Some departments treat their hose like a commodity — they buy it, use it for a while and get rid of it when it bursts or they have money to replace it. A better approach might be to perform regular maintenance to keep hose in top condition and help ensure a longer life.

The most basic maintenance is to wash the hose after every use. Mud, ash and other caked-on materials usually can be removed with a stream of water and a long-handled brush. Tough deposits might require a bucket of soapy water and a second scrubbing. Removing oil, grease, paint and hazardous materials depends on the hose jacket materials. Some jackets are resistant to most contaminants and can be cleaned with common solvents. Others require special treatment. Consult the hose manufacturer for specific details.

While you are cleaning the hose, look for cuts and other damage, including bulges in the hose wall that might indicate an internal weak spot. Also check the couplings for damaged threads, broken pins or lugs, and out-of-round couplings. If you disconnect individual sections, check the condition of the gaskets. This is especially important for large-diameter hose with Storz connections because the gasket is critical to an effective and safe seal. If you use hard- or soft-suction hoses, check those periodically, as well. Cracked or dried-out gaskets are a common source of air leaks when drafting. Repair or replace hose sections and gaskets as required.

Finally, test each section of hose once a year. The Insurance Services Office assigns points for annual hose testing. Use a portable hose tester to pressurize the hose rather than running the pump on an engine. Pressurizing hose with an engine causes overheating and cavitation, which can damage the pump. Always position the free end of the hose uphill from the tester and bleed the air from the hose before applying pressure. Secure both ends of the hose sections being tested, and keep personnel away from the area in case a hose bursts. At the completion of the test, record the information and keep it in the maintenance file for each apparatus. ISO will want written records indicating the dates, pressures and results of each annual test.

Basic hose maintenance only requires a little time periodically to clean, inspect and test the hose. This maintenance can result in fewer problems, longer life and possibly higher ISO ratings.