Garden hose fittings are an important accessory that either comes along with the hose pipe or purchased separately. They are those extra parts at the end of the hose or within the entire length that is required for proper function and attachment to heads, faucets or sprinklers.
Brass hose fittings are by far the most popular and widely used fittings for garden hose because of their durability and ease of use. Although rubber or plastic fittings are available in the market they aren’t as versatile as brass fittings.
Journey with us in this complete guide to garden hose fittings, as we take you on the nitty-gritty of what it all entails. We will also show you how to connect these fittings to an indoor water supply or a garden water supply system.
What’s the Size of a Garden Hose Connector?
Before we dive into the basic connector needs you require, let’s talk a little about the right size of a garden hose connector. The larger the size of a garden hose the more volume of water delivered but at reduced pressure. Garden hose size predominantly range between 3/8 to 3/4 inch in diameter.
Although larger sizes of hose are used in commercial application, in the US the most popular size of hose used to deliver water from your spigot to the garden is 5/8 inch in diameter.
Garden hose connectors are necessary accessories needed to attach the hose to the spigot/tap/faucet. They are also needed to attach other accessories like a spray nozzle or wand.
Use a tape to measure the inside of your connector from one side within the wall of the hose to the other end of the wall. Do not make the mistake of measuring outside the wall as that diameter is too large.
Now that you have accurately determined the size of the hose connector you can match it with the appropriate hosepipe.
Thread Sizes Explained
There are specific standard threads used for garden hoses that you need to pay proper attention. The standard is popularly known as GHT (Garden Hose Thread) also known as NHR( National Hose). The standard 3/4-11.5NHR and 3/4-11.5NH are used for thin-walled and full-form threads respectively.
The Basic Fittings You Need
- Faucet or tap Connectors
- Hose Connectors
- Hose
- Water stop hose connectors
- Hose repairer
- Double male connectors
- Three-way hose connectors or Y-Hose connectors
Attaching Hose Connectors for Basic Use
There are numerous ways in which a garden hose can be set up. The way you set up your hose depends on your requirements and watering needs. For a basic set up, you need a hose connector at one end and a water stop hose connector at the other end.
Follow the laid down series below for proper connection:
Tap connector –>Hose connector –>Hose Pipe –>Water Stop Hose Connector( attached to the end of the hose that will hold the sprinkler or spray gun in place)
Types of Hose Connectors
Male Threaded Tap Connector
Plastic Fitted Tap Connector
Metal Water Stop Hose Connector
When You Need a Hose Repair Connector?
Hose repairers are a hose fitting accessory needed to combine two hoses. If you need to use two hose pipes to reach longer distances, you can use a hose repairer to join two hoses to reach longer distances.
Follow the outlined series below to connect two hoses using a hose repairer
Tap Connector –>Hose Connector –>Hose 1 –>Hose Repair Connector –>Hose 2 –>Water stop hose connector
Metallic Hose Repairer
Rubber Hose Repairer
Double Male Connectors and Attachment Ends
Double male connectors allow for effortless connection and separation of two hosepipes that are fitted with hose connectors. They ensure two sections of a hose end meet and extend without leaking.
To use a double male connector with hoses fitted with connectors follow the laid down series:
Tap connector–> Hose connector –> Hose 1 –> Water stop hose connector –>Double male connector –>Hose connector –>Hose 2 –> Water stop hose connector.
Hozelock Double Male Hose Connector
How to use 3-way Connectors
3-way hose connectors are also known as Y connectors and can be used to separate three hoses in a Y junction form. They help to branch a hose in two different directions.
You must also bear in mind that pressure is inversely proportional to hose length and size. Branching increases the length of the hose and will reduce water pressure within the hose pipes.
Follow the laid down steps exactly in the series illustrated to utilize a 3-way hose connector.
Tap connector –> Hose Connector –> Hose –> Water stop hose connector –> three-way hose connector –>2 x hose connectors–> 2 x hose pipes–> 2 x water stop hose connectors.
3-way Tap Connector
Multi-way Outlet Tap Connector
Semi-permanent and Quick Release Fittings
Semi-permanent and quick release hose fittings are an upgrade to the regular hose fittings. They can easily be attached to taps without having to screw in connectors. With these types of connectors, other accessories or fittings like spray guns and sprinklers can be added easily.
You no longer have to tighten your hose or accessories using threads or plastic rings anymore. Quick release fittings are the way to go for convenience and ease of use.
Quick Release Hose Connector
Types of Facet Hose Connectors
- Non-push fit round faucet connector
- Quick release connectors
- Crew and quick release fittings for indoor taps
Connecting a Hose to a Garden Spigot
Garden taps in the USA are made with a 3/4inch GHT thread size. To connect your hose to this fitting, follow the steps outlined below:
- Fit a brass 3/4 –inch female connector to the hose.
- Use a hose clip to hold it in place to avoid it being forced out under pressure when in use.
- Fitting made from bass and less likely going to be damaged.
How to Fit in a Spay Jet to a Garden Hose Pipe
Most garden hose come with a water stop feature at the tail end of the hose pipe. This means that they have a valve just at the end that stops water from flowing once the sprinkler is removed.
This is a very useful feature because it helps the gardener interchange head accessories without having to turn off the tap at the faucet.
The spray jet or gun fits in nicely to the gun connector surface.
Attaching a Pressure washer to a Garden Hose
If you know how to connect a garden tap to a hosepipe then you should be familiar with connecting the hose to a pressure washer. The procedures are almost the same.
Follow these steps:
- To the water inlet of the pressure machine, screw a 3/4 –inch GHT thread outdoor tap connector.
- Remove the spray gun and all other accessories fitted to the end of the hose pipe.
- Push in the gun connector onto the end of the hose and you are all set.
How to Connect a Washing Machine to a Hose
If for some reason beyond your control, your washing machine isn’t permanently plumbed or it’s located outside your building, you can improvise by using a garden hose to supply water to the machine.
Just follow these outlined steps
- Most washing machines in the US are fitted with 3/4-inch water inlets.
- Just Screw in a tap connector to the washing machine water inlet
- Then push fit the garden hose pipe onto the improvised tap connector.
- You are all set and done.
Connecting a Sprinkler to a Garden Hose
Connecting sprinklers to the garden hose are one of the easiest tasks to accomplish. Why do I say so? Sprinklers have fittings at the end that is similar to those found on a tap connector.
All you need do is push fit the hose onto the sprinkler.
Final Words
Special thanks for reading thus far. We have been able to touch the major fitting accessories required for basic everyday use. Most of your gardening requirement will make use of fittings, adjustment and a little bit of improvisation to achieve the daily gardening task.
Allow this guide to be a go-to resource for information on the basic fittings for your garden hose.
External Reads:
I was wondering if a connector exists that can connect the hot and cold water outlet into one outlet to run warm water ? I see the Y connector but I need a reverse one, to hook up to the hot and cold at the same time to run to one hose. Any help you can give will be appreciated.
Thank you,
Hi Virginia, How about using something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Brass-Fitting-Class-Female/dp/B003OYJEI8/
You can connect the separate water lines on both ends, you can install valves before the threaded connection to control the flow as well, and connect the hose with spray nozzles on the outlet end. I think that should do the job.