If you take care of your hydraulic hoses properly, there is no doubt that they will serve you for a long time. Likewise, failing to properly maintain these hoses can shorten their lifespan, and in some cases, this can also make these hoses a safety hazard.

Caring for your hydraulic hose doesn't have to take too much effort. With a few simple steps, you can keep your hoses in good working condition.

Establish a Maintenance Routine

When something requires regular maintenance, it's important to have a routine. Without a routine that you have to stick to, it's easy to postpone any maintenance action until you absolutely have to. Unfortunately, this usually means that something has already gone wrong.

Your maintenance routine should take into consideration the conditions under which the hoses are used. You can adjust the frequency depending on how frequently the hydraulic assembly has been used.

Repair Damaged and Old Sections

Different parts of the assembly will wear at different rates. Some sections of the assembly will be exposed to much higher pressures or temperatures. This means they may wear much faster than others. Cracks, tight bends, twists, exposed fabric etc., are all signs that a particular section should be replaced. These weak spots can allow water to enter and rust the reinforcing wire or create weak points in the system that are unable to handle the high pressure.

Don't Exceed Recommended Temperature and Pressure

Just because your hose doesn't immediately fail under a certain pressure or temperature doesn't mean it's okay for it to work under these conditions. Although a very high working temperature or pressure can easily cause an immediate failure of the hose, even a minimal increase in pressure or temperature above the limit can have a similar effect. Even if this isn't the case, it can result in faster deterioration of the hose.

Take Any Leaks Seriously

There is no acceptable level of leakage when it comes to hydraulic systems. This means that any sort of leak should be taken very seriously.

A leak could mean that there is a loose joint or a hole in the hose pipe. When you're dealing with a small leakage, hydraulic hose repair can take care of the problem adequately. However, if the leak isn't addressed, the damage could become worse. This can complicate repairs, which will also be costlier. You'll also have to replace all the hydraulic fluid that will be lost.

For more information on caring for hydraulic hoses, contact a company like Williams Oil Filter Service Co.