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How to Prevent Your Silicone Hoses From Popping Off

3rd Oct 2018

Do your silicone hoses keep popping off because of high pressure inside?

Silicone hoses are chosen in many high-pressure environments because of their next-level durability, their ability to withstand extreme temperatures and their long life spans. However, if you’re new to silicone hoses and unpracticed at installing them, you may end up with a silicone hose that continuously pops off due to the high pressure building up inside of it. There are many things you can do to ensure that the hose will stay on, and your friends at Flex Technologies have come up with these tips to help.

Always measure the diameter of the hose and the fitting.

If you purchase a hose that’s too big for the fitting, you won’t get the kind of seal that you need, even if you tighten a hose clamp around it. But in order to get the right size of silicone tubing, you need to first measure both the diameter of the fitting and the internal diameter of the hose. Always make sure that the internal diameter of the hose matches the external diameter of the fitting, as you want a tight fit and a good seal, especially if the hose is transferring coolant or another liquid.

Pro Tip - Use soap and water to lubricate the hose, which will make it easier to attach the silicone hose to the fitting. This is especially helpful if the hose fits very tightly, particularly when the end of the fitting is rolled or has a ridge.

If the end of the fitting is rolled — which means that there’s a tiny ridge at the end — it’s important that you measure the appropriate part of the fitting. Do not measure the ridge at the very end of the tube. If you do, the fit won’t be tight enough, nor will it form the kind of seal you need. Instead, measure the main body of the fitting just past the ridge.

Pro Tip - If the pipe fitting you’re attaching the silicone hose does not have a ridge, you’ll get a much better seal if you roll bead the end of the pipe before attaching the hose.

Secure your hose with the proper hose clamp.

Once your hose has been placed firmly on the fitting, you have to secure it with a clamp. This is true regardless of how tight you were able to make the hose fit. However, not just any clamp will do. You don’t want to use a clamp that has any sharp edges on the corners or serrations, as it will damage the hose. Either a t-bolt clamp or a worm drive will work well.

Leave Enough Space

Once you’ve found the ideal clamp — one that’s free of beveled edges and one with no digging — it’s important to slip the clamp on, leaving enough space that is equal to the thickness of the clamp (starting from the cut face of the silicone hose, with the roll bead sitting just after the clamp ), so it doesn’t slip off.

This is just one more protective measure that is integral in keeping your silicone hose from popping off. 

By following the best practices of securing a silicone hose and other parts such as silicon hose attachments, you’ll have a solid fit every time! In review, always measure the diameter of the hose and fitting, find the proper clamp to secure your silicone hose, and leave enough space for the clamp to attach to. 

At Flex Technologies, we offer the perfect silicone hoses for every need.

Getting the right fit is incredibly important, particularly when you’re transferring anything but air in your silicone hoses, and it all starts with purchasing the right diameter of silicone hoses. At Flex Technologies, we’re your premier source for silicone hoses for every use and in every size, and we can even make custom silicone hoses. Shop with us today, and please feel free to contact us if you have questions or concerns about fitting your silicone hoses properly.