How to check the quality of flexible liners without leaving the counter

  • Jul 30, 2021

When carrying out many plumbing work, a flexible liner with a protective braid is used. It is the connecting element between the equipment and the pipeline. It is practically irreplaceable when connecting faucets, water heaters, washing machines, shower cabins, toilets. It is not used for heating systems, since it cannot cope with high temperatures. Externally, it is a rubber hose that is inside the braid, supplemented with fittings, as well as gaskets and one or two nuts. How not to make a mistake when buying an eyeliner and determine whether a quality product is being offered to you at the counter?

Flexible liner can be designed for cold water, hot, can be universal / Photo: remonts-profi.ru
Flexible liner can be designed for cold water, hot, can be universal / Photo: remonts-profi.ru
Flexible liner can be designed for cold water, hot, can be universal / Photo: remonts-profi.ru

First of all, when buying an eyeliner in a specialized store, you should take into account the diameter of the pipe and the intended purpose of the purchased product. Flexible hose can be designed for cold water, hot, can be universal, in the winding of which there are blue and red tapes. The cheapest models do not have a color identifier.

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Price matters in this case. Products from a more expensive price segment are of good quality. The hose itself is made of non-toxic and elastic rubber. As for cheap products, the raw materials are of low quality (rubber is very fragile and breaks down quickly).

What to look for when choosing eyeliner

During operation, the flexible liner should not be strongly twisted or bent / Photo: teplo-klimat.com.ua
During operation, the flexible liner should not be strongly twisted or bent / Photo: teplo-klimat.com.ua

Very often, when using eyeliner, the main problem arises - it cracks from exposure to water. Therefore, while working with it and during operation, experts recommend not to twist or bend it. Otherwise, there is a high risk that the braid will become unusable.

1. Braid

the whip is made mainly of aluminum / Photo: ebuyshop.com.ua
the whip is made mainly of aluminum / Photo: ebuyshop.com.ua

As for the braid, or, as it is also called, shirts, the material is of great importance here. Usually, aluminum threads are taken for its manufacture. The shelf life of these products is short. Condensation is their first enemy. Under its influence, oxidation and further weakening of the reinforcement occurs. You can check the product at the time of purchase in a simple way. When passed over a sheet of white paper, the aluminum will leave behind a gray trail. If the braid is magnetised, then another material was taken for its manufacture.

Nylon braid can last more than 15 years / Photo: ebuyshop.com.ua
Nylon braid can last more than 15 years / Photo: ebuyshop.com.ua

There are other types of braids - nylon, galvanized stainless steel. The service life of nylon braiding is more than fifteen years, of stainless steel - about ten years.

2. Fittings

It is not recommended to take a flexible hose with plastic fittings / Photo: syl.ru
It is not recommended to take a flexible hose with plastic fittings / Photo: syl.ru

It is also recommended to study the label well. High quality eyeliner can't be too light. There are products on sale with fittings made of a fragile material called silumin. After a short period of time, the silumin crumbles. It is undesirable to purchase an eyeliner, where the fittings are made of plastic. What else should a good flexible eyeliner have? The fittings are perfectly pressed. Compression sleeves are made of stainless steel.

3. Hose

The hose should not have a specific toxic odor and be too hard / Photo: santeh-shop.com
The hose should not have a specific toxic odor and be too hard / Photo: santeh-shop.com

Another factor of choice is the hose. It is recommended to ask what kind of rubber it is made of, although you can check how high-quality it is on your own. Poor quality rubber containing toxic substances, as a rule, gives off a characteristic odor. The second quality indicator is rigidity. It shouldn't be too tough.

4. Nuts

To make the eyeliner last as long as possible, you should choose products with brass nuts / Photo: postroy-sam.com
To make the eyeliner last as long as possible, you should choose products with brass nuts / Photo: postroy-sam.com

A great way to check the material of a nut is to make a slight scratch on it. If a yellow color is visible, then the nut is made of brass. If the color of the scratch is dark or does not change, it is better to refuse such a purchase. Note that the nut does not require a thread seal. The product already contains the gasket required for the connection. Winding a seal on a thread is a serious mistake.

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The ideal flexible hose should have a stainless steel braid and a brass nut / Photo: Twitter
The ideal flexible hose should have a stainless steel braid and a brass nut / Photo: Twitter

The ideal combination of price / quality is a stainless steel braid, in which both the union and the nut are made of brass. If you are still afraid of leaks, you can play it safe by installing a special valve (safety).

Continuing the topic, read what exist
five non-standard ways of using flexible liner for the benefit of the household.
Source:
https://novate.ru/blogs/281220/57265/

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