Agricultural Hoses: The Ultimate Guide

Rachel Stevens

September 18, 2025

In British agriculture, hoses are one of the most useful tools out there. Whether irrigating crops in East Anglia, power-washing dairy parlours in Cheshire, or feeding sheep on the rolling fields in Yorkshire, the ability to reliably transfer water, slurry, chemicals, and feed is fundamental to farm management.

But getting the right hose for the job is vital; which is why we’ll cover everything you need to know about agricultural hoses in this guide. Keep reading to learn more…

What to consider before buying a farm hose

Choosing the correct agricultural hose requires an understanding of the technical knowledge, regulatory context, and practical consideration required for that hose. Before buying a hose then, you should consider the following things:

Compatibility

First, and most importantly, it’s vital to make sure the hose you select is right for the task at hand.

For abrasive solids such as grain or sand, you need hoses with thick internal walls, abrasion-resistant linings, and antistatic provisions.

For aggressive chemicals, the hose lining material should line up with the chemical class and concentration of the media transported. Herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides each have their own chemical compatibility, so it’s important to ensure that you use the right hose.

For food-contact applications, hoses must comply with UK and EU food safety standards. If you want to learn more about these safety standards, check out our blog on Why Food & Drink Hoses are Crucial for Maintaining Hygiene Standards.

Pressure and flow

A hose must be rated not only for the normal working pressure but also handle transient surges. That’s why you should always select a hose with a working pressure at least 25% above the system’s maximum sustained pressure. This will protect against bursts or tears during surges.

When you’re choosing a farm hose with the right pressure and flow, we recommend:

Checking that the burst pressure rating provides a minimum 2–3x safety margin to allow for surges.
Considering the internal diameter. The required flow (litres/minute) determines the necessary internal diameter; too small a bore will result in friction losses and reduced system efficiency.

As a practical example, a typical 25mm irrigator hose suited to 40 bar working pressure can support high-volume water cannons without significant pressure drop.

Temperature and weather

Britain is well-known for its somewhat indecisive, and often inclement, weather, so any hose used out in the field needs to be able to endure it just as well as the farmers.

Rubber or EPDM hoses offer a wide-range of flexibility and performance, making them a good option for those freezing British winters, or sweltering summers. Additionally, look for hoses specifically marked for UV and frost protection, with UV inhibitors in PVC blends. This will add another layer of protection from weather and temperature fluctuations.

Flexibility and bend

What good is an agricultural hose if it lacks the necessary flexibility to operate on a working farm?

Operations requiring repeated movement demand flexible, kink-resistant constructions with low minimum bend radius values. You need to be able to orient around machinery, traverse unstable ground, or even just get around corners with various farm hoses to complete your daily tasks. With this in mind, consider going for softer PVCs and multilayer rubber hoses, as these generally outperform rigid hoses for such uses.

Length and diameter

Even the best hose will fail if it doesn’t meet the length or diameter requirements.

Before purchasing a hose, measure the distance to be covered for irrigation or equipment servicing, allowing extra for gentle routing, and avoiding sharp bends that can damage the hose or impede flow.

But don’t go overboard. Oversized hoses may be difficult to handle, while too-small diameters increase friction loss, so it’s important to balance practical handling with flow rate needs.

Connection and fittings

To save you the hassle of refitting your whole system, we highly recommend checking that the chosen hose’s OD and ID are compatible with existing fittings.

Where possible, select hoses with standardised or customisable ends to make it easier to integrate with pumps, taps, or spray heads in and around the yard.

Regulatory compliance

For pressurised systems, make sure that hoses and fittings comply with relevant UK directives and standards, including Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations (PE(S)R) 2016, and are marked CE or UKCA as appropriate. This is not only to comply with regulations, but to ensure that your rig is as safe as possible for use.

