Soaker Hose Problem

I can't find anywhere else to post this, so here goes:

When I use a long soaker hose (appears to be 50 ft.), the last few feet don't soak - no water! If I lay the hose out on the grass, and attach the hose, the entire hose soaks. In the garden, where the hose loops around plants, the end of the hose is useless.

Has anybody else run into this? It's a strange problem.

I want to add that I don't think it's a problem with the hose itself - no obstructions, etc. I've run into this more than once. I don't think I have a water pressure problem, either.

Steve

This message was edited Jun 16, 2007 9:24 AM

Are you having to run it up an incline? I know that they work best when the entire length of the hose is below the tap.

There are slight dips and rises in the garden, but the entire garden is well below the level of the faucet.

I'm going to take off the end cap and flush out the hose, then shorten it some. I've just read that a 5/8" hose is rated to run 100 ft., and my hose is already way shorter than that. I have to try something different, though. The last 2 plants that the hose waters aren't getting any water at all.

Steve

I've also read that it's helpful to have your soaker hose be smaller in diameter-- or at a minimum the same size-- as your regular hose. I don't know whether that's relevant to your situation or not, but I thought I'd mention it.

Lono,

I appreciate your input - they're the same size - 5/8".

Steve

It could just be a manufacturer defect. Maybe it ran through the machine wrong that day. Contact the company and maybe you will get a refund. It won't hurt to try.

Windy,

Good idea, but it's many many years old, and I wouldn't know who the manufacturer is. I have another one the same length; I'm going to see if it does the same thing.

Steve

Interesting problem. When you use it to water the lawn does it run in a straight line? I am thinking maybe the bending around plants slows the water down just enough that the last few feet don't get much pressure. Maybe the outside of the curves closer to the fawcett leak more water.

Mary,

I don' use it to water the lawn - I laid it out in a straight line on the lawn, to see if the end of the hose go water, and it did.

I think you may have something. I have plants that are very heavy drinkers, like Elephant Ears and Cannas, so I circled them with the soaker hose, as opposed to just running the hose along side of them. That must be what's causing a drop in pressure. As soon as I get a chance, I'm going to re-route the hose so that it doesn't circle the plants, and see if that doesn't take care of the problem. If it does, I'll probably have enough hose so that I can cut it in half and run two hoses, one on each side of the plant.

Thanks for the advice.

Steve

There can be kinks when you loop it - especially old ones that are no longer as flexible.