Examples of Failed Hoses

Ether vs. Ester (what’s the difference?)

This was a 7″ Ester-based “MD” hose that failed after just a few uses.  It was used by a homeowner for typical lawn and leaf work, and was not subjected to any abuse.  It was used in the fall and then stored in a shed, out of the elements for about a year.  This is what it looked like after storage:

Here is another customer’s hose.  This is a 6″ diameter, 30 mil, Ester-based hose that was used by a landscaping contractor in New Jersey for less than two months during the summer.  It was stored in an enclosed trailer:

Here is an 8″ diameter, 45 mil, Ester-based hose that was used by a homeowner in Pennsylvania.  It was used a few times in the Spring, then stored away for the Summer:

The above degradation is the result of moisture, warmth, and biological activity (microbes, bacteria).  The Ester component in the polymer chain is hydrolyzed (broken down) by warmth and moisture, and is further attacked by common bacteria found in nature.  This is a problem in the grain belt, as well as in the Eastern part of the US.

We have seen this many, many times, and have replaced plenty of hoses with the exact same symptoms.  Note the linear cracking, and the “stringy”, crystallized appearance of the Urethane material.  This is the telltale sign of hydrolysis damage to an Ester-based hose.

The moral to the story is, don’t use Ester-based hose for lawn and leaf work.  Only Ether-based urethane should be used.  Ether-based Urethane is immune to the effects of moisture, warmth, and biological activity.  All of Wynn Environmental’s lawn and leaf Urethane Hose is Ether-based, and does not have this problem.