Plastic plumbing hoses
prices on 10 modelsPlastic
— hoses made of this material are a definite exception to the general rule: both the braid for the rubber tube and the entire hose can be made of plastic (in the latter case, there is no braid as such). Both of these varieties are most often intended for the shower (see "Type"). Also note that plastic can be additionally reinforced with metal threads to increase strength; such products are also included in this category.The advantages of plastic include, first of all, a variety of patterns and colours: this material can be given almost any colour, which is especially useful if you are looking for a hose for a bathroom with an original design. There are hoses made of transparent plastic, but they require very clean water — otherwise deposits on the inner walls will quickly spoil the presentation of such a tube. Another advantage of this option is the ease of external cleaning: the surface of the plastic hose is smooth, there are no recesses and irregularities on it, where dirt tends to linger. And models made of this material are relatively inexpensive.
On the other hand, plastic has some notable drawbacks. First, it is subject to loss of elasticity over time and is generally more sensitive to kink than, for example, corrugated steel braid. Secondly, as a consequence, the service life of such hoses is relatively short. Thirdly, products without an internal rubber tube do not tolerate prolonged exposure to hot water (although this is true mainly at temperatures of the order of 80 °C and above, to which water in centralized water pipes usually does not warm up). All these shortcomings are partly compensated in the reinforced hoses mentioned above, but even there they are not completely eliminated.