One Stop Fire Products Fire Fighting Pumps For Your Farm, Camp or Cottage!

Suction (Drafting) Hoses

The suction hose conducts the water from the source (lake, river, pond, etc.) to the pump. It should be a short as possible and be able to resist collapsing. Also, it should be protected from external crushing and kinking situations when in service or in storage. Lengths should be kept under 25' -- with 10' being ideal -- but may not be practical if drawing water from sources with difficult access.

Our standard hoses are of a rugged PVC construction in lengths of 8', 10', 12' & 20'. One end may use a CamLok quick connector or a choice of female threaded fittings for attachment to the pump.The other end typically has a threaded male fitting (NPT or NPSH) for attaching the strainer/foot valve (this is the end that drops into the water). Do not overlook the footvalve. You do not want to suck in debris that will clog the line and damage the pump. The intake of foreign matter can ruin your pump very quickly! Even if your source is clean (like a swimming pool), the strainer will prevent the hose from grabbing the bottom or the liner or a toy and stopping the water flow. For open water sources, use of a intake filter is recommended.

Coupling Considerations For Suction Hoses

These are common on hoses used for industrial purposes. The hose is fitted with the male coupler on one end and female on the other. Normally, it will attach directly to both the pump and footvalve/strainer. The connections are slow to make as they require a wrench to get a tight fit. Also, the possibility of cross-threading is an issue as connection often occurs in a crisis situation. When choosing threaded couplings for suction hoses, a thread protector should be installed on the pump.

This is the traditional firehose coupling technique normally used on discharge hoses. It is similar to the shank couplers above but is a higher quality attachment. The coupler is installed at the factory using modern specialized machinery to secure the fabric hose to the fitting. This is available only on our 1½" suction hoses and will probably take a day or two longer to provide. We use lightweight Pyrolite NPSH fittings but brass and some other thread standards can be special ordered.

The CamLok coupler is a positive and reliable means of attaching the suction hose to the pump. It is a bit bulky and and has moving parts that can wear or become damaged in time. It is a highly respected fitting in agricultural and industrial settings. It may require a bit more physical effort, particularly when new, to connect/disconnect and sometimes it may 'bite' tender hands. No tools are require for coupling. The CamLok coupler is appropriate for 2" suction hoses and most 1½" suction hoses. The suction port of the pump will require a corresponding adapter fitting, usually a male Part 'A'. CamLok fittings are not suggested for discharge hoses for fire fighting purposes.

NOTE

For most fire fighting applications, threaded connections are recommended for 1½" and 2" suction hoses.

Our standard suction hose for most situations. Is partially transparent so you can see the water inside. It can be ordered with male threaded nipples on both ends or your choice of coupling methods. Custom orders can be accommodated.