WHAT ARE THEY MADE FROM?
An expandable garden hose addresses all the downfalls of standard hoses and eliminates them from your life. By moving away from using rubber as the main material for the hose construction, expandable hoses can use elastic materials and return to their original form when they’re no longer under pressure.
One of the materials commonly used for expandable garden hose construction is latex, the same material used for balloons. It stretches out when it’s under pressure and returns to its original shape when the pressure is released. A garden hose with a latex core often has double or triple layers of latex for extra durability.
Another material used for these hoses is thermoplastic copolyester (TPC). This material is most often used for industrial tubing and is the more expensive option for expandable hoses.
Expandable hoses have two elements; the stretchy inner core and the protective outer layer. The stretchy cores are susceptible to abrasion and punctures if used by themselves. The outer layer is often made from nylon and is robust enough to protect the core from punctures and abrasions.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR EXPANDABLE GARDEN HOSE
Before you buy the expandable garden hose, we need to address a few things. An expandable garden hose needs sufficient water pressure to work correctly. If you have poor water pressure, the garden hose won’t expand correctly.
Because of the materials that hoses are made from, they may be susceptible to tears and punctures. They also shouldn’t be used around sharp objects. With a bit of extra care, your expandable hose will last many years. Luckily, holes are repairable if you know how to repair an expandable hose.
First off, make sure you use brass fittings. Plastic fittings tend to deteriorate a lot quicker with constant screwing and unscrewing. Solid brass connectors are more robust and are likely to last a lot longer.
When you’re ready to use your hose, make sure the hose nozzle at the end of the hose is closed when you open the water valve. It will allow the hose to expand fully before the water starts to flow. It reduces wear and tear on the materials and prevents the hose from suddenly becoming pressurized.
If your hose is not in use, make sure to drain the water out of it. Don’t leave it connected to the hose fitting on your garden spigot and full of water. If the hose is constantly pressurized, the materials are likely to break down more quickly. Luckily, with expandable hoses, draining them is easy. Simply turn off the water supply, open the other end, and the hose will return to its compact state, squeezing the water out in the process. 
