Maintenance of rubber hoses
Care and maintenance of rubber hoses
Proper hose maintenance begins with the choice of the best product for its final application.
The durability and reliability of a hose depend on far more than product quality alone: proper maintenance begins at the selection stage and continues through correct storage and responsible use. In this article, you will find the key guidelines to ensure optimal long-term performance, from defining the right technical parameters to best practices in the field.
Proper hose maintenance begins with choosing the optimal product for the final application.
To this end, it is essential to identify:
- Working pressure
- Working temperature
- Chemical compatibility
- Environmental exposure
- Mechanical stresses
- Type of fittings
- Any applicable regulations
For correct use, the following recommendations are suggested:
1. Storage
It is fundamental to stock the hose properly before use. For this purpose, it is important to store the hoses:
- At temperatures not exceeding 35 °C and not below 0 °C
- Far from heat sources
- Far from wet areas
- In dark environment in order to avoid premature aging
- Far from chemicals
2. Proper use of rubber hoses
Before assembling the hose, it is necessary to check the hose conditions, in particular:
- Absence of cuts
- Absence of occlusions
- Correct dimensions (inner diameter, outer diameter, length of the hose)
By using the hose, after having checked the technical data sheet, it is important to make sure that the hose:
-
- Does not exceed the working pressure indicated
- Does not exceed the working temperature indicated
- Only conveys fluids compatible with the materials with which the hose is made
- Respect the manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning and sterilization
- Does not exceed the bending radius stated in the technical data sheet
- Avoids twisting
- Does not vibrate excessively
- Hoses installed between two fixed points must be supported by adequate fixing devices that do not hinder the normal movements of the hoses under pressure
Need to replace a hose in your system? Do you need help understanding how to extend the life of the hoses installed in your production department?
3. Maintenance
It is necessary to plan periodic maintenance of the hoses, paying attention to:
- Potential damages on the cover: cuts, abrasions, visible reinforcement textile plies
- Hardened and rigid hose: the hose has aged due to temperature or chemical agents
⚠️ Warning: if the hose is bent, it might crack - Changes in colour: they might indicate chemical attacks or ozone deterioration
- Bubbles on the cover: they might indicate permeation of fluids
- Leakages: they might indicate fitting problems or stagnation of materials
In case of anomalies detection as described above, it is necessary to change the hose. It is also important to periodically perform a hydrostatic test of the hose to verify its integrity.
In order to receive a copy of the MTG Chemical Resistance Chart, for assistance in choosing the best rubber hose for each application, or for further information, please contact the MTG Technical department.
