Garden Hose Splitters: A Buyer's Guide
Despite their name, garden hose splitters are not only useful outside to water your garden. You can connect multiple hoses to a single hose splitter and get done with a variety of indoor and outdoor chores, including hosing down the driveway, watering your plants, or installing a washer and dryer system inside your home.
Depending on your intended use, there are many garden hose splitters available on the market to fulfill certain tasks efficiently. To make sure you avoid a disappointing purchase, it is best to know about the different types of garden hose splitters beforehand.
In an effort to help you make this decision easily, we have prepared this comprehensive buying guide highlighting the key features of the best garden hose splitters in 2021.
What Is a Garden Hose Splitter?
A garden hose splitter is a connector used to provide two or more channels for water to flow from a single source. This can be especially helpful when you have a lot of work to do in separate areas of the house and are unable to provide a dedicated water source at each point. Simply screw one end of your garden hose splitter to your water source and connect the others to a hose, spigot, or faucet.
Garden hose splitters come in a variety of different materials, shapes, and sizes- each offering its own benefits and drawbacks. You should be aware of the features of the garden hose splitter you intend to buy before making a purchase.
What Can I Use My Garden Hose Splitter For?
There are many different applications for garden hose splitters. Below are some of the most common uses for this product.
Garden irrigation system
If you have a large garden, you may find it difficult to water it all at once with a single hose. There may be some areas that you are unable to utilize because of their unfavorable proximity to the water supply you have.
In this scenario, using a garden hose splitter can be advantageous as it allows you to water down several areas of the garden at one time. You can even install multiple garden hose splitters together to allow the maximum spread of water- a DIY irrigation system in your very own garden that is effective to boot.
Water supply to the laundry area
Sometimes it can be difficult to set up your washer and dryer in one place. To help install these appliances easily, you can use a garden hose splitter to connect both to the same water source.
How Does a Garden Hose Splitter Work?
Every garden hose splitter has a primary head, typically threaded and of a female connection. This head is to be connected with a hose spigot or your main water connection. Along with this, there are several threaded channels, with each outlet typically being a male connection that you can connect several hoses to. Each connection also includes a dedicated handle that you can use to switch the water supply on or off if so desired. Some garden hose splitters even come with automatic timers that you can program to switch on or off depending on your intended use.
For tips on installing a garden hose quick connector set, check the video below.
Things To Look for When Buying a Garden Hose Splitter
There are tons of variations in garden hose splitters, making the task of buying the right one for you even more daunting. To help you out, below is a list of the top features to keep in mind before buying a garden hose splitter.
Material
The first and foremost feature you should keep in mind when buying a garden hose splitter is the material. Most garden hose splitters are made of either metal or plastic. In the case of metal garden hose splitters, the most common materials used are aluminum, brass, nickel, and stainless steel. They are usually intended to be used long-term, as they are more heavy-duty than their plastic counterparts.
Plastic garden hose splitters, on the other hand, are much more lightweight and affordable than metal ones. Though not as durable, they resist corrosion and can withstand colder climates with ease.
Number of channels
The most important feature to look for when purchasing a garden hose splitter is the number of channels it is capable of splitting into. Some hose splitters are shaped in a “Y”, meaning they split one water source into two in the shape of a Y. Others are straighter with multiple connections aligned in a single line. However, you should be aware that water pressure is always divided between channels, so having multiple will lower the water pressure in each.
Wide and long handles
The kind of handles attached to your garden hose splitter can make or break the product. If the handles are longer and wider, they can easily be turned to switch your water supply on or off. The material of the handles is also important, as plastic ones are easier to move than those made of metal, but have the risk of breaking off if applied too much pressure.
