Hose Reels Buyers Guide
Hose Reels Buyers Guide
Looking to keep a hose kink free, protect it from drastic temperature changes whilst also storing it compactly?
If so a hose reel may be what you're looking for. Hose reels are a compact storage solution for hoses that also protects the hose from damage and kinks.
Heavy garden hoses can get tangled and difficult to manage fairly quickly and easily which is a problem as it's both frustrating for the user but it also impacts the performance of the hose. Additionally, a garden hose left exposed to the elements will frequently get too hot or too cold which can lead to leak causing damage.
Hose reels will protect from tangling, kinking & temperature damage whilst also offering added convenience when the hose is needed. This means a hose reel can end up saving you money by extending the lifetime of a hose.
There are a few different types of reels that should be considered:
- Wall-Mounted
- Wall mounted hose carts are, as you'd expect, mounted on a wall. This means that they're mobile but always where you need it to be making them useful for domestic garden use. Could be mounted perpendicular or parallel to the wall depending on your preferences.
- Free Standing
- Free standing reels are simply reels that can be placed on the floor. Great if you plan on moving around a lot and also have no issues moving the reel yourself.
- Auto-Rewind
- Auto-rewind reels rewind the hose themselves either via the use of battery power, a manual crank or water pressure. One area of consideration is that water-pressure reels will use around 4-6 gallons of water which will go to waste without additional steps being taken.
Some hose carts include a hose whereas other require a hose to be purchased separately. Ensure you select the right option.
In order to provide additional protection against leaks, we suggest using rubber washers when using connectors (such as a nozzle).
Alternatives
Other hose storage options can be used, these are broadly divided between hose carts and hose hangers.
Hose carts are a mobile solution but similar to hose reels. Hose hangers are simple wall mounted storage solutions. Great for when storage is needed on a budget but doesn't offer the additional protection or benefits of reels or carts.
