A garden hose is one of the most essential gardening tools every homeowner can purchase. A new garden hose can have quite the price tag on it, which is why it is essential to invest in other tools to keep the hose well maintained and lengthen its lifespan.
One of our favorite yard tools for this job is a hose reel. Whether you want to purchase your first one or upgrade an old one, check out the handy guide below. We cover what exactly hose reels are, the many types you can choose from, and how they work.
What is a Hose Reel
A garden hose reel is a type of yard equipment that offers an easy, fast, and secure way to use your garden hose and keep it in storage when not in use. It helps prevent grass from decaying, lawns from softening, and hoses from deteriorating. Another benefit is the hose reel saves you from manually coiling up your garden hose, as this tool can manage that for you.
Having a hose reel can make transporting the hose easier around the yard. This lessens the risk of your hose getting tripped over or stepped on and can also make for a more accessible session in the garden.
How Does It Work?
A hose reel’s concept is simple. It has a spindle design which you can coil the entire garden hose around using a hand crank on the side. Some models, known as automatic hose reels, also use a spring mechanism, but these are less common.
With any reel, one end uses a hose coupling to connect to the drum while the other connects to the feeder hose. When you need to use it, simply spin the crank the other way or gently pull the hose to extend.
Is A Hose Reel Necessary?
A garden hose can work perfectly fine without a hose reel. However, hose reels enhance how a hose works, lessen the risk of yard accidents, clear up storage rooms, and keep your grass and lawn safe from early deterioration.
Here are just a few benefits you stand to gain from investing in a hose reel:
Perfect for long hoses
If you have a big backyard, longer hoses are more convenient and accessible. However, the hose’s length can be a burden to drag around the area and then coil up when finished. The longer the garden hose length, the more time and effort it would need for you to complete the job. Hose reels are a great solution, as most models can store up to 150 feet of hose.
Makes yard work easier and safer
With a retractable reel, you can better focus on the more important aspects of yard work instead of spending all your time trying to keep a hose in the shed.
Moreover, without your garden hose lying around, you are guaranteed a safer session the next time you are in your garden or yard.
More portable solution
There are some reels with wheels at the bottom. This makes it all the more portable for homeowners with multiple target areas to utilize their garden hose. In fact, given you have enough hose, you can even bring it to the garage up front.
Multiple storage options
Hose reels work great on their own. Especially when opting for one with wheels, this type of equipment can easily stand on its own without purchasing additional parts.
Moreover, some models also come with a wall mount. This helps in being able to easily secure the reel to the wall or ceiling of your shed, garage, or interior home. In cases where you need to leave space for other equipment, the wall mount helps make room.
Apart from being able to utilize the reel as is, they also often come with wall mounts for you to easily attach to the side of the house or shed. Having wall-mounted hose reels can clear a little room if you need more space on the ground for other gardening tools.
Lengthens the lifespan of your hose
Your garden hose needs just as much TLC as your garden. Keeping it under the sun's heat or even out in the cold is not good. Because of this, a reel can quickly store the hose away from harsh environments and lengthen its lifespan. It prevents it from getting tangled or stepped on and protects it from damaging UV rays.
Helps protect your grass
Grass can start to decay once something heavy is placed on top of it. Moreover, the lawn can start to soften up due to the weight of the objects. This is also true for garden hoses and is another benefit of the hose reel. A reel efficiently keeps the garden hose off multiple areas of the yard and can be conveniently parked off the grass.
Types of Hose Reels
There are five main types of hose reels. Any type can efficiently make your time in the yard more efficient. However, the model you should opt for will mainly depend on how much storage room you have left, your budget, and personal preferences.
Free-Standing Patio Swivel
A free-standing patio swivel is meant to be placed in one area only, where it would be most suitable to keep a garden hose. It can rotate 360 degrees and is perfect for patios or decks. It is also designed high enough so you won’t need to keep bending down too low to retract and secure the hose.
Free-Standing Swivel
A free-standing swivel is similar to the patio swivel except that it is meant to penetrate the soil to stay in place.
Wall-Mounted Hose Reel Swivel
Wall-mounted hose reel swivels are designed to rotate up to 180 degrees. It also has a crank to reel in the garden hose.
Carts and Trucks
Hose reel carts or trucks are mobile hose reels that come equipped with wheels. The wheels make them much more portable and convenient, but also bigger. They are ideal for a homeowner with multiple target areas around their house.
Handy Reel Portable 2-in-1
The handy reel is a 2-in-1 portable tool that you can either mount up on a wall or park in the corner. It is very portable, convenient, and offers different storage options for varying sheds.
You’re All Set!
Garden hose reels will make the perfect addition to your growing set of yard tools. Investing in equipment that improves the work and helps maintain the tools you currently have is always best. Experience longer-lasting hoses and healthier grass with your own garden hose reel today.
