Kitchen mixer hoses: types and tips for choosing

At the final stage of the installation of plumbing fixtures, they are connected to the general piping system. In order to perform this type of work, you first need to purchase special devices. In this article, we will talk about choosing a hose for a kitchen faucet. Consider the most popular and reliable types of such products, and also tell you how to connect them correctly.

The modern plumbing market is overflowing with all sorts of options and types of liners. This makes the choice quite difficult, unless you are a plumber and understand absolutely nothing about it. But the reliable and correct functioning of the pipeline system and the number of repairs that will be carried out during operation depend on the correct choice of the hose.

This is why most experts recommend installing not a rigid pipe under the sink, as was customary before, but a more modern - reliable and flexible... Such a connecting hose was put into operation relatively recently, but immediately gained demand from the consumer.

Before we start considering the types of flexible connection for a kitchen mixer, let's find out what is its advantage over analogues. So, it is characterized by:

• compactness - does not take up much space under the sink;
• mobility is a very convenient and practical property, because if necessary, you can move or turn the hose in a different direction;
• easy and quick connection - in order to connect the hose to the pipeline, you need to have the most common tools that in most cases every home has;
• resistance to water hammer - the hose can withstand even sudden pressure drops in the system;
• long service life - the manufacturer claims that the service life can be more than 20 years;
• low cost - the price of this product is much cheaper than, for example, metal pipes;
• the possibility of modernizing classic mixers - today such an invention as a faucet with a shower is in demand (in this case, a flexible pipe is connected to both a common water supply pipeline and a retractable watering can).

Flexible hose sizes can be very different. For example, the length of the hose can be from 20 to 180 cm. But the diameter of the connecting hole is 5, 10 and 15 mm.

Now let's talk about the varieties of such products.

Made of sealed rubber tubing, which is protected by a metal wire braid. For connection, use special fittings: unions and connecting nuts. A reinforced hose has several advantages.

• No corners or adapters are required to connect it to the pipeline and mixer. Due to the flexibility of the hose, it can be connected in a curved way. That is why this type of liner is considered ideal for installation under a kitchen sink.
• It calmly reacts to various unforeseen temperature changes and pressure surges, while there is no additional load on the stationary element.
• Resistant to water hammer.
• Installation is quick and easy: no soldering iron or welding machine required.

I would also like to say about the cost of this design: it is absolutely acceptable, and everyone can afford such a hose.

But be that as it may, there were some drawbacks.

• The inner tube wears out quickly.
• Regular replacement of the sealing gum is required. If not replaced, there is a chance of leaks and floods.
• Reinforced hose wraps, made from inexpensive metal, oxidize and deteriorate quickly. This is why such connections can be short-lived.

But the main drawback of a reinforced hose is the presence of a large number of cheap fakes that fail without lasting a year. How to choose the right armored hose for a kitchen sink, let's talk a little below.

This type of connection practically does not differ from the previous one, but a few differences are still worth considering:

• the bellows hose does not have an internal rubber or rubber insert;
• its outer metal layer is not a braided wire, but a solid corrugated tube.

The bellows pipe has a number of advantages, among which I would like to note the following:

• resistant to all types of mechanical damage;
• withstands a pressure of 50 ATM;
• the period of trouble-free operation is at least 25 years;
• to connect fittings to the hose, manufacturers use the laser welding method, which makes it possible to strengthen the weak section and make the connection more reliable.

The disadvantages of this product include the cost - it is quite high, and the publication of a strong noise when the water passes.

Manufacturers use metals such as stainless steel, brass and bronze to make the bellows tube.

Earlier in the article, we talked about the most commonly used and newest types of hoses for connecting a kitchen sink to a pipeline. Now let's define the criteria for choosing each option.

When choosing a reinforced spout hose, consider the following criteria:

• the material from which the fitting connections are made: in most cases they are made of stainless steel, but it is better to look for brass;
• weight of the product - remember, if it is light, then its service life will not last more than a couple of years;
• choke thread - there should not be any drops on it;
• Braid material: A stainless steel or nylon braid is ideal.

When buying a bellows hose for a mixer in the kitchen, you need to be guided by:

• water temperature and pressure indicators in the pipeline system: knowledge of these data will make it possible to purchase exactly the hose that fits perfectly;
• product diameter: for a kitchen sink, experts advise choosing a hose with a diameter of 10 mm;
• the length of the eyeliner;
• the integrity of the fittings - there should be no defects and deformations.

Be sure to check that all material specifications are listed. The seller must also have quality certificates.

Tips for choosing hoses for kitchen faucets in the next video.