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NEWS PRODUCT TEST
Surviving the pressure test A range of hoses and connectors were put through strenuous trials by a test team over a twelve-month period and the Wedgit Hose and connectors were able to outperform all of its competitors.
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wide selection of garden hoses and
many of the competing hoses to suffer from
connectors, including the Wedgit
increased brittleness, not able to handle the
range, were put to the test by a
demands put on them, with continued kinking
team of heavy-handed workers
eventually leaks will develop. All the Wedgit
under real life conditions. The products were
hoses remained supple and leak-free and
exposed to conditions that would generally be
continued to offer more resistance to kinking
viewed as abnormally abusive, but which is not
than any other hose and are still in place today.
uncommon to typical South African conditions
to last ten years. Significant levels of costly
put away after use but were left outside in the
plasticisers are mixed into the raw material at
sun, exposed to considerable temperature
manufacture to ensure sufficient levels remain
fluctuations; they were driven over, parked on
to ensure suppleness even after many years of
and underwent abusive pulling and tugging.
usage. It remains wise to keep hoses out of direct
Pressure tests were performed using electrical
sun when not in use – this will increase the life of
pumps to achieve pressures much higher than
any hose. The unique nine ridges of the Wedgit
normal municipal water pressure. The fittings
hose contributes to improved resistance to
also underwent drive-over tests to determine
kinking and ensures a long-lasting use.
whether any would survive such harsh treatment.
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APRIL 2020 DIY & INDUSTRIAL TRADE NEWS
The hose connectors were also subject to
Testing continued over a twelve-month period
harsh treatment in the tests. A number of
on Wedgit and competing fittings and hoses,
the traditional connectors had to be replaced
with Wedgit connectors fitted on both Wedgit
over the term, and a couple of O-rings needed
hoses and competing hoses.
replacement, while Wedgit connectors offered
Leaving hoses exposed to the harsh southern
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Wedgit offers a premium garden hose designed
and garden environments. Hoses were not
superior performance in all the tests. When the
African climatic conditions would accelerate
connectors were subjected to drive-over tests,
their degradation. Chemical substances that are
none survived intact. However, some of the
designed to keep hoses supple tend to leach out
Wedgit connectors suffered only minor
in the sun, causing the hose to become brittle,
damage and could be repaired to enable
which result in leaks when the hose is subjected
them to continue operation. The robust design
to kinking. The combination of harsh treatment
with less moving parts improves its ability to
and continued exposure to the weather, caused
withstand the knocks of life.
