We want our customers to have information on how to choose a hose reel for use in their garden or yard. It’s not a hard task, but the right information needs to be handy for them in order to choose the best hose reel that works for them.
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Choosing a Hose Reel
So, what should a person do to choose hose reel for their yard? How do you find the best hose reel that’s compatible with what you need to take care of around your yard?
No hose reel is perfect for everyone, but you want one that works best for you. It all depends on the area of your yard you want to cover, where you’re going to store a hose reel, and last but not least, your budget. The following information should give you an idea of the best hose reel for your budget and needs.
Garden Hose Length
If you already have a hose, you’ll probably want to choose a hose reel for it, but if you don’t have a hose, we suggest you buy the length of hose you need. Most hoses measure 30 meters (98 feet) or less. You may want a longer hose, but you probably should refrain from doing that and measure the area you want to cover first.
You’ll want to test your hose-reel capacity to make sure your hose will fit properly on the reel. Any longer hose will be heavy and will require a tougher reel. When you’re unsure of the length of your hose, place it in a flat straight line. You can measure the distance from end to end to find your hose’s length. The measurement of your hose will be its hose reel capacity.
Measure for Hose Length
In order to get the right hose length, measure the farthest distance from the water spigot to wherever you’re watering. Purchase a hose that goes slightly beyond that. Don’t buy one that is considerably longer than the measurement or you’ll be dragging around a hose that’s too long or heavy. You want one that’s transportable without the hassle involved with a longer hose. With hoses that have more length, there’s the chance of deterioration through the sun or creating an unsightly pile that someone can mow over or trip over. When you need a longer hose length, greater than 30 meters, think about buying two of the same hose and putting them together with connectors on either end.
A hose reel is a good thing for your yard and a garden. Besides eliminating tripping, they protect your grass and any plant growth from the heavy pressure that a hose exerts on grass and plants.
Hose Reel Choices
Most hose reels have a circular spindle that keeps the hose neatly stored. You’ll find more traditional reels or those that are retractable. How to choose a hose reel will depend on the following.
- How you want to store your hose;
- The actual length of your hose;
- Special features of the reel;
- Type of material that makes up the reel.
Types of Hose Reels
Wall-Mounted
This type of hose reel is one that is mounted or installed on an outside wall of your home. It’s an organized, neat and decorative way to store a hose. It optimizes space, particularly if you have a smaller backyard or garden. You can also attach it to a fence or a garage wall. Do your best to mount the hose reel close to your water source. Either choose a wall-mounted hose reel that has a crank or one without a crank. That will require you to coil the hose on your own.
Traditional Hose Reel
A more traditional hose reel is usually fixed in place, though there are models with wheels on the back. This makes for easy maneuverability around your yard. Every traditional hose reel comes with a crank which allows you to wind the hose manually onto the reel. It really helps to keep the hose looking neat and your yard neat.
Freestanding
Garden boxes usually house a hose reel that stands on its own. They come in unique designs, but they hide the hose reel on the interior of a garden box or other stylish type of structure. They bring a decorative appeal, yet they are functional and add to the look of a yard. A freestanding hose reel doesn’t come with wheels, which makes them more of a permanent structure in your garden or yard.
Hose-reel Carts
Hose-reel carts come with two or four wheels on the cart’s bottom area. They make an excellent choice for a larger yard or garden as they allow you to more easily move a heavy hose across your yard. Though designed to appear like a cart, there is a hose reel in the middle of the cart. Other carts have a worktop surface for gardening tool tasks or a basket for storage things, which makes it easy for storing tools and other items while you garden.
Hose Holder
Hose holders are a freestanding hose accessory that simply holds a hose. There is no crank, so you have to coil the hose and place it on the holder. This is an easy alternative for a shorter and smaller hose, plus it takes up less room.
Hose Pots
A hose pot looks like a planter you would use for gardening. It’s easy to conceal your hose in your garden area. A hole will be in the pot’s bottom to allow you to more easily connect to your water source. There is no crank with a hose pot, so that requires you to coil the hose by hand. Once coiled, you can put the hose within the pot. No one will notice that the hose is there, and it’s a way to keep a garden or yard area neat and clean.
Retractable Reel
A hose reel that is retractable means that a spring loaded hose is within the device. It’s an easy to use retractable reel that is both attractive and durable and you mount it on a wall or post. You can easily pull out the hose from the wall mount and use it in larger gardens or yards. It contains a locking mechanism that will secure the hose at any length. You don’t have to worry about kinking or tangling with this hose reel.
If you need to lengthen the hose, you just pull to the length you want and stop. This action locks the hose in place. After you have finished watering, you simply pull on the hose lightly, which engages the rewinding system and the inner mechanism coils the hose on the reel. This device usually includes a warranty and a money-back guarantee.
Hose Reel Materials
Hose reels are available in metal and plastic:
A metal reel is going to be stronger, durable and decorative. When you expose metal to the weather regularly, you’ll want to make sure that you clean a metal hose reel fairly often. If you don’t care for the reel, it can rust. Also, metal reels are more attractive, as the detailing in design makes them both functional and decorative in a garden space.
Plastic hose reels are lightweight, which makes them easy to move from place to place, and they’re good for different weather situations. They’re an inexpensive investment for anyone who has a small yard or garden and wants an affordable reel that resists different weather situation
Pricing on Hose Reels in 2021
When you’re on a tight budget, you want a hose reel that fits in your price range. For the different hose reels, the prices can be different depending on the material they’re made of. They range accordingly.
- Wall mounted hose reels in plastic and metal range from $30 to over $200;
- Traditional hose reels with or without wheels range from $35 to over $100;
- Freestanding hose reels average in price from $70 to over $100;
- Hose Reel Carts range from $35 to over $100 in price;
- Good hose holders average $7 to over $60 in price;
- Hose pots, depending on the material, range from $16 to over $100;
- Retractable hose reels are priced anywhere from $50 to over $200.
Hose-Reel Features
Any retractable hose reel that takes in the hose automatically is an excellent feature. You save time and effort. It’s one feature that will help you as you eliminate winding or cranking the hose on your own. Simply push the hose back carefully within the reel and the reel will automatically retract and wind up the rest of your hose.
You’ll want a leader hose if your hose reel is a distance from your source of water. A leader hose will connect the reel to the water spigot. You won’t have to use any length from a garden hose. When you have a freestanding hose reel that doesn’t have wheels or you want to place the hose wheel far away from your water source, a leader hose is a good option.
When you don’t have a garden hose, you’ll want to find a reel that includes a hose. It’s nice to have a garden hose that exactly fits your hose reel, plus you don’t have to worry about finding the right size hose or shop for a separate hose.
A hose guide will help you keep your hose neatly placed. It’s a feature that is built in to the hose reel and helps guide the hose in the right direction as you crank it. You can assure yourself that the hose coils itself neatly, plus it protects your hose.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know more about how to choose hose reel, think about which one is the most useful to you and fits your budget. Also, if you need a good hose to water your lawn or garden, think seriously about buying one that meets your needs. You can keep it safely coiled in any of the hose reel choices suggested here. A good hose reel nearby is a companion you won’t want to be without in your yard or garden.
