One of the simplest methods to make sure that your hose lasts is to store it properly. Storage is crucial for enthusiastic gardeners who have spent a lot of money on high-quality, high-performance hoses. When you combine proper storage with other best practices for hose maintenance, it can help your hose last far longer than just one gardening season.
The good news is that hose storage is much simpler than you imagine. In fact, with VEVOR’s wall-mounted retractable hose reel, you can roll a hose automatically into its house and it will stay there until your next use. This means that you don’t need to waste time finding your hose during gardening season.
Now, let’s take a look at why proper hose storage is necessary for gardeners.
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Why Proper Hose Storage Matters
Hoses should be handled carefully because they are an essential component of any home. If you take care of your hose properly, you won’t have to buy a new one because the old one broke down from avoidable damage. If you take proper care of your hose, you can easily double its lifespan.
Extending Hose Life
Hose reels available in the market now come with a strong coating. But that does not mean you don’t have to put in any effort to keep it safe from UV rays and mold. You need to store your hose properly when you’re not using it to ensure it is always in good enough condition to meet your gardening requirements.
Once you’ve finished using your hose, let any extra water drain to avoid bacterial growth. After use, you can help remove extra water by carefully coiling the hose over your shoulder. To store the hose, loosely wind it on a hose reel if you have one. If not, you can make 3-foot loops using the same coiling technique you used to drain them. Then store them in a big container or on a hose rack.
Please take note to never hang your hose on a nail that has concentrated pressure in one place to prevent kinking issues.
Safety and Convenience
Rolling up a hose will serve two purposes: safety and convenience. When you leave your hose uncoiled and on the garden floor, you risk tripping and falling. On the other hand, if you store the hose correctly, you can prevent your children and pets from tripping and getting hurt.
Additionally, if you coil it up properly and store it in a specific place, it will give you the convenience of finding the reel immediately whenever needed.
Types of Hose Storage Solutions
There are two types of hose storage solutions: manual and automatic. While manual coiling takes time and effort, automatic coiling provides easy storage solutions.
Manual Coiling
It’s crucial to correctly coil your garden hose, especially when keeping it outside. You should wind your hose line neatly and securely to prevent kinking.
If you want to properly coil your hose before storing it outside, you need to drain the water inside. After emptying the hose, start coiling it by placing it on the ground and twisting the hose in your hand while looping it clockwise. You need to lay it out in an exact circle for proper storage.
Automated Reels
Automated hose reels use a motorized mechanism to retract the hose automatically onto the reel. This reduces human effort and helps you store the hose neatly. VEVOR is a long-standing brand in producing durable and sturdy automated hose reels.
With their hoses, you can retract the tool with a simple tug in under a minute. This helps you save time and keep your garden clutter-free.
Additionally, VEVOR’s reels are made up of corrosion-resistant material. So, you can keep them stored outside even in harsh weather conditions. You just have to give them a little care every now and then.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Roll Up a Water Hose
If you want to learn how to roll up a hose, this detailed guide will help you perform the task with ease.
Preparing Your Hose for Storage
Before you start the coiling process, there are a few steps to prepare for the coiling process. You need to remove any extra water that is remaining in the hose. Here are the steps to do it:
- Take the nozzle off of the hose and drain any extra water that may have built up within.
- Cut the hose off from the water supply and take off any end fittings.
- Raise one end of the hose to begin the draining process, then walk the entire length of it while holding the elevated section in place.
- Once you get to the other end, hold the hose’s mouth high until all of the water has been drained.
Using the VEVOR Retractable Reel
Rolling up a water hose using the VEVOR Retractable Hose Reel is a simple and easy process. You also don’t need to put in a lot of effort. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to roll a VEVOR retractable reel:
- Detach the Nozzle: If you use a watering nozzle or sprayer to water your plants, remember to detach it after you’re done. This will make the retraction process easier.
- Pull Out the Hose: Gently pull the hose out of the reel. Do not yank the hose out of its reel. This can cause breakage.
