How to choose a flexible water line. Which flexible water line is better: tips for choosing. Shapes and colors

Flexible water line used to connect to the water supply of faucets, toilets and water heaters. Now on the market there is a wide range of eyeliners of various lengths and diameters.

The main difference between analogs is the material from which the flexible hose is made, through which water will flow. Initially, all liners were made of industrial rubber, but it has already been proven that this material has a negative effect on water. In addition, rubber wears out quickly and cracks and cracks from constant contact with water. Also, with constant bending, the material breaks. The weakest point of the rubber liner is the crimping of the limit switches, which can leak even after the first water supply.

Flexible hose in a metal braid is more reliable. Inside there may be a hose made of ordinary rubber, ePDM rubber or pEX tube... The last two materials are non-toxic and can be used to supply drinking water. Moreover, and EPDM, and PEX serve many times longer than their rubber counterparts. How to determine the quality of the water hose material? The easiest way is by smell. Industrial rubber has a pungent unpleasant odor, such an eyeliner has a low price, it can only be used when a toilet bowl or a water heater is connected, but the service life is only about a year.

The braiding is usually made of either aluminum or stainless steel. Some unscrupulous manufacturers save even more and make braiding from galvanized wire. Such an eyeliner will rust in a couple of months and fail. An aluminum braided liner is slightly more durable, but condensation often forms on it, leading to oxidation and breakage of the threads. Steel braiding has the best characteristics of strength and resistance to high humidity and temperature extremes.

In the braid, there are almost always colored threads indicating the purpose of the liner: blue for cold water, red for hot water. Both threads are present on the universal ones. Also, some manufacturers weave in additional colors to indicate the hose material (for example, in rVC water line there is a green thread indicating the material PEX).

It is important to pay attention to the material of the fitting - in no case should it be plastic. Brass fittings are the most durable, silumin ones are thinner and more susceptible to corrosion. Determining the material is simple: slightly scratch the edge of the fitting, if a yellowish color appears, brass is in front of you.

When choosing an eyeliner for water, pay attention to its weight - too light eyeliner is made of silumin with an aluminum braid. If the hose is tight and does not bend well, it is likely to break quickly. The walls of the fittings should not be too thin, and the thread too flat - such a liner will simply be ripped off by the pressure of water. Check the integrity of the rubber seals, rough rings give out cheap rubber, quickly rupture and lead to leaks.

RVC brand offers a water liner made of EPDM or cross-linked polyethylene PEX-b wrapped in AISI-301 stainless steel. Fittings and nuts are made of HPb58-3 brass, so the working pressure for such hoses reaches 20 Bar and 24 Bar, respectively. EPDM liner will last more than 10 years, and from PEX - more than 50. RVC water liner Comes with a plastic nut for ease of installation: now, when installing a mixer or connecting a toilet at home, you do not need an additional tool.

A flexible stainless steel hose is used to connect a mixer, toilet and other devices to. When choosing the right product, you need to be guided by the basic parameters, which are discussed in detail in this article.

Basic parameters for choosing eyeliner

The selection of a flexible hose should be based on the following basic parameters:

• type of eyeliner;
• scope of the device;
• hose dimensions;
• ways to connect the product.

Types of flexible connections

The following types of flexible water connections are currently produced:

• bellows. The corrugated liner is made of stainless steel and has higher performance parameters.

What is the best bellows or reinforced liner? Comparative characteristics are shown in the table.

Any liner can be:

The choice of liner depending on the application

The liner can be used to connect cold and hot water. The purpose is determined as follows:

• flexible liner for hot water is distinguished by the presence of a red thread in the braid;

• flexible cold water line is marked with blue braided thread.

To avoid misunderstandings when using the eyeliner, experts recommend purchasing universal flexible hoses that are suitable for connecting water of any temperature. Universal eyeliners are distinguished by the presence of threads in both colors.

