Smell From Garden Hose

[derekpara]

When I use my garden hose after a few weeks of non-use there is a stagnant smell for a short while. I always empty the water in the hose after use.

Any ideas ?

Cheers.

D

[Tilly2]

Perhaps you don't actually get all the water out. Does the smell bother you?

[derekpara]

Tilly, I think you may have hit the hammer on the head ! I've just checked and the tap is quite stiff to operate and I was able to add two more turns.

Many thanks.

PS The smell didn't really bother me but I was worried that it may have a more sinister origin !

[Tilly2]

The plants don't mind stinky water. :-)

[Hopkirk]

I leave mine full of water. No smell.

[Tilly2]

Most of the water comes out of mine when it's wound back onto the holder thingy.

[KARL]

My suspicion is that the smell you refer to is that of algal growth proliferating in the hose while it is unused. This would be due to any of various forms of detritus, down to very small traces indeed in the hose. Your public water supply very possibly is the source. If you want to at least temporarily eliminate algal growth then you could, with the hose largely emptied out and coiled up and the coil supported/suspended in the vertical position, pour a small amount of chlorine bleach into the tap end of the hose and connect the hose to the tap. With the far end closed, turn on the water and then lay out the hose horizontally. Turn off the water and leave for an hour then allow some water (a glass-full or two) out at the far end. Disconnect from the tap and pour a little more bleach into the hose and reconnect. Leave for another hour and turn on the water, then open the far end to the point where water comes from the hose at the slowest rate you can set it to. Leave running for two to three hours and turn off at the tap. Next day run water through the hose at maximum flow until you are certain the chlorine solution has been flushed out. The above assumes a hose at least 10m long, if 20m or longer increase the last timing with the chlorine proportionately.

[Tilly2]

Don't bother with all that faffing about. The plants really, really don't mind.

[hammerman]

Spot on Tilly. Also, algea requires light to grow....not much light in a hosepipe. Just flush it through for 20 seconds and it'll be fine.

[derekpara]

Many thanks to you all, especially to you, Karl, for a comprehensive and interesting solution.

D