Types of agricultural hoses

As previously mentioned, an agricultural operation will use hoses for a wide range of applications. Each type of hose is specifically designed for a distinct usage, so let’s run through them:

Water supply hoses

Water supply hoses are one of the most commonly used hose types, supporting crop irrigation, livestock hydration, and greenhouse humidification. They transport potable and non-potable water over distances, directly feeding crops, drinkers, or misting systems.

Watering farm hoses are typically manufactured from flexible PVC or rubber, and often reinforced with polyester braid to improve their burst resistance and kink resilience. Some high-durability versions include additional UV inhibitors to withstand prolonged sun exposure in exposed paddocks.

Buy Now - PVC 40 Bar Agricultural Spray and Delivery Hose

Designed for high-pressure spraying and general water delivery, this PVC hose features polyester braid reinforcement, can handle a broad temperature range (–15°C to +60°C), and offers a 40 bar working pressure, making it suitable for both field irrigation and spraying tasks.

Chemical and fertiliser hoses

Used for applying liquid fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, and other agricultural chemicals via sprayers or dosing equipment, these agricultural drainage pipes provide the accurate, safe transfer of often aggressive fluids.

These hoses are lined with chemical-resistant materials, such as specialist PVC blends, EPDM, or PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) for maximum chemical compatibility. Reinforcement may include textile braid, rigid PVC spiral, or steel wire for suction/delivery tasks, with smooth bores to prevent residue build-up and facilitate cleaning.

Buy Now - Acid 16 BAR UHMWPE Chemical Suction & Delivery Hose

Designed for safe suction and discharge of a broad spectrum of acids, pesticides, and liquid fertilisers in field and yard environments, this hose features a smooth, transparent ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) tube, and is suitable for 96% of chemicals.

Food-grade hoses

Commonly found in dairy parlours, abattoirs, and food-processing sheds, food-grade hoses are used for both cleaning and the hygienic transfer of milk, whey, or foodstuffs to reduce contamination risk.

Manufactured from food-grade rubber, silicone, or thermoplastic elastomers, certified to EU and UK food contact regulations, these hoses are reinforced for high-pressure washdown (up to 60 bar). Additionally, they have a smooth interior to prevent bacterial growth and facilitate cleaning, and are resistant to fats, acids, and sterilising fluids.

Buy Now - Smooth Blue Food Quality Dairy Washdown Hose

This food quality EPDM rubber hose is great for hot water in dairy and hygienic environments and other general wash-down applications. It is reinforced with high tensile textile cords and has a smooth white non-marking EPDM rubber.

Fuel and oil transfer hoses

Used for refuelling tractors, generators, and other agricultural machinery, and for the safe transfer of lubricants, hydraulic fluids, and waste oils, these hoses are lined with specialised synthetic rubber to resist swelling and corrosion by diesel, petrol, and biofuels.

Additionally, they’re reinforced with high-tensile yarns or wire for burst strength; and antistatic designs are essential, with electrical bonding or earthing wires to prevent static discharge during transfer operations.

Buy Now - Diesel Fuel & Oil 10 Bar Delivery Hose

This hose features a black synthetic elastomer rubber tube and abrasion, ozone and hydrocarbon resistant cover. Functioning at temperatures between -10°C up to +70°C, this hose is available in sizes up to 100m.

Layflat hoses

These lightweight hoses are easily deployable, making them ideal for large-scale surface agricultural irrigation pipes, emergency water transfer, and seasonal setup. They are rolled flat for compact storage, then rapidly deployed for field use.

Created from single or multilayer PVC (with polyester fabric reinforcement), or thermoplastic polyurethane, these hoses are designed to resist kinking and twisting while maintaining full flow capacity.

Buy Now - Standard Duty Blue PVC Lay Flat Water Discharge Hose

This layflat hose is available in coils up to 100 metres, with a blue abrasion resistant PVC cover and reinforced with high tensile textile cords. With a temperature range between -5°C to +65°C, this hose is suitable for use in irrigation setups.

