Flexible eyeliner for water: specifications

To connect a faucet, toilet bowl, water heater and other plumbing fixtures even with the most inconvenient location will help flexible eyeliner for water. It will allow you to abandon hard pipes that require a large number of connections, and do without calling the wizard. We will figure out how to choose and connect a flexible plumbing hose correctly so as not to flood the neighbors later.

Types of Flexible Eyeliner

For water, use 2 types of eyeliner:

• reinforced;
• bellows.

Reinforced

The flexible eyeliner of the first type is a soft elastic hose reinforced with a wire braid, with connecting elements at the ends (fittings). The tube has a complex structure, despite the simple appearance. It is made from synthetic ethylene-propylene rubber of the EPDM brand or cross-linked polyethylene PEX. It is braided with a wire thread made of stainless steel or aluminum. Reinforced eyeliner that can withstand higher pressure has a nylon braid.

Mr. Build recommends (strongly!): Do not use a flexible galvanized wire braid. This is the most unreliable hose that can burst at any time.

The product is cut into parts of the required length at the factory. At the ends, metal nipples with fittings or union nuts are inserted into it. Then the braid with the hose is crimped with a steel sleeve around the sleeve. Connection to pipes is made through rubber seals.

Flexible eyeliner for water has a different diameter: 1 and 1/2 inches, 3/4, 3/8.

Bellows

More reliable and durable are the bellows hoses. They are made in the form of alternating rings of different diameters of stainless steel. In production, the workpiece is selectively crimped, after which it obtains a corrugation shape that provides high flexibility. The cost of such a hose is much higher.

There are two types of eyeliner:

• fixed length;
• folding.

The first is not stretched and has a certain size: 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 cm. For the second, the range of minimum and maximum values ​​is indicated: 140–250, 200–355 mm, etc. Strongly keen on stretching is not recommended, as this affects the life of the product.

The disadvantage of the bellows hose is the noise arising from the simultaneous supply of water to several consumers, such as a faucet, toilet bowl and washing machine. To avoid it, it is recommended to purchase hoses with a plastic coating.

Technical indicators

The main parameters of the water supply are pressure and temperature. Standard pressure values ​​in different systems differ:

1. Centralized water supply - 4 atm.
2. Autonomous heating of a private house - 1.5–3 atm.
3. Central heat supply - 2–4 atm.

In centralized water supply systems characteristic pressure fluctuationstherefore it is recommended to choose a hose strength with a margin of 20–25%. The table shows the technical characteristics of flexible sleeves with different braids.

Braid	Max. pressure, atm	Max. temperature, ° С	Durability, years
Aluminum	5	80	3
Stainless steel	10	95	10
Nylon	20	110	15

The bellows eyeliner has higher rates, but it is important who the manufacturer is. Hoses of the AKVAPROF company are calculated on working pressure to 16 atm and temperature to 150 ° C, and GIANT variety of the same type has increased throughput and can withstand temperature 250 ° С.

How to choose a flexible eyeliner?

To choose the right hose, consider the following parameters.

• The sleeve must be suitable for temperature and pressure. For example, a flexible eyeliner can be of any type, but only a hot water hose is suitable for the boiler.
• Braid material is selected based on operating conditions. In a room with poor ventilation, where condensation may occur, it is better not to use a product with a metal braid.

The reliability of the eyeliner depends on its flexibility. You can check it by taking at one end and placing the hose horizontally. If it bends slightly, then the elasticity (and, accordingly, reliability) is low.

• The fittings are selected without defects, the sleeves must be crimped around the perimeter. The material for the manufacture of fittings is brass with a nickel coating or stainless steel. Aluminum is used for gas, which is completely unsuitable for water supply, since it quickly deteriorates in a humid environment.
• Hoses for domestic plumbing should be made of high-quality rubber without a characteristic chemical odor.

The hose for cold water is marked with a blue ribbon in a braid, for hot - red. If the inserts have both colors, the product is universal. Cheap products do not have such markings.

