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A hose reel is a necessary piece of equipment for most spray technicians. With many hose reels available on the market, what are the top things to look at when choosing which hose reel to purchase? Consider these 4 factors:
Know the Options
Hose reels come in a variety of sizes and options. They can be made of aluminum, carbon, or stainless steel and have special coatings or finishes. Some of the popular categories of hose reels are spring rewind, compact manual rewind, manual or electric rewind, and portable. Electric rewind models can operate on air, electricity, or hydraulics.
Hose reels can usually accommodate 3/8” and 1/2” hose of lengths up to at least 500’.
What are the Differences Between Manual and Power Rewind Reels?
Manual or power rewind reels are best suited for lawn care, pest control, pressure washing, agriculture, and steam cleaning, among other things. These reels are usually lightweight and compact, which is ideal for long lengths of hose. They can handle pressure from 2,000 psi to 10,000 psi and temperatures from -40° F to 400° F.
Manual rewind reels have a handle that must manually be cranked to reel-in the hose whereas power rewind reels are connected to a 12 volt power source and just pressing a button reels in the hose. Manual rewind reels have a permanently attached hand crank, cam-lock drag brake, and spring actuated pin lock. Power rewind reels come equipped with a motor of 1/3 HP.
What Types of Hose Reels are Popular?
A manual hose reel is often used in pest control, lawn care, and agriculture while an electric hose reel is an apt substitute for the manual hand crank shaft because it provides speed and efficiency along with ease of operation. 
The hose reels used in agriculture are usually made of heavy-gauge steel with sealed ball bearings and ribbed discs. These reels will need to possess the ability to withstand corrosion and rough handling. Yet another type of electric reel is of the dual variety. It can hold two lengths of hose at a time and will have two swivel joint inlets as well as two outlet risers to serve the purpose.
Spray Hoses and Swivels
A spray hose is used to deliver various types of liquids including water and chemicals such as insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. Spray hoses can be bought by the foot and are usually made of rugged, lightweight PVC material. Obviously, the heavier the hose the more difficult it is to retrieve. However, keep in mind that the hose has to be strong enough to withstand getting dragged across dirt, rock, cement, weeds, sticks, and so on. The right type of hose reel swivel can improve performance and flexibility of the hose.
When using heavy duty hose reels, the durability of the swivel assumes a more significant importance. Most swivels have a 90˚ movement capability and are available in various finishes such as brass, nickel-plated, and steel. Hose reel swivels are available in various diameters such as 1/2”, 3/4”, 3/8”, 1”, and 1-1/4”.
