What is a Hose Assembly?

If you’ve ever worked with hydraulic machinery, or with pressurised air, you’ve probably come across a hose assembly. But what exactly makes up a hose assembly, and what are its benefits? Keep reading to learn more with this guide from the team at The Hosemaster…

What is a hose assembly?

To explain a hose assembly, we’re going to start right at the beginning - with hoses.

Hoses are long, cylindrical tubes, and are used to pass fluids or gases through for a variety of purposes. They play an essential role in countless industrial processes, from hydraulic machinery systems, to water coolant delivery, to pressurised air guns and more. 

Hoses are typically made of synthetic fibres, or plastics like PVC to give them optimal flexibility, and are designed to provide a vital connection between a source and an end point.

However, you can’t simply put a hose over a hole and expect it to work perfectly. Instead, you need hose fittings. These clever connectors are specifically designed as a point of contact between a hose and a material source - whether that is air, water, oil, lubricant or other. 

But what does this have to do with hose assemblies?

In the simplest terms, a hose assembly describes a hose that’s connected with any style of hose fitting at one or both ends. Rather than the individual components, a hose assembly refers to both hose and fitting as one unit.

Who uses hose assemblies?

Hose assemblies are used universally in a wide range of industrial machines and mechanical processes, including, but not limited to:

• Hydraulic systems within construction and material handling.
• Agricultural machinery, like tractors and harvesters.
• Automotive maintenance, in garages and at home.
• Emergency services, like extinguishing fires.
• Domestic and commercial buildings, in sprinkler systems.

Hose assemblies are incredibly adaptive for whatever your needs - especially since you can make them yourself or buy them premade with the right fittings to suit your purpose. 

All of which brings us neatly onto the next section of this article, which is…

What are the benefits of using a hose assembly?

Now that you know what a hose assembly is, it’s worth considering what the benefits are to using hose assemblies in machinery.

Come premade

The main advantage to buying hose assemblies is that they can come already pre-made with the hose fittings you’re looking for. This makes it much easier for you to find and attach the correct hose you need to start work, without having to worry about adding the couplers yourself.

Shop Hose Assemblies now!

Premade hose assemblies also remove the need for you to have additional crimpers or tools to attach the fittings to the hoses - especially with hydraulic hoses where there are a lot of different considerations, like die size and width.

Easy to change out

Since they’re made of different component parts, some hose assemblies are easier to change out when you need to replace a part. This is especially true with screw fittings, like on the end of a garden hose.

Note - with some hose assemblies, you shouldn’t replace separate parts. For example, whilst it’s not illegal to re-end hydraulic hoses, it’s highly inadvisable due to the dangers involved. We recommend buying a whole new hydraulic fitting if you find any issues within the assembly.

Whilst it can be more expensive, changing a whole hose assembly unit at once is easier in its own way because you can remove everything at once. This can save you time as you’re not having to find and fit any extra attachments to your hose. 

You’ll also know that each part is the same age, so you can monitor the average lifespan of hose assemblies within your system.

Can be customised

Hose assemblies are designed to fit the requirements of the machine. This means they’re more flexible, and can be pre-cut in a variety of lengths depending on your needs. 

Shop now - Rectus 25 Series Reinforced PVC Hose Assemblies in 3m, 5m, and 10m

Plus, for more specialised applications, one of the best benefits to using hose assemblies is that they can be customised to fit your needs. 

So, if you have small connections, or need a particular hose to navigate a more complicated route, you can design your hose assembly to fit perfectly and maximise efficiency. 

Customising your hose assembly can also help to prolong its life, as you can reduce the chances of abrasions or future issues.

Tips for buying premade hose assemblies

Premade hose assemblies are popular because they can make your life much easier. With no need to find and attach your own couplers, you can save yourself a lot of time and hassle. 

However, there are some tricks to ensuring you get the right product for your needs, so we’ve collected some of our top tips for buying a premade hose assembly.

1. What job are you looking for your hose assembly to perform? This will affect the material and width of the hose you buy.
   
   
2. Make sure you’re buying the right fittings to match your existing system, or you won’t be able to connect the hose assembly correctly.
   
   
3. Consider the length that you need and buy accordingly. Hose assemblies that are too long are inefficient, and prone to damage, whereas if they’re too short you won’t be able to connect your systems correctly.
   
   
4. Double-check the hose you’re buying can withstand the conditions it will be in. Temperature, pressure, and external environment will all have a big impact on how your hose assembly holds up over time.
   
   
5. Check that the fittings are attached properly before you connect your hose assembly to prevent leaks and damage.
   

Find what you’re looking for at The Hosemaster

Here at The Hosemaster, we’ve been trading within the industrial hose and connections industry since 1976. Our decades of experience make us one of the best workshop supply retailers in the UK.

Our fantastic team of experts is always ready to answer your sales or technical queries. Simply get in touch with the team via email, or give us a ring on 01282 604 002 for useful information and guidance.

Shop hose assemblies at The Hosemaster today

For more news, information and general product advice, explore The Hosemaster blog…

What Is Compressed Air & Where Is It Used? | Retractable Hose Reel Buying Guide | How to Check Tyre Pressure and Inflate Your Tyres