Battery 'drain' hose - is it important?

[snowjoe]

I just changed the battery in our MK7 crew bus. It's the wrong way around for the 'drain' (breather?) hose to attach, it's on the wrong side now.
I have never paid much attention to these hoses, but as it's a family bus I thought I'd ask!
Can i just forget about it, or should I try to find some kind of extension to make it fit into the battery?

[Altransit]

All of the batteries that I've fitted in recent years have a vent attachment on both sides. You just remove the blanking plug and fit it in the opposite side.

It's not a great idea to not fit the drain hose, which vents the gases to the outside, and you definitely shouldn't charge the battery with the plugs in place.

[dumper]

Definitely needs the vent to the outside you don’t want explosive gases building up in the seatbox

[snowjoe]

Thanks both of you, so I need some sort of extension hose. No idea where to find one (or what to search for!) but will have a dig around

[metalworker0]

first place i would look is an aquarium shop ,,, air pipe - cheap and will probably do the job .

note; i know motorcycle batteries have this stuff as a breather ..car batteries may be the same of larger.

all the best,.mark

[snowjoe]

handy, thanks

[andz327]

Windscreen washer hose is cheap out of The RANGE

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

[snowjoe]

thanks