Selection of optimal sizes

How to choose eyeliner by size? When determining the overall characteristics of the connection, it is necessary to take into account:

• hose diameter. You can determine the indicator based on the water consumption of one or another plumbing equipment. It is considered optimal: for connecting a toilet bowl - 8 mm, for supplying water to a sink (kitchen sink) - 10 mm, for a bath - 15 mm;
• hose length. The line must be connected in such a way that the hose is not overstretched and unnecessary kinks are not formed. Any defect in the connection of the supply leads to a decrease in the service life of the product.

The Giant flexible eyeliner deserves special attention. It differs from standard products in its increased diameter, as well as in increased resistance to mechanical stress and stress. The Giant also has thicker walls, which further increase its reliability.

Possible connection methods

When buying a hose, it is also important to consider the methods of connecting the piping to plumbing equipment and pipes. The flexible hose can be equipped with:

• a union nut, which is installed on the outer;
• thread for internal connection;

• a fitting that is connected to the mixer.

When choosing connecting elements, it is important to take into account not only their type, but also the dimensions of the union or thread. Otherwise, an adapter is required to connect the device.

The types of eyeliners, the history of occurrence, the areas of application are described in detail in the video.

1. rubber (reinforced) liner must be made of high quality rubber. Only in this case can it be used to connect drinking water. You can distinguish high-quality rubber from low-quality rubber by smell. Low-quality rubber has a strong unpleasant odor;
2. the braid of the reinforced liner must be complete. The presence of burrs, kinks and other deformations will lead to a decrease in the service life of the product;
3. flexibility of the hose. The parameter is checked in the following way. You need to take the eyeliner by one end and hold it upright. If the liner bends smoothly, then the hose has sufficient flexibility and integrity. A sharp drop (bend) of the liner indicates the use of a poor-quality hose or the presence of a hidden defect;
4. crimping the tip. Weak compression of the tip is a negative characteristic of the liner and leads to a decrease in the life of the product;
5. material of connecting elements. Nuts and fittings can be made of aluminum, steel or brass. Aluminum is highly susceptible to mechanical stress. Steel is subject to corrosion. Therefore, the best option are connecting elements made of brass;

You can check the material of the connection by weight. Aluminum, unlike brass, is a lightweight material.

1. manufacturer. It is more advisable to purchase eyeliners from well-known companies that guarantee the quality of the products. The following companies can be distinguished:

• "Monolith" (Russia). Flexible liners are produced under the Monoflex brand;
• LLC "Neva" (Russia). Eyeliners with Aqualine logo;
• Grohe (Germany);
• Lavita (Korea);
• Altstream (Turkey).

A correctly selected and installed water supply, subject to all operating conditions of the product indicated on the packaging, can serve for a long period of time. Poor-quality eyeliner can fail as early as 3 - 5 days of use.

Installation of any fittings to plumbing fixtures is not complete without connecting the device to cold and hot water supply systems. And here an important connecting part is needed - a bellows, rigid or flexible hose for the mixer. These pipes and hoses provide an uninterrupted supply of water to the plumbing, so the tap connection must meet the highest quality standards. Which of the three is better? Go have a fourth alternative? Let's analyze everything in detail.

The connection of the main line to the sink or sink mixer can be carried out using a hose. There are three types of these elements:

• tough;
• flexible;
• bellows.

Each variety has its own characteristics, design features, installation and operation rules. Let us consider in more detail the main parameters of each type.

Rigid pipe for connection to the mixer

A rigid hose for a mixer is the most durable and reliable option for connecting a water supply to a plumbing fixture. A tube with a length ranging from 20 to 50 cm can be made of:

• become;
• copper;
• brass.

Any of these materials, be it steel, brass or copper liner, is able to withstand sudden changes in high and low temperatures, exposure to corrosive chemicals for cleaning plumbing fixtures, and most mechanical influences on the outside of the pipe.

The advantages of a hard connection are such parameters as:

• long service life - up to 15-20 years;
• high resistance to corrosive processes;
• relatively convenient connection.

The rigid water inlet is connected to the pipe thread on one side and to the mixer with threaded fittings on the other. For this, special angle valves and other fittings can be used, but in some cases you can do without them.

Threaded connection can be realized in one of two variants:

1. On one side, a union and a union nut with a ½ inch female thread are connected.
2. On the other side, a standard thread for a mixer type M10 or a ½ ”union nut with a female thread is connected.

