Some people think suction hose and discharge hose are same because they are closely related to each other. Therefore, to clear your confusion we prepared this guide for you.
Today, we will tell you about suction hose in detail. You will learn its material, characteristics and types. Furthermore, how it works and where you can use it. In the end, you will be able to select the correct hose for your application.
What is a Suction Hose?
A suction hose is a specialized reinforced hose which is designed to suck and draw the fluid, gases, slurries and other elements. This process occurs under negative pressure created by a pump or suction system.
Actually, hoses are connected to the suction side (inlet) of the pump or mechanical equipment to pull liquid from the source. Therefore, these are built with tough material so that they cannot collapse or squeeze under vacuum pressure.
Hard suction hose: It is a rigid and reinforced pipe used to draw water from an unpressurized or static source without collapsing under vacuum. This source includes lake, pond or river. Hard suction hose constructed from rubber (EPDM / Nitrile), or PVC that is strengthened with steel wire helix.
Soft suction hose: This is a flexible and collapsible large diameter hose. The main job of this hose is to transfer pressurized water from a hydrant or external supply source to a fire engine pump. You can call it soft sleeves. These are formed by outer fabric jackets and reinforced with rubber or PVC.
Structural Layers of Suction Hose
Suction hose mostly consist of three layers which are as follows.
- Inner core: It is the innermost layer that is in direct contact with the fluid. It is made up of corrosion resistant synthetic rubber or PVC that must be compatible with fluid.
- Reinforcement layer: It is a strengthened backbone of hose which acts like a sandwich between outer and inner layers. Most reinforcement layers contain spiral steel wire or synthetic fiber braids.
- Outer layer: You can say that outer layer is the protective skin of the hose which shields it from environmental hazards. These can be abrasive surfaces, UV rays, ozone, moisture and chemical splash. It is composed of durable and weather resistant rubber, PVC or polyurethane material.
How Does a Suction Hose Work?
As we said above, a suction hose works under negative pressure to pull the fluid from liquid sources. It includes ponds, tanks, reservoirs and other natural sources. But if we come to work, you will see that the suction hose directly connects to the inlet side of the pump. As the pump turns on, it evacuates the air from inside the hose and creates a low pressure zone.
At this time, higher atmospheric pressure pushes down on external liquid sources which force the liquid up into the hose. In simple words, you can say that a pump creates low pressure so that liquid gets pushed into the hose from a high to low pressure area. As this pressure difference remains active, liquid, gases and small particles move through the hose toward the pump inlet.
Types of Suction Hose According To Material
Generally, suction hoses are available in different materials. Each has its own properties and pressure range which is based on the construction, reinforcement layers and diameter.
| Types | Features | Pressure | Where to Use |
| PVC suction hose | Lightweight, flexible, cost effective, transparent and chemical-resistant | Low to medium 20-60 PSI | Agricultural irrigation and trash pumps |
| Rubber suction hose | Highly durable, good flexibility, abrasion, weather and ozone resistant | Medium to high 50-150 PSI | Heavy construction, mining, agriculture and industrial water |
| Silicone suction hose | Resistant to temperature, strong, flexible & non-toxic | Low to medium 15-50 PSI | Pharmaceutical processing, food industry, high-temperature coolant lines and turbocharger systems |
| UHMWPE or polyethylene suction hose | Chemical resistance, anti-aging, flexible and strong | Medium to High 150-300 PSI | Tank truck, ship docks, chemical and medical industry |
| PVC stainless steel suction hose | Excellent strength, corrosion resistant, clear wall visibility | Low to Medium 30-80 PSI | Sewage treatment equipment, chemical, medical, food & beverage industry |
| Polyurethane (PU) suction hose | Lightweight, Longevity, chemical and abrasion resistance | Low to medium 10 – 40 PSI | Industrial cleaning, mining |
| EPDM Suction hose | Flexible, excellent resistance to weather, ozone, heat and chemicals | Medium pressure 50-150 PSI | Agriculture, septic and waste vacuum trucks |
| Nitrile rubber suction hose | Durable, flexible Oil and petroleum resistant | Medium pressure 50 – 150 PSI | Petroleum applications and bilge pump |
Top Uses of Suction Hose
Water Transfer
Mostly, you can use suction hose to draw water from pools or lakes and then carry it to your desired location. For construction sites and agriculture irrigation, you can use suction hose with utility pumps.
Waste Water Handling
These hoses are used to manage wastewater or remove excess accumulation. Plus divert the sewage during pipe repairs and system upgrade. In this way, suction hoses are beneficial to keep your area dry and clean.
