What Size Air Hose Should I Choose For My Compressor?
Air compressor used has enormously increased. With its exceptional versatility, it is being used in a number of daily routine tasks as well. When you have the right compressor in hand, it all gets easier. However, there are other factors to consider too. Getting an air compressor comes with the responsibility of choosing the right air hose size.
If you are wondering which size air hose you should get for your compressor, we are here to assist you well and thoroughly. This can be quite tricky and challenging with a variety of options in the market. Don’t worry anymore because we have detailed guidelines below to aid you on the subject. Therefore, dive in to make an aware and informed decision and choose the size which is best suited to your compressor.
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Factors Worth Considering When Selecting Air Hose For Your Compressor
Once you have a quality compressor in hand, the next step is to get the right size air hose. No one would want to spoil the whole machine and waste hundreds of bucks only by making an uninformed decision. We do not want you to make this mistake. You should opt for the size by considering the following factors which we have laid out for you. These are going to assist you in selecting the best fit for you. Go on and know it all!
Length
Length is a prime factor that should be given utmost consideration. You need to look at which tasks you will be performing before blindly choosing any air hose length. This can be understood better with the help of the example.
Consider doing high-duty tasks with your air compressor. These tasks may include lifting up heavy vehicles and the like. For sure, you will require a long air hose to efficiently do the tasks. Further, the longer the length, the better the maneuverability. On the other hand, if the tasks are home-based or easier in nature, you would definitely go for a shorter length one. This will be cost-effective too.
To add to your knowledge, the hoses can be connected end to end to make the length longer. This way you can achieve the length you require. However, it is always better to go for the hose with a longer length rather than joining two or more. The latter is prone to create undesirable restrictions. These restrictions result in pressure and energy losses which are surely unwanted. To avoid such inconvenience, one should opt for the former method.
You should always look for the ideal hose length which offers the greatest mobility while having the lowest pressure losses. Pressure losses are directly proportional to the length of the hose. The more the length, the greater the losses.
Material
When you are deciding to get a new hose or replace the existing one, you need to carefully look for its material. The material determines the durability, performance, losses, and efficiency. Therefore, it is always worth the effort and time to think about what material will be the right one. Below, we discuss some of the materials which are suitable for hoses. You can decide the one which satisfies your needs and requirements.
Nylon
Nylon is a great material for air hoses due to its exceptionally lightweight. Further, it is very affordable and easily transportable. Therefore, it is easy on your pocket and is excellent for home-based tasks. There are, however, some downsides to this material. The greatest one is its ability to perform poorly when cold weather condition prevails. Moreover, it displays poor durability. It can easily be subjected to unusual bends and kinks. Therefore, choose wisely.
Neoprene
Neoprene is a heavier material when compared to nylon. This thicker material is very dependable. It can be used in difficult, heavy-duty tasks which involve agricultural or industrial tasks as well as daily home-based tasks. Moreover, it has a straddling ability of strong resistance to any kinds of bends or kinks.
In addition to that, it performs excellently no matter how harsh the weather condition becomes. If your air compressor is equipped with a neoprene hose, you can expect it to work perfectly even when the temperature drops under 0 degrees. However, it comes at a much higher price than the nylon ones.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane is another quality material for air hoses. It is very light along with being transportable, making it a great fit for home-based tasks. Further, it stands out when it comes to durability. It is an excellent machine for high-pressure tasks.
Moreover, it is not a great material for standard hoses. Rather, it can be used for recoil ones as it is prone to kinks. They deliver exceptional performance and last very long. Further, they are able to tolerate very low temperatures. There is one downside to this material as well. They lack flexibility as compared to the above two materials.
Diameter
Another thing that needs to be thoroughly understood is the CFM of the air compressor. This will determine which diameter air hose you should go for. There are various standard sizes that range from ¼ inches to 1 inch. These are the internal diameters. Therefore, get a detailed idea about the measurement of CFM before jumping onto the air hoses.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the difference between 1 4 and 3/8 air hose?
The ¼ and ⅜ represent the inside diameters of the hoses. The one having ¼ inches of the inside diameter is lighter than the ⅜ inches one.
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Are all air compressor hoses the same size?
No, all air compressor hoses are not the same sizes. They usually come in a defined range which starts from ¼ inches and goes up to 1 inch. You can get the air hose that best suits the compressor you own.
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What is the standard air hose fitting size?
The standard air hose fitting size is ¼ inches.