A rigid connection to the tap is recommended for rooms with high sanitary and hygienic requirements, and for those plumbing fixtures where it is expected to be frequently used by a large number of people (medical, sports and educational institutions, catering establishments, airports and train stations).

Replacing the hard type external liner is not difficult. This can easily be done by any man with his own hands using the tools that are in every home.

Flexible hose to mixer

This is the most popular option for home faucets and is a rubber hose that is wrapped around a metal braid. The flexible hose for the mixer is popular due to its low cost and ease of installation. Of course, the service life of such a hose is slightly lower than that of a rigid tube, but if you follow the rules of operation, then such a liner will last long enough - up to 10 years.

The durability and reliability of this part depends on the quality of the braid and hose material. As a rule, high quality rubber or special non-toxic rubber is used for the manufacture of the hose. The metal braid is made from the finest threads:

• aluminum;
• become;
• galvanized iron.

The braid is necessary for reliable protection of the rubber hose from the outside from mechanical damage, and from the inside from the consequences of unwanted water shocks that inevitably arise in any water supply system. So the flexible hose must keep the pressure in the network up to 10 atmospheres.

Another significant design detail of the flexible connection is the fastening area. A brass sleeve with a union nut is connected to it at one end, and a fitting made of the same material at the other end.

To make the joints tight, a third element is needed - seals or rubber gaskets.

The length of the flexible hose varies from 30 cm to 2 m. This allows it to be used for mounting the mixer, both as a stand and on the side of the bath.

As mentioned, flexible eyeliner can last up to 10 years if made with quality materials. But twisting during installation, kinks, too high temperatures can easily damage the hose, causing it to fail. Therefore, it is worth handling it very carefully, and for prevention purposes, change the hose itself every 2-3 years.

Bellows tap connection

The bellows connection for the mixer is an innovative development, which is a kind of corrugated stainless steel sleeve, at the ends of which there are union nuts made of brass. Such a hose is produced using a technology that consists of three stages that flow into each other:

1. Rolling up stainless steel tape.
2. Seam welding by laser or argon arc welding.
3. Shirring of a metal sleeve.

This significantly improves the performance of such an eyeliner.

A bellows product for connecting a tap - a solution with excellent performance characteristics:

• has a high degree of wear resistance;
• it is distinguished by reliable operation at high temperatures (200-250 degrees);
• withstands sudden temperature changes;
• long service life - up to 25 years;
• resistance to chemicals and aggressive environments;
• good resistance to sudden compression and bending;
• shows a high level of resistance to oxygen;
• resistance to corrosive processes;
• easy installation process;
• corrugation allows you not to change the flow area of \u200b\u200bthe liner when bending.

But for such high characteristics you have to pay with a larger amount.

It is very easy to connect the bellows hose yourself:

Which option should you choose?

This type of connection is already equipped with standard fittings of different lengths for screwing into the mixing valve body. Collet adapters with a rubber gasket around the pipe are screwed onto the other end of the semi-rigid tube. The opposite side of the adapter has a standard (HP or BP) ½ in. Water supply thread.

Connecting a semi-rigid hose is very simple:

1. Collet adapter bodies are installed on the pipeline outlet.
2. Then you need to screw these semi-rigid pipes into the mixer and install it on the sink.
3. Then it is necessary to bend the eyeliner to the desired place so that the tube does not fold, that is, with a large radius.
4. After that, it is necessary to note the required length, put on the conical part of the collet adapters on the tube and cut off the excess.
5. Do not forget to put on the collet before sawing, otherwise you will have to file the tube for a long time and remove a long chamfer from it.
6. Then the tube is inserted into the collet adapter bodies pre-screwed to the pipeline.
7. Then you need to throw the tapered parts over the adapter, and tighten them very carefully so as not to damage the rubber seals.

For installation, only three tools are required: an adjustable wrench, an open-end wrench from an autoset and a hacksaw for metal (or a file with a sharp edge).

