The last thing any hydraulic hose system owner and operator wants is a leak. But you can avoid them if you understand the most common causes of hose leaks. Below, learn common reasons that hydraulic hose assemblies crack and leak.

Incorrect Hose or Fitting

Hoses and fittings often leak, not because there’s anything wrong with them; they’re just incompatible. Those who have had to order hydraulic hose parts can understand how confusing it can be to those unfamiliar with the process, as each model has multiple sizes. You can easily wind up with the wrong part if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

The assembly will immediately leak if the size of the hose and the fitting are just slightly off. The hose will deteriorate quicker and eventually cause a leak if the connection is too tight due to an improper fitting. Always use the STAMPED method of hose and fitting selection to ensure you choose the right hose and connection for your system.

Improper Assembly

The parts may not be the problem, but the assembly and installation could. Obviously, the installation is critical to the hose assembly’s quality and success. Doing it incorrectly or haphazardly could mean a loose connection and a dangerous leak or disconnection.

Hydraulic hose operators should always run tests after installing or assembling a new hose or fitting to ensure they installed the parts properly with strong and stable connections.

Multi-Plane Bending

While hydraulic hoses are flexible, too much twisting and bending could lead to issues. A hydraulic hose should never bend along more than one plane—anything more and the wire reinforcement will degrade, and the hose could crack or leak.

Always double-check the routing and installation of the hydraulic hose system to ensure that no hose is bending along more than one plane.

External Abrasions

Perhaps the most common causes of hose leaks are abrasions and hose deterioration. Hydraulic hoses are durable but can deteriorate and crack after a few years of use.

It’s likely a rupture caused by an abrasion against another hose or object in the environment caused the hydraulic hose to spring a leak if it isn’t old. Hoses will move and sway as the media flows through, causing it to rub against another hose or hard surface in the vicinity and degrade the surface until it springs a leak.

Where To Get Hydraulic Hoses and Fittings

The Hose Shop can help if you’ve got a leak and need to replace a hose or connection! We have a huge selection of hydraulic hoses, fittings, accessories, and VMI services to ensure your workplace has plenty of the critical parts you need so you’re never stuck waiting for a replacement part. Browse our selection of hose products and learn more about our vendor-managed inventory services online.