ive had a cheap stainless 8ltr jobbie from ebay for 2 years now, i was happy if i got a year out of it and its still going strong.
i used it through last summer 2014 but 2015 i couldnt be bothered getting a new bottle then a few weeks ago we had a really cold day and i thought winter had finally come but its been very mild, i got a bottle anyway and after sorting a few leaks out im back on the hot and cant believe i stopped using it, just melts crap away and seems to do a better job somehow!!
i use the normal gardiner 8m yellow reel hose and all season pole hose, they get a bit soft and rubbery but i only run my water warmish rather than hot after a bad experience cracking a window when i first started using the system at boiling hot temps