[Swcs]

I bought myself 100m of the stuff to replace a hose that just split after a year of wear.

So I had it on for a week then this happened..

https://www.dropbox.com/s/c7m2lsuu161myhm/Photo%2010-07-2013%2015%2030%2012.jpg

This is how much it swelled up before it exploded! (Side by side comparison of what it should look like and how much it swelled)

I'm really dissappoinent with the quality of the pole hose as the previous lot on the pole lasted over a year of full time use!

FYI I use a cold water system and haven't changed my water pressure or anything like  that.

I have had to use another length for my pole this week from the 100m I bought.
Really annoyed tbh.

Anyone had any other problems like this with Gardiner pole hose? What did you do? Or what would you do?

Thanks all!

Luke

[Alex Gardiner]

Just  a couple of questions and points:

When did you buy the previous batch of pole hose? Our formula has changed about 5 months ago to a softer more user friendly compound -we also now do a stiffer, tougher hot water hose.

Are you using this as pole hose or on your hose reel (from pump to pole hose)?

If this is just being used as pole hose it should not be under any pressure so would not swell up.

The extremely hot weather will also affect many products that usually perform in a certain way. This is very true of all hose products.

[Swcs]

Thanks for a swift personal response.

My previous batch was bought over 5months ago, so yes this will be the 'softer more friendly' compound.

I'm using it as pole hose.

This happened whilst under pressure between houses.
I have recently fitted an aquadapter switch as I was breaking the standard flow valves all the time.

Thank you for your help.

Luke

[Alex Gardiner]

Thanks for a swift personal response.

My previous batch was bought over 5months ago, so yes this will be the 'softer more friendly' compound.

I'm using it as pole hose.

This happened whilst under pressure between houses.
I have recently fitted an aquadapter switch as I was breaking the standard flow valves all the time.

Thank you for your help.

Luke

I understand now 

The downside of a flow control valve at the top of the pole is that it does leave the whole of the length of the pole hose under pressure when turned off. This can build up to quite a strength if you have a pump with a 100psi pressure switch. This pole hose is not pressure rated at all as it is non-reinforced hose.

It may just be the very hot weather is softening it up too much for the pressure it is under or it may be that with the last hose you were able to get away with it due to a slightly stiffer compound - although that also was not pressure rated at all and should have a very similar burst strength.

We only supply poles with a flow control valve fitted to the pole hose near the end connector (about 1.5m) this limits the length that is under pressure and means that it usually causes no problems. For those with a pole control valve fitted to the top, the valve manufacturers usually recommend that you switch pole hose to their own PU hose which is pressure rated and able to cope with this.

If you want to continue using this non pressure rated hose then it may be worth calibrating the dead-end setting on your pump controller to a little lower setting during this very hot spell.

[Swcs]

 Thanks for the information, I know what to do to solve this problem now.

Great advice as always Alex.

[andyM]

I concur with Mr G's diagnosis of cause and effect. 
I use a different pole hose (Sureclean Systems) and also have a tap at the brush head.
I have noticed the pole hose swelling recently in this warm weather.
And I adjusted the pump pressure screw because I was having problems with water spurting from push-fit connections due to being over pressurised.
Yesterday half way through a window clean I must of spent 20 minutes having a conversation with a customer.
During that time I noticed the pole hose had swelled quite considerably probably to twice it's normal outside diameter.
So I believe it's a combination of heat softening the hose, possibly too much pump pressure and the tap at the brush head.
The majority of the time I never see this problem but with this hot weather it does happen.