How to Disconnect a Garden Hose
The winter months bring with them the joy of the holiday season as well as the onset of more severe seasonal weather that can be the cause for potentially damaged property for the unwary. Stay one step ahead of the climatic changes sure to come by safely storing your outdoor and gardening equipment to protect it from the elements and to ensure the continued enjoyment of their use.
Items Needed:
- Garden or work gloves
- Garden hose reel
- Pliers or wrench
Prepare for Removal:
- Put on a pair of gloves.
- Turn off the water supply to any outdoor water valves to which you have hoses attached.
Remove the Hose:
- Unscrew the garden hose from the outdoor valve attachment by firmly gripping the end of the hose in one hand and turning it firmly to the left to loosen and release the metal mouth attachment from the screw threads housed on the outdoor valve.
- Use a pair of pliers or a wrench if exposure to weather has caused the hose to become too firmly attached to remove easily by hand by carefully grasping the metal attachment base of the hose and squeezing firmly while turning the pliers to the left. The additional fulcrum of the pliers should help free the hose from the valve attachment. Be careful not to squeeze the hose attachment too hard when using pliers as it can warp the attachment, making refitting to the valve difficult.
- Turn the water valve all the way open to release any stored water once the hose has been removed.
Store the Hose:
- Remove any stored water from the body of the hose by carefully lifting a section of the hose well above your head then walking your hands over the hose one section at a time until the entire hose has been tended and stored water permitted to drain from the ends of the hose.
- Slide the end of your hose onto the protruding rod on the hose reel and carefully wind a single loop of hose around the reel to properly seat the hose, then turn the handle on your reel to wind your garden hose up completely.
- Store the newly wound hose in a storage shed until ready to use again.
- Repeat with each hose attached to the house.