Semi-rigid liners, unlike flexible ones, do not need to be replaced every couple of years for prevention purposes, while they are more resistant to water hammer and rupture. By choosing this option, you will significantly increase the reliability of the connection, while reducing the risk of breaks or leaks.

General installation rules

Often, you have to connect the mixer to the plumbing not in the most convenient place. But in order to ensure the reliability and uninterrupted water supply, it is worthwhile to think over the installation details in advance and select all the necessary structural elements and tools for connection.

When choosing the key details for connecting the tap to the water supply, the following should be considered:

• constructive implementation;
• ease of installation;
• quality of connectors and fittings;
• durability and reliability.

Long service life and stable operation of the mixer depend only on the quality of the product and the correct installation, but also on the observance of certain conditions.

1. Knowing that the quality of water in our plumbing system is not of the highest level, and it contains a fairly large amount of various small particles, dirt and rust, a rational solution would be to mount a mesh filter at the beginning of the apartment wiring.
2. Before starting the installation, it is necessary to make sure of the quality of the liner by checking it for damage, as well as the quality of the crimping of the sleeves and the condition of the threads in the connections.
3. When installing a flexible hose, it is strictly forbidden to bend it sharply, twist it or break it. The bending radius should be at least 6 times the diameter of the liner.
4. Do not overtighten the connecting fittings, otherwise the tightness may be compromised or the fitting may be damaged.
5. After completing the installation, it is necessary to check the tightness of the system. If there are no leaks at the joints within 20 minutes, then everything is done well.

The mixer piping is its main supply line for hot and cold water. A variety of design solutions for plumbing fittings provide for certain types of connections. In the event that they are not included in the kit, you must purchase them yourself.

The correctly chosen type of liner, its correct installation, will allow the mixer to work without problems for a long time, and the owner will be relieved of the problems of unplanned repairs. There are many ways to connect faucets. Typically, the liners have a single inner diameter, which greatly simplifies their installation.

Prices for bellows connection in our catalog

Flexible hose is used for the installation of water supply devices, heating and plumbing equipment, household appliances that use water, as well as for connecting household gas stoves to risers. It would seem that everything is clear: you just need to purchase the necessary kit and install it. But is it that simple?

Flexible piping was invented for connecting mobile and portable units to existing water and gas communications in cases where it is technically impossible or difficult to do this using pipes. Its application has brought so many conveniences that now we do not think of any other way to connect the equipment available in the house. Various types of flexible eyeliner will be discussed in this review.

Water liner

The modern market offers two types of flexible hoses: rubber hoses in a metal braid and bellows metal hoses.

Metal braided rubber hoses. This is the simplest and cheapest type of eyeliner manufactured in factories like this. The rubber hose is braided with a metal thread streaked in red and blue. Its task is to protect the hose from external mechanical influences and hydraulic shocks. The braided hose is cut to the required length. Metal bushings of one of two types are inserted into each segment on both sides: made together with a union (it will be screwed into the connected device) or with a union nut put on (it is screwed onto the end of a threaded pipe). After that, the braid together with the hose is crimped around the bushing with a metal sleeve. Next, rubber seals are installed on the connecting elements - and you're done, you can use it! It is this seeming simplicity of the process that until recently gave rise to the manufacture of flexible eyeliner literally to everyone and everyone. As a result, both individual apartments and entire entrances "drowned".

Accidents happen, first of all, due to the fact that for all its seeming simplicity, flexible eyeliner is a rather complex technical element that does not tolerate an amateurish approach and the use of low-quality materials.

The most common failures leading to accidents:

Weak compression of the braid, which occurs both due to the use of sleeves made of low-quality metal, and due to the lack of specialized equipment from the manufacturer to perform this operation (made by hand).

The use of low quality metal in the production of elements such as bushings, fittings and nuts, or their manufacture is not thick enough, and therefore fragile. As a result, they are deformed during installation or during operation, rust, etc.

The use of technical rubber of poor quality. In less than a year, such rubber "grows old" (especially quickly as a result of thermal changes) and begins to crumble. Gaskets live even less.