Emergency Response
Suction hoses are very useful to provide relief in natural disasters such as floods and fire. For instance, it is effective to dewater in flooded areas such as streets and the basement. In firefighting (ISO 14557: 2021), you can use it to draw and transfer water from hydrants or natural bodies to control fire.
Petroleum Transmission
They are used to deliver fuel such as oil, gasoline, diesel or petrol very well. That is why you can use it in oil refiners and gas stations. You can also observe them in tanker trucks, storage tanks and railcars.
Agriculture
You can use suction hose to pull water from canals or ponds to supply for irrigation. In addition, you can also utilize this hose to suck liquid fertilizers and pesticides to distribute across the farms.
Marine Applications
In ships, it performs as bilge pumping which means it extracts unwanted water from its lower part to prevent it from sinking. During dockside load and unload, you can also use it to transport fresh water, fuel and waste between ship and port facility.
Liquid Conveyance in Industries
If you work in a factory, you can utilize suction hose to move liquid from one place to another. This liquid includes acid and solvent which you can convey in industries safely. This is possible using rubber and composite lining.
Sludge or Slurry Management
You can use it to draw thick combinations of liquid and solid particles from source into a pump especially in mining and construction sites. Then it helps you deliver this mixture to another place like treatment facilities.
Suction Hose Manufacturer & Supplier
If you are a wholesaler or B2B buyer and you are looking for the best hose supplier, RONTEIX is your ideal business partner. We make all types of hoses which also include suction hoses. We have 10 expert engineers and more than 18 years of experience. Our manufactured hoses offer high pressure and abrasion resistance.
Plus, they meet all international standards such as ISO 4641:2024 or EN 12115. Besides, we also provide you ODM and OEM services. You can tell us your further requirements about size, material and quantity. To place your order, you can send your inquiry anytime and receive a quick quote.
6 Factors To Choose Right Suction Hose
1. Size (diameter & length)
First of all, you have to know its inner diameter (5 – 500mm) to determine flow rate. You need to check its length also. Generally, you can note suction hose length approximately 5 to 30 meters. Moreover, diameter and length can vary with hose construction.
2. Flexibility
You should also evaluate the flexibility of the hose, which means it can safely bend during vibration without kink or collapse. The minimum bend radius of a hard wall suction hose is almost 6 to 8D, which changes with material.
3. Temperature
You must see its internal fluid temperature and external ambient temperature because it affects hose performance. You should pick that one who can work in extreme heat and cold without cracks and degrade. Depends upon composition, but they can normally operate at -40℃ to 80℃.
4. Application and Environment
When you choose a suction hose, you must consider the environment where you want to use it. For example, it may have UV rays, ozone, chemicals and rough surfaces. Always select that suction hose which has the ability to survive in these conditions without losing structural integrity and efficiency.
5. Pressure and Vacuum rating
You should inspect the suction hose to see how much pressure it can handle before collapse. If we tell you about pressure, you will observe that standard (PVC) suction hose can operate at 75 PSI. But the pressure varies with material type. Additionally, you will find its full vacuum rating around 29.9 inHg or 760 mmHg.
6. Ends and fittings
In the end, make sure that couplings, thread type and hose clamps must be compatible with the outer diameter of hose. So it can easily fit into the pump or intake valve without leaking. We recommend you to choose coupling on the basis of pressure range, wall construction and inner/ outer diameter.
To Summarize
Hence we can say suction hoses are used in various fields of our life. You can definitely carry liquid, gas and solid with the help of this hose and take it to your target place. But to get this benefit, you need to pick the right one for your job. Well, if you want to increase its lifespan, we advise you to clean or maintain it properly after use.
People Also Ask
Why Does a Suction Hose Collapse?
Suction hose mostly collapse when internal pressure falls below outside atmospheric pressure. This pressure difference will force the flexible wall to move inward.
How Long Does a Suction Hose Last?
You can easily use suction hoses for approximately 3 to 10 years which depend upon the material, usage and environment conditions.
What Are Suction Hose Accessories?
Common suction hose accessories include foot valve, hose clamps or rings, thread adapter, camlock and gasket. But they are based on the uses.
What is the difference between a suction hose and a discharge hose?
The main difference is that suction hose work under negative pressure (vacuum) to draw fluid from source. Whereas, discharge hose is used to push fluid out from the destination under positive pressure.
Can a suction hose be used for discharge?
Yes, you can use suction hose for discharge. Because it contains rigid internal wire reinforcement which allows it to handle negative and positive pressure. However, you cannot use a discharge hose as a suction hose. The reason is it lacks this reinforcement wire and works under positive pressure.
