Dispenser Hose Maintenance
Written by: Brian Pottebaum, Director of Training Services
PMMIC’s annual inspections show that many dispenser hoses are poorly maintained and often leaking. A leaking hose may damage customer relations, hurt “curbside appeal” and result in expensive environmental cleanup. To keep your customers happy, and to protect your assets, you should identify and correct hose problems immediately.
Hoses take a significant amount of abuse from customers; they are run over, twisted, and stretched beyond their normal limits. Damage may occur when the hose has a severe bend where it comes out of the dispenser. Hoses also deteriorate with time. Cracks form from exposure to the elements
Leaking hoses can cost you customers. If a hose, swivel, nozzle, or breakaway is leaking, it could result in unsightly staining and subsurface contamination. The same customers that may damage a hose may also be the ones who refuse to touch it if it is leaking. One leaking hose and you may never see that customer again. So, what should you do?
Daily inspections are the solution. There are many ways to spot if a hose is going bad. Cracks may become visible. Staining on the hose, hardware, drive surface, or island usually occurs when there is a leak. Hose returns may stop working. Wiping down hoses each day takes about 10 seconds and will give you confirmation if the hose is leaking. You will immediately know if swivels and returns are working properly and if breakaways and nozzles are in place and dry. While wiping down the hoses you can also make sure there is no obvious staining near each dispenser. Keep hoses out of traffic. Hose returns will keep the hose out of traffic areas if they are operational. Train employees so they know how and when to replace a hose.
If the daily inspection identifies a potential problem, address it immediately. The issue may not be the hose; the source of the leak might be a swivel or nozzle. Regardless, a hose replacement or repair is much less expensive than losing customers or paying for a cleanup.
Maintaining hoses keeps the site looking neat, avoids environmental contamination, and keeps fuel off your customers. Checking hoses daily is an easy, cost-effective maintenance solution. Keep extra swivels, nozzles, and hoses on site. They take up little storage space, are relatively easy to replace and will help you to respond to a potential problem before you lose business. Fix the problem before it becomes a liability.