- Release the Locking Mechanism: If your hose has a locking mechanism, you need to disengage it to let the hose retract into its house. You will find a lever or a button on the reel that you can press to start the retraction process.
- Guide the Hose Back onto the Reel: When the locking mechanism is disengaged, you can guide the hose back onto the reel. Avoid letting the hose snap back onto the reel to prevent damage.
- Ensure Proper Alignment: Make sure that the hose is distributed evenly on the reel. It should form a perfect circle without any tangles. This will help you pull the hose out easily for the next use.
- Last Check: Keep an eye on the retraction process to ensure that the hose is winding up correctly and without any kinks or tangles. If you notice any issues, stop the retraction and adjust the hose as needed before continuing.
- Secure the Hose : Once the hose is fully retracted onto the reel, secure it in place using any straps or clips provided with the VEVOR Retractable Reel. This helps keep the hose neatly stored.
Troubleshooting Common Hose Storage Issues
After spending money on a new, high-quality hose reel, you want to make sure it lasts a long time and remains in good shape. After all, a hose is necessary for watering your garden. However, you may come across some common problems during the storing process.
Dealing with Kinks and Twists
A garden hose pipe is packed, clamped, and wrapped in a tight circle when you purchase it. The majority of individuals just pull the hose after removing the straps and adding the connectors. That is one surefire method to end up with a kinky hose pipe.
The best place to lay the hose pipe is in a straight line. This can be done in your driveway, along a path, or in your garden. Twist the hose pipe as you unroll to get rid of any kinks. The pipe will get softer and the material will return to its natural shape on a hot, sunny day.
Avoid coiling the hose pipe tightly when storing it after use. If you store it with larger coils, you’ll find it a lot easier to manage the hose.
Maintenance Tips for Hose Reels
While the VEVOR retractable hose reels are quite sturdy and durable, you will have to take proper care of them regularly to extend their lifespan.
Here are some tips to maintain your VEVOR hose reels for better efficiency:
- Lubricate: To guarantee the smooth operation of your water hose reel, you need to lubricate the axle, wheel, and internal components. You can do it using silicone spray lubricant. This gets rid of rust and friction. The reel should rotate smoothly and silently after being lubricated.
- Safeguard Your Hose Reel Against Weather: Over time, outdoor elements, including sun, rain, and snow will deteriorate your water hose reel. When not in use, cover it or keep it in the shed or garage. The cover shields it from moisture, UV radiation, filth buildup, and extremely high and low temperatures. Adding a cover is a simple way to increase the lifespan of your reel.
- Always empty the reel before storing the hose: If the water isn’t completely removed from the hose, it may leak, corrode the reel, or occasionally freeze in the winter and cause harm. Additionally, it’s a good idea to leave the hose reel unwound for a few hours after usage to allow any remaining moisture to fully dry. This keeps mildew and mold away.
- Control the Hose Tension: Make sure you wind the hose smoothly and straight onto the reel. Overtightening the reel puts undue strain on its spring and internal components, causing damage.
- Rotation Clearance: When installing your ideal water hose reel, make sure there is adequate room for breathing. If you have too-close objects near the hose, they have the potential to harm the revolving reel and create misalignment.
Final Thoughts
While gardening is undoubtedly a happy activity, there are moments when the difficulties outweigh the pleasure. Keeping up with a hose that is prone to twisting and tripping is a pain point that many people are familiar with.
Just the headache of manual coiling is not worth it. Fortunately, there is a fix for this problem with the VEVOR automatic retractable water hose reel. This special hose was created to assist you in overcoming these obstacles and improving and changing your gardening experience.
When you use non-retractable hoses, the storage space may get messy and disorganized, and it may become challenging to find and use these hoses.However, an auto-retractable hose reel can be easily attached to the wall to clear the debris off the floor and provide adequate room for your garden. The housing of the reel will have more room for other gardening devices and tools if the hose is neatly coiled inside. Use a VEVOR retractable hose to reduce the manual labor of coiling your hose every time you use it.