Do you have a yard or garden but no hose to get the job done? Do you struggle with getting a full blast of water from your faucet? Is your hose constantly getting kinked and tangled? If you answered yes to any of these questions, an outdoor hose reel may be the solution you’ve been looking for. Outdoor retractable hose reels come in handy when you want to extend the reach of an existing spigot without digging up your yard or installing a new one. They allow you to direct water from its source (a faucet or well) to another point in your yard, where it can be used for watering plants, cleaning off cars and so much more. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what an outdoor hose reel is, how they work and how to install one.
What is an Outdoor Hose Reel
Outdoor hose reels are devices that you attach to your outdoor spigot and then attach a hose reel to the other end of the hose, so you can use that hose to reel water back into the spigot. This allows you to extend the reach of a nearby faucet, without having to dig up the yard or install a new spigot. This can be particularly useful in areas where it’s not feasible to install a new water source, like on a mountainside or in a desert. Another good use for an outdoor hose reel is when you need to move water from one location to another. Perhaps you have a large pond in your backyard, but you need to move water from the pond to a nearby tree sapling so the sapling can grow. A hose reel would allow you to move water from the pond to the sapling, without having to dig up the yard.
How a Hose Reel Works
A hose reel uses a pulley and a counterweight to turn the hose out to the faucet, and then reel it back in again. This acts as a lever, which makes it easier for the hose to move, as it doesn’t have to be pulled as hard by gravity. This type of rewinding mechanism also allows you to store the hose at the desired length, rather than having to shorten the hose every time you want to use it. This is particularly useful when you have a hose that you need to use for a certain length of time, like for a sprinkler run or a sink.
Installing an Outdoor Hose Reel
The first thing you’ll want to do is find an appropriate location for the hose reel. Hose reels aren’t ideal for indoor use, as they increase the risk of getting water mains clogged, so you don’t want to put one next to a sink or laundry room. You can put one outdoors, in a shady spot, away from walkways and patios, or near a garage or tool shed. Next, you’ll want to look at your existing spigot and see where the end of the hose is attached to the spigot, then take note of where the water source itself is. You can usually see this on the outside of the house, or you can call your local municipality to find out where the water source is. If you can’t find the source, consider installing a new spigot. This will allow you to attach the hose to the new reel, rather than to an existing spout. This will save you the hassle of figuring out which end of the hose goes to which spigot.
Things to Consider When Installing an Outdoor Hose Reel
The first thing to consider is your existing water pressure. If your water pressure is low enough, you may not even need a hose reel. Low pressure is most common in areas that are far from city water sources, like in the desert or in the mountains. High pressure, on the other hand, is most common in urban areas, as the water pressure is highest in the city where a building is constructed closest to the water source. Next, consider the length of the hose that you’ll be using. If your hose is too long for the area you want to cover, you’ll struggle to get the water out of the hose without causing damage to items around it. Sometimes, you don’t need the full length of a hose for a particular application, and rewinding it back to the desired length is easier, cheaper and less damaging than replacing the hose entirely.
Final Words
Outdoor hose reels are a great way to extend the reach of a nearby spigot, without digging up your yard or installing a new source. They allow you to direct water from its source (a faucet or well) to another point in your yard, where it can be used for watering plants, cleaning off cars and so much more. Keeping your outdoor water pressure low, and your length of hose short, will help you avoid damaging your yard with an outdoor hose reel.
