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How To Repair A Pinhole In A Garden Hose: 5 DIY Methods

Imagine this scenario; you get into your garage and pull out your garden hose to water your plants.

After screwing onto the faucet and attaching the correct nozzle, water gets funneled through the garden hose and spurts all over your face.

You are completely bemused, and a closer look reveals a pinhole in your garden hose. Naturally, your next move would be to throw it away or get a replacement.

However, you need not because, with appropriate tools and methods, you could quickly get your garden hose back to work. 

pinhole-in-hoseHow to Fix a Pinhole in Garden Hole?

The straightforward way to notice a pinhole in a garden hose is to channel water through it.

If you see small geysers like spurts of water along the length, it’s punctured and needs repair.

The biggest downside is that a significant amount of water is wasted over time, leaving you with a fat bill. In the western part of the US, water is already becoming a scarce resource.

You could also wet yourself and catch a cold.

Thankfully with our effective DIY methods, you can easily fix or repair the pinhole, as we explain below.

1. Use an Electrical Tape to Seal the Pinhole

scotch-tape

  1. First off, stop the water flow by unplugging your hose from the fixture. 
  2. Next, dry it with a rag.
  3. After that, mark the punctured section and wrap electrical tape around it.
  4. Do some more overlaps of the tape to ensure the punctured spot is well covered.

However, the wrapping shouldn’t be very tight since it leads to creases forming on your garden hose, which could impede water flow.

Reconnect the garden hose back to the nozzle and turn back the water flow. You should have the hose doing the job well now. 

2. Coat the Pinhole with Rubber Cement 

rubber-cementYou could also use rubber cement for tears and punctures. Start by wiping the punctured section of the garden hose dry.

Once you are done drying, apply rubber cement around the hole.

Ensure that you fill the hole without stuffing in too much of the material.

Cement getting inside the garden results in clogging, which builds up pressure in the hose, resulting in more leaks.

3. Use the Bicycle Repair Method / Hose Repair Kit 

The other option you have to repair a pinhole in a garden hose is to use a repair kit for bicycles. 

hose-clampHere is a step-by-step process:

Step 1: Get together the repair kit materials. These include: 

  • A flat blade screwdriver
  • A hose clamp 
  • A scissor and 
  • A self-adhering rubber tape/ Teflon tape

Step 2: Cut a portion of the rubber tape and wrap it around the pinhole. Ensure the rubber tape catches no dirt to seal properly onto itself. 

Step 3: Use a hose clamp to maintain pressure around the rubber tape and tighten its screw. 

Step 4: Fix the garden hose back to your water source and check the water flow. You should be good to go. 

 

4. Use a Metal Hose Mender 

metal-hoseAnother simple yet effective tool in fixing your garden hose pinhole is the metal hose mender.

Your first step would be to cut off the leaking part of your garden hose.

Ensure to use a hacksaw and a miter box when cutting the leaking section to get it right. 

Your next step would be to slide the mender into the cut-up hose sections. 

Some menders require a hammer to tighten them.

If the mender has a clamp attached to it, as shown in the picture above, you can tighten it using a screwdriver with a flathead.

Rejoin the cut-up sections by twisting the mender tightly.

You can now test your repair against any leaks.

A hose mender is usually preferable if the leak is larger.

5. Toothpick Method 

After disconnecting the hose from the spigot and turning off the water completely, use soap and water to clean the affected area.

You should aim to remove dirt and grime from the pinhole 4-5 inches on either side.

The cleaning should be thoroughly followed by drying.

Next, grab a round wooden toothpick and poke the tip into the pinhole. Push the toothpick inside the garden hose to about an eighth-inch depth.

Next, turn on the spigot and allow water to flow through the hose. Each time you do this, the toothpick soaks water and swells up, sealing the pinhole tightly.

Cut off the extra toothpick with a sharp scissor. Make sure the remaining part of the toothpick is level with the outer surface of the hose.

After that, wrap an electrical tape on the affected area beginning 2 or 3 inches away from the pinhole.

You should stretch the tape as you wrap it, moving past the pinhole 2-3 inches. You could do two turns of the tape, one right above the other.

Ensure to overlap the edges of the tape as you advance.

Apply another round of tape for protection and do two turns on top of the other. Finish by snipping off the tape with scissors. 

Wrap Up 

You should now be able to fix a pinhole in your garden hose the next time you come across one.

However, it’s important to mention that the repair methods discussed above aren’t permanent fixes, and sooner or later, you may need to purchase a new hose for your gardening needs.

In the meantime, save yourself the repair cost by being an informed DIYer. Enjoy the watering bliss. 

How To Repair A Pinhole In A Garden Hose: 5 DIY Methods

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