Seed drill hoses

Seed drill hoses are flexible, durable tubes designed to deliver seeds and solid fertilisers to the ground in a precise, evenly spaced manner.

They’re typically made of clear PVC, with an internal spiral helix for strength and kink resistance to ensure optimal seed flow and even planting.

Buy Now - UV & Ozone Resistant PVC Seed Drill Hose

Specially designed for use in agriculture, this seed drill hose is suitable for both seeds and solid fertilisers. The body is UV and ozone resistant and is capable of temperatures up to 60°C. It has a rigid PVC spiral, which allows for it to be extremely kink resistant whilst maintaining its shape and stability.

Slurry hoses

A slurry hose is a specialised hose created with the purpose of transporting abrasive, high-solid mixtures like mud, sand, gravel, coal, or animal waste.

Unlike standard hoses, slurry hoses are built with thick, wear-resistant inner linings (often made of rubber, polyurethane, or PVC) and strong, flexible outer layers to withstand the harsh, abrasive conditions of these thick liquids, which can otherwise quickly degrade regular agricultural hoses.

Buy Now - Medium Duty PVC MEDUSA Suction & Delivery Hose

This medium-duty green PVC hose is suitable for the suction and delivery of water and other liquids, is ozone-resistant and has shock-resistant grid reinforcement. It’s available in lengths up to 50 metres.

Hose fittings and accessories

A hose system is only as good as the connections and fittings attached to it. Let’s look at the different types of fittings, clips, and additional accessories that make or break a hose system.

Hose fittings

A variety of pipe fittings are used in the agricultural industry, each with their own specific uses:

Threaded fittings (BSP, BSPT, NPT): these are common on pumps, irrigation tap manifolds, and standard farm fixtures. Choose brass for potable water, or stainless steel where chemical resistance or hygiene is a must-have.
Camlocks and groove couplings: these fittings allow for rapid hose changeover in irrigation and water transfer. They are available in aluminium, brass, or polypropylene.
Storz and Bauer couplings: these fittings are widely used on British slurry, water-tanker, and irrigation systems. Storz allows for non-orientated connection with a quarter-turn, while Bauer provides self-aligning, leak-proof joints for large-diameter hoses.
Quick disconnects: these are useful on spray booms and yard cleaning lances for tool-free changeover in high-pressure systems.
Hose tail and swaged fittings: these are used for semi-permanent assemblies, particularly on high-pressure or custom-length hoses. Swaged ferrules provide security against leaking or blow-off, which is critical in fuel and hydraulic lines.

Clamps, clips, and ferrules

Secure attachment of hoses to fittings is vital for performance and safety. Therefore, a number of clamps, clips, and ferrules are used:

Worm-drive/jubilee clips: these clips are best used for small to medium hoses in low-pressure or domestic irrigation roles.
T-bolt clamps: these clamps provide uniform clamping force for high-pressure, large-diameter or vibration-prone systems such as slurry spreaders and sprayer heads.
Ear and O clips: these clips, commonly made of stainless steel, feature a tamper-proof design, making them useful for food, hydraulic, and chemical lines. However, they do require special crimping pliers for installation.
Double bolt clamps: these secure clamps are often saved for heavy-duty pneumatic and pressure washer hose connections.

Hose reducers and joiners

In mixed fleet environments or legacy British setups with a range of hose diameters and fitting types, joiners and reducers are indispensable.

Reducers: these allow seamless connection of hoses with mismatched bores.
Joiners: straight or stepwise joiners allow for the extending or repairing of hoses on site.

Nozzles and valves

Lastly, there are a number of nozzles and valves that are important for the functioning of a hose system.

Spray lances/nozzles: hot/cold water and chemical-resistant nozzles are often used for yard cleaning, and come equipped with variable pattern and pressure control.
Ball and gate valves: providing a quick shut-off and sectioning for complex field irrigation or yard cleaning systems, these valves are frequently used in agricultural settings.

