When There Is No Plumber But You

Worm gear hose clamp

When I joined the Peace Corps in 2013 and took that long and fateful plane ride to Morocco, I was given a book entitled Where There Is No Doctor that had a slew of first aid information in it. Surprisingly, this book turned out to be not at all useful, as there were indeed doctors in Morocco and I received the best of care. The book they should have given me was Where There Is No Plumber, because while medical care is well on its way in this complex developing nation, affordable repair services were beyond me.

And the need was urgent the minute I signed my lease. Not a week would go by where there wouldn’t be some sort of H20 woe. If it wasn’t the leaky kitchen sink, it was the hot water heater connection or the toilet. As a result of this hardship, me and many other volunteers became quite the DIY plumbers, and most of us if asked about this will weirdly launch into a diatribe about how important hose clamps are. A hose clamp is a device used to attach and seal a hose onto a fitting such as a sink nozzle or a temperature regulator–simply put, it is the band aid of the plumbing world. In the US, they are available in a lot of materials and sizes, but in the village stores all we had access to were inflexible models made out of cheap tin. We would buy them and they would work for maybe a week before bursting or becoming rusted accessories to an already beleaguered fixture.

I messed around with these for a few months while trying to fix my sink and even borrowed a hose clamp tool from a neighbor, but after one too many angry blog entries about my still-leaky sink, my dad sent me a set of silicone hose clamps in a care package. (If this reminds you of the parachutes Katniss got during the Hunger Games, yes, it was exactly like that). In his scrawled note he told me that silicone hose clamps were the best of all the hose clamp types because they were supple, wouldn’t rust, and could stand up to high temperatures without melting or weakening.

There were ten in the package, so I gave some to my fellow Peace Corps volunteers. We were definitely skeptical of the silicone hose clamps and wished he’d sent stainless steel or something because they looked a little flimsy. But we found we could adjust them with ease around the outside diameters of our fixtures and they did indeed stand up to the high water temperatures they were subjected to during long stints of filling buckets for laundry in the winter. Best of all, the silicone hose clamps meant that we could save a few coins negotiating with a plumber and use the extra money to buy a real luxury–like cheese.

Now that I’m home, many types of hose clamps make up my DIY arsenal, and basic plumbing is just another skill Peace Corps armed me with that I will have forever. The great thing about the internet though is that you no longer have to go across the world and fight with things to gain a little DIY knowledge. You can just read about us crazies who did and lived to tell the tale.

What to Know About Installing Heavy Duty Hose Clamps

Silicone hose clamps

There is a leak under the sink. If you are the do-it-yourself home plumber type, you leap to the rescue. But, do you really have the tools you need? In many cases, heavy duty hose clamps will be necessary. Here is what you need to know.

While there are many hose clamp types and hose clamp sizes, they all are a specific purpose. Knowing how to measure the diameter of whatever you are clamping is key. The outside diameter of a hose, with the fitting inside, gives the measurement needed to find the correct heavy duty hose clamps for the job. Adjustable hose clamps will have a range of outside diameters they will fit.

Heavy duty hose clamps are designed to tightly seal between the hose and barb. No matter what types of hose clamps you use, it is important that the barb be free of nicks, scratches or contaminates. This ensures the tight fit and good seal to keep the water inside the line.

The Royal Navy Commander Lumley Robinson created the hose clamp in 1921. Since then, the parts, which are u-shaped, have found many uses. Besides plumbing, heavy duty hose clamps are also used in automotive repairs. Automotive hose clamps can be found on radiators and fuel lines.

The next time you are playing plumber, think about the tools needed to complete the job. Measure carefully and keep the area free of debris and nicks. Installing heavy duty hose clamps correctly will keep you leak free! Continue: hoseclampkings.com

How to Get the Right Hose Clamp for the Job

Large hose clamps

Did you know that hose clamps are devices that are used to seal hoses onto barbs, nipples, and other fittings? This is because hose clamps eliminate gaps by providing pressure on all sides. However, before obtaining a specific hose clamp, you must make sure it is the right one. Fortunately, by following these search criteria, you will be able to find the right hose clamp for the job.

– Find the right type of clamp. There are many hose clamp types available. Screw hose clamps, for instance, are used mainly to temporarily fix damaged pipes in emergency situations, and they are made of galvanized or stainless steel. Plastic hose clamps, on the other hand, are typically used for securing standard hoses on low-pressure aquarium devices, such as protein skimmers and canister filters. Gear, spring, and wire hose clamps are also available, which means that before you invest in a specific type of clamp, you must determine which one you actually need.

– Find the correct size. Once you have found the right type of hose clamp, you must then determine the size you need. This is important because all hose clamps, including plastic hose clamps, come in a wide range of sizes, and the wrong size will almost always result in leakage. Fortunately, you can find the right size by measuring the outside diameter of the item you are clamping using either inches or millimeters, and depending on this diameter, you can find a hose clamp that fits the measurement.

Hose clamps are important devices, but finding the right one can sometimes be difficult. Fortunately, determining the size and type of clamp you need ahead of time will make your search easier. This means that by following these two search criteria, you will be able to find the right hose clamp for the job.