Hoses, fittings, pumps and air compressors are often found in rough working conditions. Whether you're managing an industrial process or working at a repair shop, a lot of the tedious, hard work can result in some careless mistakes or simple accidents that could lead to expensive replacements and repairs. As you look through your maintenance practices, consider a few ways to keep hoses and hose fittings in good working order by knowing what could go wrong.
Hose Damage From Incorrect Handling
Hoses come in a variety of sizes and materials depending on the purposes. Some hose construction involves solid rubber tubing, while others may be braided with cloth, metal or a mixture of both for protection. That may be layers of paper material or plastic to provide a bit of protection, but the protection can only go so far.
Industrial hoses shouldn't be treated like garden hoses unless they're actually garden hoses. Garden hoses are designed to be malleable in order to reach different areas and to survive being "pinched off" to stop water flow conveniently. With many hoses used for air compressors, moving fluids or other processes, pinching can be dangerous.
The material may be thick and sturdy due to the requirements of the materials moving through the hose. Bending or pinching the hose could create a crease that could crack or break the hose completely. This is especially true in older hoses, but old hoses should be replaced as a part of your maintenance process.
Temperature can play a role in hose damage as well. Hoses that you thought to be flexible could stretch out of shape in the heat or become brittle enough to crease or crumble in colder temperatures. Some of the damage could be internal, resulting in crumbling rubber or plastic getting into whatever you need to transfer with the hose.
Make sure to treat the hoses with car when storing or connecting to avoid these issues. If you absolutely must have hoses that need to be handled roughly, make sure to invest in durable hoses designed for rough treatment.
Don't Drop The Hardware!
Hoses and hose fittings can be durable, but you shouldn't simply drop or throw them anywhere. Especially in the case of hose fittings, expensive damage could mean buying more hose fittings.
Some fittings are designed by molding two halves, then placing them together with a welding or fusing process. Although the process is strong enough for general operation, dropping the fitting or other hardware can result in a crack or split at the joining area.
It's understandable that certain difficult, physically-demanding jobs will result in hardware being dropped, but try to reduce the damage as much as possible. Be sure to invest in mounting hooks, average waist-height tables or other workshop conveniences to give workers a safer place to set their tools.
Contact a hose fittings professional like Hose Pros- 24 Hour Mobile Hydraulic Hose for advice on how to make your hoses and equipment area safer for workers and equipment alike.
Share24 August 2015
When it comes to ordering industrial equipment for a new business or big project, it can be tough trying to keep track of everything that needs attention. Not only do you have to make sure that your new equipment is in proper working order, but you need to learn about the warranties and insurance plans that come with them in case of an accident or breakdown. You also have to make sure that employees are properly trained about how to manage and maintain the new equipment. There is no need to invest in costly training programs for successful implementation of your new equipment – you can use the tips and tricks on this blog to get the job done.
