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A garden hose or hosepipe is a flexible tube used to carry water. There are a number of common attachments available for the end of the hose, such as sprayers and sprinklers (which are used to concentrate water at one point or over a large area). Hoses are usually attached to a hose spigot (tap).
Garden hoses are often green, although they can be found in a variety of colors. Garden hoses are typically made out of synthetic rubber or soft plastic, reinforced with an internal web of fibers. As a result of these materials garden hoses are flexible and their smooth exterior facilitates pulling them past trees, posts and other obstacles. They are also generally tough enough to survive scraping on rocks and being stepped on without damage or leaking.
Typical hoses used for filling of the potable water tanks in recreational vehicles are similar to garden hoses but are made of nonporous materials that are less likely to collect bacteria or affect the water's taste. They are colored white as a distinguishing characteristic.
The threads (3/4" is the US standard) at each end of a typical garden hose mate with one another, which allows multiple garden hoses to be linked end-to-end to increase their length. A small rubber seal is needed in one end to prevent leakage. Sometimes these seals disintegrate or fall out of older hoses, which results in high-pressure leakage spraying from the hose.
More unconventionally, hosepipes are used as musical instruments, and eccentric composers have been known to write hosepipe pieces.
The term hosepipe is chiefly British and southern U.S. usage; garden hose (more commonly just hose) is the predominant term in other English-speaking countries. The term "hose" or "hosepipe" is also used for other types of flexible, water-carrying tube such as those used by fire departments.
See also
- Hose coupling
- Hosepipe ban (a restriction imposed on consumers during water shortages which forbids the use of hosepipes)
External links
- "The Hose" Song parody
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 2 October 2008, at 23:23.
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