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Don't leave a hose lying on the ground between jobs. Drain and loosely wind it up after each use. Keep it in a cool,
dry place where it won't be damaged by a car, lawn mower, or excessive sunlight. Bring a hose indoors for the winter. Store it on a reel or coiled flat on the floor, not hanging from a nail, which can pinch and weaken it. Straighten out creases and kinks as soon as you notice them. Repairing a hose

Taping or patching a leaking hose is usually ineffective. Buy an inexpensive repair kit at a hardware store. Simple hose menders employ a connector that is clamped or crimped in place to form a permanent joint. A coupling set allows you to take the hose apart; it is clamped or crimped in place or it may be screwed into the hose with a threaded sleeve.

To repair a hose, make straight cuts on both sides of the leak with a utility knife. Take a segment of hose to the hardware store and select a kit whose insert sections match the inner diameter of the hose. The fit should be snug but not so tight that the hose cracks. Soften the ends of a plastic hose with hot water to ease insertion. Follow package instructions for installing the mender or coupling.

If a hose leaks at a coupling, replace the washer. To replace a leaking or damaged coupling, cut about an inch of hose behind the coupling and install a new one. To replace the faucet end, use a female part; replace the nozzle end with a male part.