Poor braid material. For example, a braid made of galvanized steel wire under conditions of moisture condensation on it collapses in six months or a year.

But times are changing, and fewer manufacturers of low-quality goods remain on the market. Only, let's say, the most serious and technically equipped companies remain. They use a tube made of ethylene propylene rubber - EPDM (manufacturers often call it non-toxic rubber). The braid is made of stainless steel (AISI-304) or aluminum wire, with increased weaving density. Plus stainless steel compression sleeves; Nickel-plated brass bushings, fittings and union nuts. The structural dimensions of all elements comply with special standards. And all this is recorded in the accompanying product passport. Do not be surprised, it is in the passport. It also indicates the warranty period of the liner and its service life. A good manufacturer has a 2-year warranty for the steel braided liner, and its total service life is 10 years. For a liner in an aluminum braid, these periods are respectively 1.5 years and 5 years. But this is not for everyone. Most often, the warranty period is limited to one year, and it is established by trade organizations. Even despite the fact that manufacturers (especially foreign ones) give longer guarantees.

Dear reader, you will be able to distinguish a good manufacturer (and therefore a high-quality product) from a bad one by having such a passport. Moreover, if, due to the fault of a poor-quality liner, the neighbors living below you "drown" during the warranty, you have every right to sue the manufacturer in order to force him to pay for the damage caused. But you only have a chance to win the case if you have kept your passport and cashier's receipt for the purchase of this product.

Naturally, in order for everything to end happily for you, you should make a purchase not in the market, but in a large store or a company specializing in the sale of plumbing fixtures. The chances of running into a fake on the market are much higher. Moreover, the "Chinese craftsmen" now, as it turned out, counterfeit products not only of European firms (for example, there is an eyeliner from the Italian BUGATTI on the markets, and this company does not produce it at all), but also of Russian enterprises.

By the way, in the markets there is mainly a domestically produced liner. It is produced by such firms as "FLEXILINE", "AQUATEKHNIKA", "MONOLIT" (trade mark "Monoflex"), "GALLOP", etc. Somewhat less often you can find products from China, Turkey, Spain (INDUSTRIAS MATEU - Fil- Nox; KVG, B&M) and Italy (STC, PARIGI). Prices for a hose with a diameter of 12 mm and a length of 50 cm range from 40 rubles. for domestic up to 80 rubles. for Italian.

In addition to the "usual" eyeliner, foreign manufacturers offer anti-vibration. In principle, this is the same braided hose, only the outer diameter is much larger - 27-64 mm (inner - 19-50 mm). The use of such equipment will help get rid of vibration, hum and noise of pipes in the water supply system when connecting domestic pumps. These products are offered by the Italian companies PARIGI: AVC brands (braided with two red stripes, sleeve - aluminum, braid - galvanized steel) and AVC-I (connections - steel, braid - stainless steel) - INDUSTRIAS MATEU. The length of the hoses is 30-200 cm. The cost of the 0.5 m line is 188-310 rubles.

Two companies offer a bellows connection for water in our market: WITZENMANN (Germany, trade mark Hydraflex) and PARIGI (TAM series). By design, it resembles a flexible braided liner with the difference that the hose is made as a corrugated sleeve (annular corrugation), and the sleeves are rolled along the sleeve and welded to the sleeve by roller welding (all parts directly in contact with water are made of stainless steel).

Benefits:

Wide operating temperature range (from -50 to + 250 ° С).

Resistant to lateral compression, sleeve end fracture, combustion, wear and embrittlement.

High resistance to oxygen diffusion (helps to avoid damage to radiators and heating system control units).

The Hydraflex hose can be used in the same applications as a braided rubber hose. The eyeliner is provided with brass nuts on both ends. Available in four diameters and optional lengths. Service life - at least 15 years. The price of 1 m, depending on the diameter, is 340-550 rubles.

TAM eyeliner is designed to connect heating appliances. Available only in nut-union version, in two internal diameters: 13 mm (1/2 "connection) and 16 mm (3/4" connection). Length - 90-150, 140-250 and 200-355 mm (stretches within the specified limits). Cost - 280-512 rubles.

