tubing or hose

[repairguy]

Like to know what you all recommend for the highpressure lines between the eroom and the bays. Hose or tubing. I'm leaning towards tubing because of all the hose issues with sagging, chaffing, etc. but would like your input as to service life and installation problems. Thankyou in advance.

 

[Waxman]

I've had HP hose for 6 years with no issues.

I am sure tubing is better, but I have hose and it has been perfect.

 

[2Biz]

I've heard of some owners using High Pressure SS tubing from the ER to their bays. But I'm wondering how it holds up if it ever froze?

I had a freezeup due to a malfunctioning weep gun last winter. After thawing the hose, there was no damage. I'm wondering if tubing would have the same results?

I've replaced a few HP Hoses in the past year, but they looked like they were ten years old or even older. So I really don't have any complaints with the HP hose or how long they last. It is easy to work with. Oh and having extra hose on hand and your own Crimper is nice too!

 

[Earl Weiss]

Some love tubing. Lasts almost forever. (HAve had fittings corrode and breakage from vibration etc. ) Tubing in a trough is easy to do, easy to fix, and cheaper. In a covered trough seems to last almost forever.

 

[MEP001]

I've heard of some owners using High Pressure SS tubing from the ER to their bays. But I'm wondering how it holds up if it ever froze?

If it doesn't break from a freeze, it's going to expand. If it expands from a freeze and then breaks or splits later it won't be repairable.

 

[Jeff_L]

I have/had hoses in both my washes running from the equipment room to each bay. I noticed at one of my washes that I was losing pressure (1100-1200) at the pump and something considerably less at the bay. I started with rebuilding the pump, then cleaned the fittings all the way to the bay. This helped some, but not enough. I've replaced all the bays with SS tubing down the trough and see a big difference. I still run an HP hose from the top of the pump stand to the beginning of the trough (I'm just not good at making bends in tubing). However, the run from the stand to the trough is an easy hose replacement and is conveniently the same length of run I use from the boom to the wand. Therefore one spare can be used in multiple places.

I like the tubing, it's a clean install and you can reduce any vibration by using the tube holders which helps space the runs apart and stabilizes them.

Note: If you use tubing, it was recommended by a Windtrax friend to not use a standard tube cutter like you would for copper pipes. He felt it crimped the end too much. Instead, I used my air driven cutoff tool.

 

[thoffmanjr]

Another minor issue to consider running 5/16" ID hose compared to running 1/2" OD tubing with a .065 wall and a .370" ID is that your product change over time with tubing may take a little longer than hose. We just ran tubing at a new wash we built and product change over time does seem a bit longer. Tubing has an 18% bigger inside diameter. Do some people run 3/8" hose? If you are then 1/2" OD tubing has a smaller ID and would improve change over time. I still think tubing is better.

 

[Earl Weiss]

I run 3/8" poly because that is what I inherited with a D&S system when I acquired the wash. Replaced almost all of it and later wondered why I did not use 1/4" poly. Seems like 1/4" poly should be able to provide plenty of volume for LP Functions thru an 05 tip.

 

[MikeV]

Stainless steel tubing it the way to go. I use 3/8" tubing for the self serv bays, 1/2"for the auto undercarriage and 3/4" tubing for the auto high pressure. SS tubing is fairly easy to work with and can be bent with tubing benders easily and cut with a standard tubing cutter.