Hot Water & Steam Hoses

Steam is not just hotter water, and it will destroy a hose that was never built for it. This collection covers true steam service: Continental Flexsteel 250 wire-braid steam hose in 25 and 50 foot lengths, plus the bolt-style clamps that steam connections require. If your rig runs steam guns or a steam cleaner, call 301-519-9274 and we will confirm the right hose and lead time before you order.

Picking a Steam Hose That Survives the Job

A standard pressure washer hose is rated around 250 degrees F with hot water moving through it. Saturated steam runs well past that, so steam service needs a different animal. The Flexsteel 250 in 1/2 inch by 25 feet and the 50 foot version use a Pyrosyn synthetic rubber tube rated to 450 degrees F with braided steel wire reinforcement and a 250 PSI working pressure. That pressure number surprises people. Steam cleaning is a low pressure, high heat process, so 250 PSI is the correct spec, and a steam hose is never a substitute for your 4,000 PSI washing hose.

Connections matter as much as the hose. Steam attacks rubber at the coupling, so steam hose gets bolted ground-joint style ends, like the Boss 2-bolt clamp for 1/2 inch hose, that clamp the full circumference. A worm-gear band clamp on a steam line is a burn waiting to happen. Two habits stretch the life of any steam hose. Drain it and hang it after every shift, because condensate soaking into the tube flashes to vapor on the next heat-up and blisters the cover from the inside. And replace the hose at the first sign of soft spots or cover bubbles instead of nursing it, since steam hose fails hot and fast.

Related Hot Water Equipment

• Steam guns and hot water lances
• Hot water pressure washers and hot boxes
• Chemical hoses for soft wash lines
• Hose fittings and hose reels
• Burner parts to keep the heat side running
• Questions? Stop by our Gaithersburg, MD store

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run steam through my regular pressure washer hose?

No. Pressure hose tube compounds are built for hot water near 250 degrees F. Steam runs hotter and dries the tube out until it cracks or lets go at a fitting. Use a hose rated for steam service, like the Flexsteel 250 at 450 degrees F.

Why is a steam hose only rated 250 PSI?

Steam cleaning uses heat to do the work, not pressure, so equipment runs at low pressure by design. The rating reflects steam service with the safety margin that saturated steam demands. Do not use it on a high pressure washing circuit.

What fittings and clamps go on a steam hose?

Bolted clamps and ground joint couplings made for steam, such as Boss 2-bolt clamps. Band-style worm gear clamps cannot grip evenly enough for steam and should never be used on these lines.

How do I get the longest life out of a steam hose?

Drain the hose after every use and hang it to store. Trapped condensate soaks into the tube and blisters the cover on the next run. Retire the hose as soon as you see bubbles, soft spots, or exposed wire.