Connection rules

The safety and service life of flexible hoses depends on their correct installation:

Before installation, it is necessary to carefully inspect the sleeve for integrity of fastening (compression) of the end fittings, the presence of gaskets, damage to threads, braids and other defects that have occurred during storage and transportation.

After installation, follow the sleeve for 30 minutes for water leakage. If drops appear at the junction, it must be tightened.

Flexible hoses should be installed with a bend radius exceeding the outer diameter by at least 5-6 times (some manufacturers indicate this value in the passport).

The hose should not be taut or kinked either during or after installation.

Do not apply excessive force when tightening the tip - there is a risk of damage to the seal (recommended tightening torque is not more than 0.4 N m).

The flexible hose should not be exposed to open flames or excessive heat.

Every six months, it is necessary to inspect the flexible eyeliner and check the tightness of the end fittings. To do this, provide easy access to the flexible hose.

Avoid the risk of electrochemical corrosion of the handpieces. It is safe to connect brass - brass, brass - copper and steel - steel pairs.

Some experts recommend replacing flexible hoses every five years.

Gas supply

True, the introduction of the novelty entailed numerous explosions and fires. The trouble began when the flexible gas line became available for sale. After all, seduced by the simplicity of installation, almost everyone who at least once held a wrench in their hands began to consider himself a master of connecting a gas stove. And gas, as you know, is not a joke (and a poster from childhood times that hung in every entrance: "Don't mess with gas!" Appears before your eyes), and absolutely does not tolerate an amateurish approach to itself.

Gas hoses

For supplying gas to household stoves, two main types of flexible connections are used: rubber hoses in a metal sheath and bellows metal hoses.

Rubber sleeve with metal sheath.

This is almost the same hose in a steel braid as for supplying water to the mixer, but in this case the hose hidden inside the braid is not made of rubber, but from special polymer materials, but into a steel braid (the aluminum version is not used here - all gas taki!) instead of red and blue threads, yellow is woven. Such products are supplied to our construction markets from China and Turkey, Spain (INDUSTRIAS MATEU - Fil-Gas trademark; B & M-GAS - Flexi Tab trademark, etc.) and Italy (PARIGI - Sicurgas trademark). It should be noted that the braided hose is perhaps the most popular type of flexible hose until recently. Reason - affordable price: only 230 rubles. for eyeliner 1 m long from Turkey. True, a similar product from Italy will cost 360 rubles.

As an example, let us consider in more detail the design of gas hoses from INDUSTRIAS MATEU. They are available with nut-union and nut-nut end fittings with diameters suitable for 1/2, 3/4 and 1 "pipe connections. The length of the sleeves is 20-400 cm.They themselves are made in two diameters: normal (Fil-Gas; inner diameter - 8.5 mm, outer - 13 mm) and enlarged (Fil-Gas Gigante; inner diameter - 13 mm, outer - 19 mm). The first of them are used for ordinary home stoves, in which the gas consumption is low, the second - for powerful stoves or cases when the owners like to cook and they periodically turn on all the burners simultaneously with the oven (the passage section of a gas hose with a diameter of 9 mm in this case can simply not enough). Note that the service life of the Spanish flexible hose (and it is considered the best in our market) is (including storage) five years from the date of release. In this case, the warranty period is equal to the service life. The choice of hoses offered by PARIGI is a bit more modest: the connection is only in the “nut-fitting” version, diameter - 19 mm (internal - 13 mm), length - 500-1800 mm.

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that in the markets it is quite possible to find an eyeliner from China, made and even marked under one of the Spanish companies. Only a specialist or an experienced seller can distinguish such a fake from the original (although the latter does not always want to inform the buyer about this). But, to the credit of domestic sellers, it should be noted that due to a large number of complaints, the volume of import of Chinese products (including counterfeit ones) is gradually decreasing (this fact cannot but please us as consumers).

