The length of your hose can seriously affect the garden hose flow rate, as the longer the hose, the less water pressure there will be. This is because as water travels down the hose, it can lose pressure and offer far less flow rate, commonly referred to as friction loss.
Assuming a best-case scenario – working on flat ground and normal operating conditions – you typically won't lose much pressure as you increase the length of hose that you use. For instance, on a 3/8-inch hose with a 3 gallon/minute flow, the loss of pressure per 100 feet is about 50 PSI.
These are maximum recommended flow rates, and this chart is based on a maximum acceptable pressure drop of 15% per 100 feet of hose.
Pressure loss is directly proportional to hose length. Since the flow charts are based on 100' lengths, loss for 100' must be converted to 150' of hose. Pressure loss for 100' of hose is 20 psi, therefore, the loss in 150' of hose is: 150'/100' x 20 psi = 30 psi.
If your hose is 100 feet or less, no, your hose will not likely have issues. However, if you want to use a hose that is a few hundred feet long, you will lose a noticeable amount of water pressure. Most pressure washers are not sold with long hoses because the best pressure is achieved from a shorter hose.
It all depends on if you are using it for the inlet or outlet of the pressure washer. If you are using it on the inlet side, the answer is yes you can use a 100 ft garden hose. But there are going to be some drawbacks compared to using a shorter hose.
Hose length
The length of your hose can seriously affect the garden hose flow rate, as the longer the hose, the less water pressure there will be. This is because as water travels down the hose, it can lose pressure and offer far less flow rate, commonly referred to as friction loss.
Consumers can get away with hose lengths of around 20-50 feet for washing their house or vehicle, but the pros will need some extra reach. Cleaners starting out will usually stick with 50', as most pressure washers ship with 50 foot hoses, but many applications will require more.
For example, if the diameter of a pipe is reduced over a very short distance, you'll be able to observe the resulting increase in pressure quite noticeably, as in the garden hose scenario above.
➡️As the length of the pipe increases, the pressure drop also increases. This is because the fluid has to travel a longer distance, which creates more friction and resistance. Therefore, the longer the pipe, the greater the pressure drops.
Hose Diameter
Because standard household piping is typically ½ inch in diameter, most homeowners only need a standard garden hose size of ½ inch in diameter. A 5/8 inch diameter garden hose size may also work for you, but you'll likely be adding unnecessary weight with this size hose.
To ensure you're getting the maximum amount of pressure to the tool, opt for a larger diameter hose. To get an idea of how air hose diameter affects working pressure, check out this handy Air Flow Calculator. Use shorter lengths of air hose.
Pressure may also build up inside a hose left on with a shut-off nozzle attached. Especially if left in the hot sun, high pressure may force bad tasting water inside the hose into your home's plumbing. can occur where unprotected cross connections exist.
For small yards, patios, and balconies, 25 feet garden hose should be enough. Larger garden may need 150 feet or even longer to reach the farthest corners. If you need to go past 100 feet, consider buying a 100-foot or a 125-foot. Believe me，100-foot hose is not too long.
Low pressure at your garden hose spigot can be caused by one or a combination of issues, such as clogged or leaking pipes, excessive corrosion in the spigot valve or a lack of water pressure coming from the street.
When you are moving water over a greater distance, the drop in flow rate can be dramatic. A hose that is 25' long could have a flow rate of 24 GPM, depending on the diameter and PSI. Couple four of those same hoses together or use a 100' hose, and the flow rate will drop by 75 percent.
A quick and easy way to increase water pressure is to adjust the pressure-reducing valve, which can be found in your home, usually close to your water meter. If your pressure gauge reading was low, make slight adjustments to your regulator.
When the pipe diameter is too small, resistance is created. This leads to a reduction in the water flow and an increase in pressure. On the other hand, an oversized pipe can lead to a sluggish flow. This diminishes the efficiency of the entire water system.
For the same discharge compared to a ⅝ inches pipe, a ¾ inches pipe have comparatively higher pressure output but at a reduced velocity. A ¾ inch hose delivers significantly more water than a ⅝ inch hose. For instance, a 25-foot ¾ inch hose can output up to 72 gallons per minute, nearly double that of a ⅝ inch hose.
Small (1/4") hoses are the most common. They are designed for consumer-grade electric and small gas power washers with pressure ratings up to 3,200 psi. Mid-sized (5/16”) hoses are the least common. They are rated for prosumer-grade gas pressure washers that can withstand pressures between 2,700-3,600 psi.
When considering hose length, it's essential to take into account your lawn's size as well as water spigot locations. If your lawn is 500-2,000 sq ft, we recommend going with a 50' long hose. If you have a bigger lawn, 2,000-5,000 sq ft, the ideal hose will be 75' - 100' long.
Adding a Booster Pump
A booster pump will increase the pressure to your garden hose as well as other outlets in your home. Water pressure booster pumps connect to the garden hose and to an electrical outlet and usually require a small water tank. They work in a similar way to a pressure washer, but more gentle.
Pipe length: The longer the fluid has to travel, the more friction it needs to overcome. Therefore, pressure drop has a positive correlation with length; if length is the only variable between two otherwise identical pipes, pressure drop will be higher in the longer one.
When using a portable pressure washer, there is no need for any more than 100 feet of hose. With proper set up of the portable machine, you can easily get 200 feet of coverage because you are using two different hoses collectively. You could easily add an additional 50 foot spare hose for larger projects.