• The sleeve is equipped with union nuts or fittings of sufficient thickness and strength so that they do not crack when tightened. If the eyeliner is too light, then the fittings are made of silumin or plastic, and the braid is made of aluminum.

Reliable products are purchased in specialized stores in quality packaging and with marking and certificate (GOST 6286-73). In the attached passport, you must find the term of operation. If it is less than 5 years, we do not recommend taking such a hose.

• Tips should fit the pipes to which the flexible hose connects. Such combinations are possible: nut-fitting (mom-dad), nut-nut (mom-mom, as in the photo below), fitting-fitting (dad-dad).

After the manufacturer's declared service life, the flexible eyeliner should be replaced.

Focus on quality

Creating durable products requires sophisticated technology and quality materials. Handicraft production, which subsequently leads to accidents, is characterized by the following features:

1. Weak crimping of the braid due to the lack of special equipment and the use of sleeves made of low-quality materials.
2. Low strength and corrosion of the connecting elements.
3. The rapid aging of the technical rubber from which hoses and gaskets are made.
4. Application for braiding ordinary galvanized wire, the service life of which does not exceed 1 year.

Reliable products have an accompanying passport. High quality products last 10 years. If an aluminum braid is used, this value is reduced by 2 times. The stated period is often exceeded, so it is important to find a reliable manufacturer.

Well established Italian and Spanish firms. It is worth paying attention to anti-vibration models, characterized by a large outer diameter. The equipment eliminates the buzz in the pipes when using pumps. The cost of such an eyeliner is several times higher than that of the domestic.

High-quality products with a large number of positive reviews are produced by the Russian companies “Aquatechnika”, “Monolith”, “Flexiline”. Stainless steel bellows eyeliner is produced under the German brand WITZENMANN and the Italian PARIGI. Some models are even suitable for heating systems. High quality bellows sleeves are housed in plastic insulation.

Connection Rules

The inlet in different systems is connected via mounting elements at the ends of the product - union nuts and fittings. The hose model is selected according to its length, type of connection and size of the mounting unit. Fittings are available in cross sections from 0.5 ″ to 1.5 ″. The hose fastens freely, without tension. Otherwise, the pressed fittings are deformed.

For different diameters of the mixer and the pipeline, the inlet at one end is fixed through an adapter.

When installing, you must follow the connection rules (SNiP 2.04.01-85).

• Before installation, the fittings at the ends are inspected in the eyeliner, the presence of gaskets, the quality of the thread and the braid are checked.
• After installation, within half an hour you need to check the joints: for leaks. When drops appear at the junction, the nuts are tightened.
• The bending radius should exceed the outer diameter by more than 5–6 times.
• The hose does not stretch or twist during installation.
• Do not apply excessive force when tightening: the seal may be damaged. If there is no experience, tightening is done by hand, followed by a slight pull-up with a key.
• The hose cannot withstand open flames or heat.
• Every six months, the tightness of the mount is checked and an external inspection of the eyeliner is performed.
• To avoid electrochemical corrosion, pairs of the same metal are connected.
• It is recommended to replace the eyeliner at least every 3–5 years.

When installing a flexible hose, it is prohibited:

1. Use it in continuous flow mode.
2. Install without gaskets or with mechanical damage.
3. Operate the product at subzero temperatures.

Important conclusion + video

To connect plumbing, metal pipes are used less and less. You can bring water with the help of convenient flexible devices that are easy to attach with your own hands. But this must be done wisely.

Mr. Build recommends: treat the selection and installation of flexible eyeliner with all responsibility, regularly change the sleeve. Carefully monitor the condition of the hose, the integrity of the braid. Broken eyeliner is the most common cause of accidents with flooding of neighbors from below.

Before buying and installing, be sure to watch the videos below. From them you will learn:

• how to choose the right product, what to look for;
• which elastic eyeliner has weak points;
• where and how to mount it;
• how to install a flexible sleeve in accordance with all the rules;
• how to determine that it’s time to change the eyeliner.