Bellows metal hose

More rigid and reliable, but also the most expensive. And it seems that the future belongs to such products. Why? The fact is that the gas supply hose must meet the requirements of a whole series of regulatory documents, such as "Safety Rules in the Gas Industry" approved by Rosgortekhnadzor, SNiP 3.05.02-88 and 2.04.08-87, GOST R50696, 15763, 25136. And rubber sleeves in a steel braid correspond to these documents (unless, of course, we are talking about certified products). But a little over a year ago, another document came into force - GOST R 52209-2004 "Connections for gas burners and apparatus", which does not recommend the use of braided hoses (note: the document does not prohibit their use, but it does not recommend it). But it is strongly advised to use bellows metal hoses as the most resistant to gas pressure and mechanical damage.

This recommendation does not mean at all that rubber braided hoses will suddenly disappear from our markets overnight. They, apparently, will be on sale for a long time (now our GOSTs are: not "hard", as before, but "soft" - recommendatory). But the gas services of settlements will definitely react to these recommendations. For example, the Moscow "service 04" recently decided to use only bellows sleeves in their work, and exclusively of German production. You must admit that the very fact of making this decision testifies to a lot.

Bellows is supplied to our market from China, Turkey (AYVAZ, PEPE, G. BEKA), Spain, Italy (PARIGI) and Germany (WITZENMANN). Its cost ranges from 230 rubles. for a hose 1 meter long Turkish production up to 400 rubles. for a similar product imported from Germany.

As an example, consider the design of bellows connections from WITZENMANN. They are made of stainless steel, which makes them well resistant to mechanical damage, providing a high level of safety and durability.

If the Hydragas HX 311 eyeliner is a round corrugated sleeve without additional protection (price of 1 m - about 400 rubles), then in the GA 621 and GA 651/657 series the bellows is protected from the outside with a stainless steel metal hose with a twisted lock profile (i.e. as a flexible hose for a shower head). The objective of the outer sleeve is not only to prevent mechanical damage and contamination of the bellows, but also to limit its bending radius (minimum 100 mm), as well as excessive stretching (the cost of GA 651/657 series sleeves with a length of 1 m is 640 rubles). On one end of the GA 621 inlet, instead of a union nut, a Firebag thermal safety valve and a built-in interceptor valve are installed. The Firebag mechanism automatically shuts off the gas supply when the room temperature rises to 95 ° C (for example, in the event of a fire). Response time - no more than 60 s. True, this valve is disposable - if the protection is triggered, the entire device must be replaced. The interceptor valve allows you not only to connect / disconnect the flexible hose, but also to turn off the gas for the time when you leave home (it replaces the standard gas valve). The GA 621 model is, of course, more expensive - 640 rubles. (hose 1 m long) plus 570 rubles. (faucet with thermal protection mechanism). A crane without a thermal protection mechanism will cost 440 rubles.

Another version of the Hydragas two-layer eyeliner is the HX 451/457 series. This time, the manufacturers placed the inner corrugated sleeve in a transparent PVC tube, which is much easier to wash than a corrugated bellows. Yes, and the eyeliner of this series is somewhat cheaper: a 1 m long hose - 572 rubles.

Note that the bellows sleeve in plastic insulation is offered not only by German, but also by Spanish and Italian manufacturers. For example, PARIGI covers its SIM-G eyeliner with a yellow polymer coating (the composition does not open), and washing it is almost as easy as German. The choice of lengths is as follows: 500-1000, 750-1500, 1000-2000, that is, the bellows, if necessary, can be stretched within the specified dimensions. True, it is not recommended to reach the maximum length - the more stretched, the less rigid the sleeve becomes.

And one more important point. You can easily find any of the flexible eyeliners described above in the construction markets. Only German products are delivered only to large stores.

Some characteristics of bellows gas hoses

Rescue insert

Many of us, at least once, having touched the stove, suddenly felt a slight, but still very noticeable electric discharge. There are two possible reasons for this phenomenon.

The first is to protect the main pipe from electrochemical corrosion, a small negative electric potential is supplied to it. At the junction of the main and the pipes leaving to the house, a dielectric insert is installed to isolate the apartment wiring from the main. It is clear that such protection works as long as the insulating insert is intact. And if not? This means that then current will flow through the flexible connection from the riser to the plate.

