25 foot fresh water hoses sitting in my shed.

    I will get a brass fitting with a secure connection and cut one of the 25 foot hoses down. Thanks!
  • I like the plastic also because of the 'over the hose' clamp but the plastic part that goes inside the hose breaks.

    SO I bought a good brass one, inserted it into hose and then used the plastic clamp to secure it.
    Works great and no metal end sticking out like hose clamps
  • I have both plastic and brass fittings. I like the plastic because of the plastic clamp that goes over the hose. But over time they seem to stretch and let a drip come out between the hose and the male or female end. Then I just cut it back a little more and redo. The brass are great but there is a downside also. I have a couple that use a different style of clamp. One kind has the clamp that matches the plastic clamp. The other uses a radiator style screw clamp. No leaks from other. But when dragging the hoses with either of those brass ends, they seem to find everything to hang up on. And really beware if you use the to wash your vehicle or RV that they don't drag on the side, etc. when doing like the roofs. So it's a typical******shoot t me. Just my two cents worth.
  • johntank wrote:
    1775 wrote:
    I need a short fresh water hose - about six feet or so. I have several 25 foot fresh water hoses that we no longer use. I want to cut one down and put on a new male or female fitting on the cut end.

    Are the brass or plastic fittings sold in home store garden departments OK for a drinking water hose? They say nothing about drinking water safe. I can't see that the hose ends on a drinking water hose are any different.

    Thanks.



    I agree with you, but would go with a brass fitting over a plastic one. JMHO


    X2 on the brass fittings. If you decide not to cut the hoses, they do make shorter hoses. I have one about 3' long that I use to go from the faucet and pressure regulator to my filter. JMO
  • I had a 25' hose and made a 10' and 15' out of it. No big deal.
    The fittings were marked 5/8" / 3/4" and the hose was 5/8" ID. I heated the hose ends to make getting them over the new fittings easier.
  • 1775 wrote:
    I need a short fresh water hose - about six feet or so. I have several 25 foot fresh water hoses that we no longer use. I want to cut one down and put on a new male or female fitting on the cut end.


    Obviously any fittings you install yourself that insert into the hose will reduce the inside diameter and therefore the maximum flow rate of the hose ... wouldn't it be simpler to buy a 10' potable water hose with factory installed ends and be done with it? :h
  • 1775 wrote:
    I need a short fresh water hose - about six feet or so. I have several 25 foot fresh water hoses that we no longer use. I want to cut one down and put on a new male or female fitting on the cut end.

    Are the brass or plastic fittings sold in home store garden departments OK for a drinking water hose? They say nothing about drinking water safe. I can't see that the hose ends on a drinking water hose are any different.

    Thanks.



    I agree with you, but would go with a brass fitting over a plastic one. JMHO

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