Inspecting hydraulic hoses is an essential part of doing preventative maintenance. We are going to look at what you should do to keep your hoses working well and how to give them a longer lifespan.

First, you want to inspect your hose system regularly for disrepair, looking for signs of performance issues every day, week, or month, based on your application. This means not only inspecting the hose, but the fittings as well.

It’s also a good idea to compile a list of the signals that often trigger shutdowns and require replacements. This way, employees know what to look for. Some things to look for are:

• Leaks around the hose’s fittings inside the hose
• Fitting slippage or displacement
• Visible damage in the fittings, including corrosion and cracks
• Damage to the hose, including unusual stiffness, charred surfaces, or cracks
• Crushed or flattened parts in the hose, kinks, and twists
• Damage to the cover, including abrasions, blisters, cuts, and cracks, particularly when the damage exposes reinforcement. When this happens, you need to replace the damaged parts quickly.
• Degraded, loose, or soft covers

Remember that you should never repair or reuse hoses that are damaged, as deterioration and damage can compromise the hose’s ability to be used as designed.

These are things that you should remember when you’re doing regular maintenance on your industrial hoses. Not only will these steps ensure they are ready to use when needed, but they will also help ensure that your hose is in good shape.