The sun’s brutal on anything rubber, no matter what the label says…
That’s the truth. I’ve seen so many extension cords and hoses that looked fine when they were tucked away, but after a season out in the sun, they’re brittle as crackers. Doesn’t seem to matter if it’s a fancy “contractor grade” one or something from the bargain bin—UV just eats them up. I always tell folks, if you want your cords and hoses to last, keep ‘em out of direct sunlight and off the ground when you can. Even just tossing a tarp over them helps.
Funny thing, I once inspected a place where the homeowner swore by this super expensive outdoor cord, but he left it draped over his fence all summer. By fall, it was splitting open like a banana. Meanwhile, his old cheapo orange cord in the shed was still going strong. Goes to show, sometimes it’s less about what you buy and more about how you treat it. Storage really is half the battle.
No kidding about the sun—learned that lesson the hard way with a pricey “weatherproof” hose I left on the patio for one summer. By September, it was stiff as a board and cracked at every bend. I’m always skeptical when I see “UV resistant” stamped on stuff now. Honestly, even the cheaper cords last years if you coil ‘em up and toss them in a shed or under the deck. I’ll admit, I get lazy sometimes and leave things out, but every time I do, I regret it. Funny how it’s usually the neglected bargain gear that survives just because it got shoved in a dark corner.
UV resistant labels always make me raise an eyebrow too. I’ve seen “weatherproof” hoses and extension cords get brittle after just one summer on a south-facing deck. It’s wild how the sun can chew through even the pricier stuff. What I’ve started doing is a quick check every spring and fall—just like I do with roofing gear.
First, I look for any color fading or chalky residue on the surface. That’s usually the first sign UV is breaking things down. Next, I flex the hose or cord in a few spots—if it feels stiff or you hear any cracking, it’s probably toast. For cords, I’ll check the ends for splits or exposed wires too.
Honestly, storing things out of direct sunlight makes a huge difference. Even just tossing them under a bench or in a plastic bin helps. I’ve had some cheap hoses last years just because they got forgotten in the garage instead of baking outside. Sometimes it’s not about what you buy, but how you treat it... though I still wish “UV resistant” meant what it says.
I’ve seen the same thing with “UV resistant” products—sometimes I wonder if the label just means it’ll last one summer instead of half a summer. I’ve inspected plenty of properties where hoses and cords looked fine from a distance, but up close, you’d spot that brittle texture or even hairline cracks. The chalky residue you mentioned is a dead giveaway.
One thing that puzzles me: I’ve noticed some brands seem to hold up better than others, even when the specs look identical. Is it just luck of the draw, or maybe differences in the actual plastic formulation? I’ve also run into issues where cords stored in a shed still degrade, probably from heat cycling more than sunlight.
Curious if anyone’s tried any of those “protective sprays” that claim to block UV—do they actually help, or just marketing fluff? I’m always skeptical of quick fixes, but maybe there’s something out there that actually works for extending the life of this stuff.
Spotting wear and tear on used gear: my quick routine
Man, I’ve been burned by the “UV resistant” label more times than I care to admit. Bought a fancy hose last year, paid extra for the promise, and by August it looked like a lizard’s tail—cracked and flaking. I’ve tried a couple of those UV sprays (couldn’t resist the marketing), but honestly, I didn’t notice much difference. Maybe slowed things down a bit, but nothing magic. I think you’re right about heat cycling too—my extension cords stored in the shed still get brittle, even though they never see the sun. At this point, I just expect to replace outdoor stuff every couple years... or sooner if the squirrels get to it first.
