The Best Garden Hose Reels – Complete Buying Guide

If you are tired of dealing with uncoiled and heavy garden hoses, then perhaps it’s high time that you invested in a good-quality hose reel. A hose reel is composed of a tubular spindle that is usually made with plastic, metal, or fiberglass material.

It acts as a convenient storage unit for keeping your garden hose. Standard reels are manual hand-cranked models and there are also motor-powered ones, automatic types, and spring models.

If you often get tired of winding up hoses to store them, you will discover that automatic retractable hose reels make the job easier and faster to accomplish. Hose reels are grouped in terms of water pressure rating, rewinding method, and hose lengths.

There are plenty of hose reels available in the market right now that cater to every preference.   Here are some of the varieties:

Wall-Mounted Garden Reels

The wall-mounted reel is positioned on the wall of the garage or shed so you won’t have to deal with weight or buy a bigger reel. You can use lengthy hoses and you can take them to every point of your garden or yard. They typically cost more but a lot of homeowners consider wall-mounted reels as a good investment.

Portable Reels Garden

Portable models are often more affordable and are significantly handy for those who are always on the move. Place them in your garden shed or on the back of your ride and they would offer you a convenient way of carrying your hose.

Portable reels are usually lightweight and include handles. They also feature manual cranks to pull back the hose and carry short hoses with lengths measuring around 65 ft.

Outdoor Garden Hose Reel Cart

This kind is capable of carrying lengthier hoses as compared to the portable models and comes attached to a portable cart so that users can easily go to any place in their yard or garden. Units with higher quality often offer bigger and sturdier frames and good stability. They are also tip-resistant and come with ergonomic grips and braking systems.

It is often suggested that you invest in a high-quality hose reel so that you can maximize its use and allow it to provide you service for a long time. High-quality ones also have better construction and are made with strong materials like metal or include metal components.

They also include hose guides, use better water seals, provide automatic retractable setups and if you are after hose reel carts, they also include air tires.

If you want something that will last you for an extended time, you should always check the model’s warranty. The best hose reel is often backed by a 10-year limited lifetime warranty.

Hose Reel Repair and Maintenance

These days, many homeowners are enjoying the benefits of a hose reel, especially those who love tending to their gardens or yards. A hose reel helps make things organized in your home and it also protects your hoses from damage.

However, at times, damage cannot be avoided due to some reasons. Homeowners can choose to replace the damaged parts or do the repair themselves.

Issues that often bug hose reels are easy to resolve and you can do the repairs yourself. If you have the equipment and basic spare parts, you can do the job yourself. The DIY method not only saves you time but also saves you money in the long run.

Regardless of what type of hose reel you purchase, there will come a time when the reel will succumb to leakage and may also get punctured. Repairs for punctured or leaking hoses are not that complicated, though.

As mentioned earlier, you can do the job yourself whether you are using a retractable reel or a reel cart. Just follow these steps and you will do good.

Before the repairs, make sure that you do not leave water or any moisture in the reel during the colder months of the year as cold water can cause holes or cracks in the hose.

Inspect the Garden Reels Connections

The first thing that you have to do is to inspect all connections of the reel. A hose reel usually includes approximately 5 different connectors that are located on the foundations of the leader hose, out the tube, in a tube, garden hose, and faucet.

If you find leakage, you must attempt to secure every connection before making replacements or professional repairs. Sometimes the leaks are caused by a loose connector. Also, make sure that you line up all threads so you can prevent damage to them as well.

Replace Malfunctioning O-rings

Replacing damaged O-rings is a typical step to make your hose reel work again. At times, the hose reel experiences leaks because of old, dry, or cracked O-rings. There are replacements available for O-rings in hardware stores or online shops.

Before buying those replacements, you must check out the manufacturer’s guide or website to determine the size of the O-ring that is recommended for the model of your hose reel.

Remove the Panel

The next step that you have to take is removing the panel after switching off the water supply to the reel. Separate the reel and hose and then use a screwdriver to remove the 4 bolts that are located on the case’s knob and place them in a tighter position. After this, you have to drag the shield away from the case to expose the entire panel.

Place the Replacement O-ring

Remove the middle pull nut of the knob using a plug jerk that has a 7/16 size and a ratchet. Drag the knob away from the device and check the spindle.

After this step, you have to remove the black O-ring all through the shaft and place the replacement O-ring. Position the knob on the top of the shaft again and make sure that it is secure before assembling the whole panel and fastening it with the 4 bolts.

Lubricate the bushings

You must lubricate the bushings if the shaft is not fastened. This can be done by putting lubricant or degreaser on a paper towel or a clean cloth and rubbing it on the bushings, knob, shaft, and other components where the knob device shifts the reel’s coil. Let the parts air-dry before smearing a coating of lubricant or degreaser on the bushings.

Replace Malfunctioning Connectors

There is another reason why a hose reel leaks. This might be because of another damaged O-ring washer in the reel connector.

To replace this O-ring, you have to remove the washer from the reel connector with an even-headed screwdriver and replace it with a new O-ring. In case there are still leaks in the reel, you may have to replace the connector itself.

Purchase Proper-Sized Connector

You should purchase a connector that has the proper size for the hose reel and then cut the hose just beneath the malfunctioning connector. Fasten the replacement connector by following the steps provided in the installation manual. If the in-tube connector needs replacement, you should purchase a repair tool kit that includes all the standard replacement components.

Repair Malfunctioning Main Hoses

In case the main house of the reel has signs of leaks, purchasing a hose repair tool kit is recommended because this will save you the costs of buying a replacement for it.

All you have to do is cut the length of the hose where it is broken and use the repair kit’s connectors to reattach the tops of the hose reel. Use electrical tape or hose repair duct tape to load tiny cuts or crevices in the reel. However, this fix is only temporary and will wear out in a short amount of time.

Preventing Leaks

You can extend the life of the hose rings by applying silicon grease to them as soon as they get mounted.

Tips on Selecting the Best Hose Reel for Your Garden Hose

There are several decisions that homeowners have to make before selecting the best hose reel for themselves. Here are some suggestions to make choosing a product easier for you:

• The first thing that you have to do is check out the size of your yard or garden. Small gardens will benefit from a small model while bigger gardens or yards will benefit from larger models. However, if you want to make things easier, you must always pick a model that is 20 percent larger than what you assume you require. That way, you can ensure the appropriate size of the product.
• If you have a small garden with limited space, you can opt for a wall-mounted hose reel since it will help you save space and it also looks very organized and positioned against the wall.
• If you have physical limitations or physical condition (e.g. a bad back), then you will benefit from the advantages of an automatic hose reel. This is convenient since it will do all the retracting work for you. A lot of homeowners consider automatic hose reels as great investments. Therefore, you should consider this type of reel.

By following these short but helpful suggestions, you can acquire a hose storage setup for your heavy-duty hoses.

It will also make carrying your hoses in your garden or yard a breeze. You will discover that investing in this item is not regrettable whenever the summer season rolls around.

Now all your watering tasks will be over in no time and you will no longer get exhausted as well. Your plants will get all the H20 they need to survive and your hands will remain clean at all times.