Leaf vac hose selection from Universal Hose can be easy.  There are many types of Leaf Vac hoses on the market. Many of them look the same but are different. Many look different but are the same. Are you confused yet?  By the way the color also means nothing, most of the time. Please continue to read this guide and you will be able to determine which hose you currently have in your hand as well as which hose will work best for your application and budget.

The first thing to determine is the size. All leaf vac hose is determined by the ID of the hose.The second and biggest problem is determining if your hose is PVC or Urethane. PVC cost less and wears out faster. Urethane cost more and will outlast a PVC hose 3 to 1, in most cases. The best way to determine which you have is as follows.

Locate a Medium ball point pen, avoid a fine point pen if possible. Attempt to pierce your old hose with the pen tip. An average man or woman  will be able to pierce a hole in the PVC hose with less then a 60% effort on your behalf. A Urethane hose is much tougher and most likely will not pierce unless you apply "Gorilla" strength to your arm when you insert the pen. A Urethane hose will most likley leave a small pimple on the inside of the hose if you apply a 60 to 70% effort to the pen tension. A PVC hose will allow the medium point pen to pierce through the hose.

Ok, hopefully this has helped you determine PVC from Urethane.

The third difference in these hoses is the Helix Support, which is a fancy word for a PVC or wire spiral that keeps the hose from collapsing. Some hoses have a internal wire. Some have a PVC external support. Hose experts  debate which is better. It is not that important in most cases which system you have. Most Urethane hoses come with a Wire Support. Most PVC hoses come with a Exterior PVC Helix Support that runs the length of the hose.

We hope this helps you understand Leaf Vac Hose choices. Thank You for reading this guide.