Hose Fittings Key Terms

Learn about the components of hose fittings

By Terri Deno

Hose fittings are products used to connect two hoses together. These fittings come in a wide range of styles and sizes to fit every kind of hose. Hose fittings are also made from a number of materials including brass, aluminum, steel and thermoplastics. Many styles of fittings are permanent once attached, but there are a few types of reusable fittings available. These fittings can be partially or completely removed from the hose once attached.

Hose guard

A hose guard is a piece of woven fabric or other material that helps to reduce or eliminate abrasion on the hose and fittings.
Try: Hoseline provides sizes and specifications for hose guards made from plastic, metal alloy and nylon.

Back pressure

Back pressure is any pressure that exists on the discharge side of any type of load. Too much back pressure can lead to a situation where backflow occurs.
Try: The University of Florida IFAS Extension provides information on preventing backflow in a hose connection.

Coupling

The coupling is the area where the fitting attaches to the hose. There are many coupling types for hoses. The most common type is a coupling with male and female ends that fit together tightly to form a leak-proof seal.
Try: JGB Enterprises provides a list of the most common coupling joints available for hoses.

Collar

The collar of a hose fitting is the area that is compressed by the swage or crimp die. This action seals the hose and the fitting together to create a permanent attachment. Reusable fittings have a mechanical collar.
Try: Reader's Digest provides a guide on how to remove a bent hose fitting, including the collar, and replace it with a new one.

Die

A die is a tool used for crimping or swaging a fitting onto a hose. Crimp dies are made to work for a range of hose diameters while each swage die is made to fit a specific size and type of hose.
Try: Shand UK provides information on when a swage die or crimp die should be used to get a tight fit for a hose fitting.

Sanitary fitting

A sanitary hose fitting is a fitting that provides a seal without needing a male and female connection as part of the design. Instead, the seal is created by a round gasket that fits inside a groove on the face of the fitting.
Try: St. Patrick's of Texas provides a list of sanitary valves and fittings with size and material specifications for each. Click on the Sanitary Fittings/Valves link to see a full list of available products.