The second - the equipment of a modern gas stove includes a whole set of electrical equipment - from the backlight to the engine that rotates the spit in the oven. As long as the insulation of the electrical wiring of the stove is in order, there are no problems. But as soon as it is damaged, a current flows through the liner - now from the stove to the riser. The current flowing through the liner is especially dangerous for braided hoses - it is made of wire of a very small cross-section, which means that it has a high resistance. Experts say that in some cases, the sleeve braid can be so hot that it simply burns the hose inside. The gas escaping into the wild, coming into contact with the heated braid, will cause trouble ... By the way, it is precisely in the likelihood of such a phenomenon that lies one of the reasons that braided hoses are not recommended.

So what to do? It is worth using a special dielectric insert when installing the flexible liner. It can be entirely plastic or combined: the insert itself is made of plastic, and the threaded parts are metal (the price of any of the options is from 150 rubles). According to experts, the first inserts are preferable as more reliable. Professionals advise to use similar devices when connecting household electric water heaters, dishwashers and other similar equipment using a flexible hose.

Keywords: flexible eyeliner, bellows eyeliner

There is quite a serious competition among roofing materials. And this has a good effect on the development of each brand separately and on the market of this area as a whole. In connection with the large number of building materials presented, consumers involuntarily raise the question: which flexible tile is better? And how not to make a mistake with the choice? Let's try to figure it out with you.

The use of flexible shingles in many countries around the world suggests that the material is suitable for use in various climatic conditions. This fact has been verified in different regions of our country. For example, it proved to be excellent in the extreme harsh conditions of Siberia and the Far East, as well as in the southern regions.

The best proof of the mechanical strength and high tensile strength of the soft are numerous hurricanes in the United States, when it was on such a roof that people were saved, when the rest of the roofs were blown away by the wind. It is particularly resistant to wind loads, which withstands hurricane gusts at a speed of 210 km / h.

Each manufacturer believes that its flexible tile is the best. To the credit of many of them, we can say that work on improving the quality of roofing material is carried out seriously. But in general, the performance indicators are not very different. These include the presence of a lower self-adhesive lower layer, which greatly simplifies the installation of shingles and allows you to create a more tight coating.

For example, the basis of the manufacture is fiberglass treated with modified SBS bitumen. The presence of polymer additives improves many characteristics of the material, and, consequently, the durability of the roofing material. The thickness of the shingles varies from 3 to 3.8 mm, weight from 8 to 9.2 kg per m2. We can say that it stands out significantly in this parameter, which has the smallest specific weight of 8 kg per m2.

With regard to the color fastness of the upper layer of soft roofing, manufacturers have taken a number of measures to increase the resistance of the material to fading in the sun. One of the most effective developments is the use of natural stone topcoats. It has such features. The color guarantee is valid for several decades.

Flexible tiles sound proud or why you should not consider it just an imitation

It is a fairly common fact to consider shingles as an excellent imitation of a natural cement-sand roof. At first, it was probably a big compliment for the new construction material that appeared on the construction market again. But now the soft roof has taken its own niche, is popular with the population of many countries, therefore it has fully deserved the "title" of an independent roofing material with its exclusive features.

In order to list the advantageous characteristics, it is not at all necessary to compare the shingles with any other product. The material is distinguished by soundproofing properties, which is important in our time, when a person would like to stay at home in a calm atmosphere, without being annoyed by extraneous noise.

One of the important factors is the elastic properties of shingles. Thus, its tensile strength is significantly high, its tightness is maximum. But even this is not the most important thing, but the fact that the flexible tile allows you to veil all the shortcomings made during the construction of the roof. The experts noted an important fact - the soft roof is one of the few that is resistant to the formation of mold, moss, fungal plaque.

The disadvantages of using flexible tiles include the need for additional costs for the purchase of OSB-3 and installing a crate under the soft roof. It is this fact that makes this material not so common. But its shortcomings are brightened up in the literal sense of the word by the presence of a large number of collections from manufacturers with a huge selection of color shades. Against the background of expensive, but less bright and attractive natural roofing, flexible shingles significantly benefit from beauty, style and originality.