Correct selection, installation, and maintenance of fittings and accessories helps to prevent downtime, protect operators, meet compliance standards, and prolong the life of expensive hose assemblies.

How to look after agricultural hoses

Even the most reliable agricultural hoses are only as good as their ongoing care. Though often overlooked, a bit of routine maintenance and practical thought can help to extend the service life of your handy hosepipe.

After-use cleaning

One of the best ways to keep your hose working as intended for longer is to keep them clean. We recommend:

Flushing any hoses with clean water after each use, especially when they’ve been used with chemicals, slurry, or feed. This will help to prevent residue build-up and cross-contamination.
For dairy and food hoses, regular sanitisation with approved cleaning agents is essential.
Once cleaned, dry the hose out thoroughly, as this will help to stop the likelihood of microbial growth, particularly with food and potable water hoses.

Regular inspection

When a hose breaks, it can cause problems and delays that can have a serious impact on a farm. In order to prevent the worst occurring, conduct periodic checks for:

Abrasion: look for worn outer layers, exposed reinforcement, or fraying near couplings. To protect your hoses, use hose protectors and sleeves, reroute to avoid rubbing against machinery or hard ground, and replace any hose at the first sign of exposure.
Cracks or perishing: UV, frost, or chemical exposure can induce fine cracks, particularly in PVC and rubber. In order to keep your hose safe, drain and store them indoors through winter, or insulate the hose when leaving them in exposed locations.
Leaking couplings: signs of water leaks, rust, or mould around fittings indicate imminent failure. To counter this, you should thoroughly inspect, tighten or replace clamps and fittings. You should also avoid excessive overtightening, which can damage the hose wall. Make sure fittings are suitable for pressure and media, and fit new ferrules or band clamps as needed.
Kinks or bends: permanent deformation from poor storage or misuse can weaken the hose wall. Where necessary, pick anti-kink hoses, or use bend restrictors. You can also install hose reels to correctly store them, and practice correct coiling and routing, especially around livestock pens and machinery.
Blistering or swelling: blistering or swelling can be a huge indicator of chemical incompatibility or burst risk. You should confirm chemical compatibility before use, or replace with appropriate chemical-grade hoses if necessary. Additionally, flush the hose out after every use.
Blockages: these can occur when the hose has not been properly cleaned out, and results in reduced flow or no output, especially after fertiliser or slurry use. To remedy, make sure you flush the hoses out regularly. Additionally, you can disassemble and clear solid blockages, and use filters at inlets to reduce ingress of particulates.

If you notice any of these signs, you should try and replace damaged hoses or sections immediately. Patch repairs are rarely a suitable option for agricultural and chemical use.

Storage

The way a hose is stored can go a long way in keeping it functional. To make sure you’re storing your hoses correctly, make sure to:

Coil hoses loosely without sharp bends or kinks, and never wind tightly around small diameter reels.
Hang hoses on dry, smooth pegs, wide hooks, or purpose-built reels to keep them off damp floors or ground.
Store away from direct sunlight, frost, or sources of excessive heat.
Stack heavy hoses horizontally (if not on reels) in dry, temperature-stable stores, segregating chemical, potable, and waste hoses to avoid cross-contamination.

Emergency repairs

Sometimes, in order to keep critical systems running, there is no option but to perform an emergency repair. Temporary repairs should only be performed when there is no other option, and should be replaced with full-length, compatible hoses at the first opportunity.

We recommend keeping a hose repair kit on hand with spare connectors, clamps, and short replacement lengths at various locations in and around an agricultural site.

By implementing these best practices, you can make sure your agriculture pipes are safe, and cost-effective for multiple years.

Find agricultural hose equipment at The Hosemaster

Agricultural equipment is one of the most important things to get right, so if you’re looking for the best farming hose equipment, The Hosemaster has you covered.

We stock quality farming hose and accessories to suit your agricultural needs. And, with decades of experience working with a wide range of hose and plumbing supplies, we are always on hand to help.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team online.