🔍 Key Concepts

• Fire main system components: hydrant, valve, male and female couplings, gaskets • Where leaks usually occur at a hose connection and what actually makes the seal • Difference between threads (mechanical connection) and gasket (watertight seal)

💭 Think About

• At a hydrant connection, which part of the coupling actually creates the watertight seal when the hose is tightened? • If water is leaking at the hydrant-hose joint, is it more likely a problem with pressure, threads, or the sealing surface? • Think about which coupling (male or female) normally contains the gasket at a standard fire hose connection.

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which side of the fire hose coupling normally has the rubber gasket that forms the seal • Confirm that reducing pump pressure does not truly fix a defective connection; it only masks the problem • Remember that rethreading is for damaged threads, not for fixing a leak caused by a worn or missing gasket