Outdoor Design

The garden hose reel is in demand when it comes to yard, garden, and home maintenance. But is it the right purchase for you and your home? This guide will help you go through the decision-making process of whether you should upgrade your ordinary garden hose for one that comes with a retractable hose reel easier.

What is a garden hose reel?

To give you a better idea of what to expect, let’s start with the basics! A hose reel is a frame that is used to carry and store a garden hose.

Some models are pretty simple while others have more mechanisms involved. Some are portable while some are mounted on a wall. Some models have a protective case to keep the hose protected from the elements while some hose reels leave the garden hose exposed.

Some hose reels are operated manually where you have to use a crank by hand. Some models retract the hose automatically with a push of a button or by tugging the hose towards the reel.

As you can see, there are a lot of options to choose from when it comes to getting a garden hose reel. Deciding to get a garden hose reel is not as simple as you’d think.

Do you need a hose reel?

So, do you really need a hose reel? It is definitely a step up from an ordinary garden hose. It is a very convenient tool – especially if you need a long and large garden hose for maintaining your garden or doing your outdoor cleaning.

The storage factor is very helpful too. Having a garden hose reel means your hose will no longer end up in tangles because they get coiled around the reel neatly and compactly with just the right amount of tightness so that kinks will not form.

Having designated storage space for your garden hose also means that it will not just be lying around the ground. Garden hoses are known to be tripping hazards. Getting a retractable garden hose reel means you and everyone in the household can move around freely and safely.

If you get a model that comes with a protective case or cabinet for the hose, then this also assures you that the hose can last longer than expected because it won’t be exposed to the elements and won’t be stepped on.

Whether you are a serious gardener or a homeowner who loves to clean, a garden hose reel is a worthy investment that will pay off.

Final words

Purchasing a garden hose reel is not an easy decision – it is something that you have to think about and do your research on. You can’t make a smart purchase without the right information and comparing that to what you know you need.

You can directly contact an online seller these days for any questions you may have about the model you choose. Shopping online will also let you have discounts that you probably would not get if you buy your hose reel from a physical store.

Overall, purchasing a retractable garden hose reel is a good move whether you have a big or small home.

A good lighting system in a cricket stadium is just as important as the game itself. There are different sources of lighting used to illuminate the cricket stadium, they are floodlight, spotlights, High mast lights, and high bay lights. The most popular is the floodlights. Floodlights in cricketstadium are essential for the excellent performance and enjoyment of the cricket game.

What are the Major Sources of Lighting?

There are four major sources of lighting in a cricket stadium. They are:

1. Floodlight

A floodlight is a high-power LED lamp inside a simple casing. It is called a floodlight because of its high beam, which floods the field and the players with brightness.

2. Spotlight

Spotlights are extremely useful when it comes to long distances in the cricket field. It modifies the lighting created by the floodlights and increases the light distribution in the cricket stadium.

3. High Mast Light

High mast lighting is important because they provide both horizontal and vertical lighting to the cricket field and provides some sort of uniformity of lighting in the cricket stadium.

4. High Bay Light

High bay lights are used in indoor cricket to brighten up the sports facility. They are usually high-tech and known by a lot of names, mostly depending on the design.

Benefits of a good lighting system in a cricket stadium

For any sporting activity which will be carried out either outdoor or indoor, a good lighting system is most essential.

This is the same for the cricket game, without a good lighting system in the field, lots of things could go wrong.

Below are some of the benefits of a good lighting system in a cricket field.

1. Excellent Performance.

A good lighting system is required in a cricket field, to ensure excellent performance by the players.

On a cricket field, we have the players, umpires, coaches, etc. For the players of each team to successfully locate other members of the team, when it comes to playing the ball and properly maximize the use of the field, a good lighting system must be available.

Also, a good lighting system is essential for the purpose of the spectators. It ensures they follow the game and don’t miss any great performance or stunts carried out by their best player.

2. Safety

Accidents are going to occur during this game. However, we can reduce it through good safety procedures. A good lighting system helps to minimize the frequency of accidents occurring. Players, see the field properly, are more directed and focused, and can utilize the field, and the presence of the umpires more.

Conclusion

In the game of cricket, and any other sporting activity both indoor or outdoor, the need for a good lighting system should be prioritized. A good lighting system maximizes the efforts of the players in playing the game. It also adds to the entertainment of the spectators and prevents accidents and thus injuries.

So, make sure you prioritize getting a good lighting system for your stadium on your next renovation.

How does the length of your hose affect the amount of pressure that comes from your pressure washer? A good question many have thought of but never found the answer to.

It is general knowledge that pressure washers have 2-in-1 function. It can be used as a regular garden hose and as a powerful pressure stream.

Pressure Vs Length of Hose

You could easily give your answer to the question as yes. That is because, theoretically, when the hose is longer, the water pressure reduces and less of the pressure goes out the end of the spray gun.

However, that is not always the case. It does not apply to all the lengths of hoses. So, in theory, for every 100ft of hose, 5psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure is lost. This amount of pressure is little.

The loss of 5psi will show no significant effect. Such loss will easily be noticed if it is doubled over and over. This is possible when the hose is hundreds of feet long. That is when it becomes a big deal.

Most home pressure washers, usually have hoses less than 50ft. the work pressure washers have hoses about 100ft long.

 That is to say that there will only be a loss of 5psi from a 100ft pressure washer hose. So, choosing between a 30ft pressure washer hose and a 100ft pressure washer, it is best to pick the longer one.

Taking the longer pressure washer hose is more practical since it affords you more room and more length. Keep in mind that the loss is minimal and mostly unnoticeable.

What Then Is the Issue with Overly Long Hoses?

Even though there is no problem with the length and the pressure, there are other issues that can arise with the length of a pressure washer hose.

If you have a pressure washer hose that is over 100 ft long, you need to reevaluate its purpose because it is no longer practical to use.

A pressure washer hose of 150ft long or even a little above hundred should be considered too long and impractical.

Practical Limitations of An Overly Long Pressure Washer Hose

First, the weight of the pressure washer hose. Having a pressure washer hose within the range of 200ft long is going to be heady to carry.

You will be doing so much work by just carrying and dragging the pressure washer hose before going about the job at hand. It is overly stressful, inconvenient, and unnecessary.

After thinking about the weight of the pressure washer hose alone, now think of it with water in it. Not cool yeah? In a short time, you will not be able to drag it around.

Second, is the fact that longer hoses tend to kink easily and are not easy to maintain. It could break, or cars could drive over it. You have to constantly look back to make sure that it gets pierced by something.

Conclusion

It is recommended that a hose no longer than 50ft is used for your home and domestic use. There is no need to buy a long pressure washer hose. It is just heavy and unnecessary.

It can be challenging when you have lots of kinks and knots in your garden hose. In cases like this, using your garden hose poses a lot of difficulties. In most cases, knots and kinks in your garden hose are a result of the way they were stored. Hence, you must focus on effective ways of storing your garden hose to prevent such from happening. Better still, these storage solutions will help you keep your garden hose very durable even after repeated usage.

When your hose is stored properly and you practice proper hose care, you will able to prolong its durability and lifespan.

Garden Hose Storage Solutions

1. Choosing an appropriate hose reel

One of the best ways of storing your garden hose is by getting a hose reel. The reels make it easy for you to roll up your hose when you are done using it. They also ensure that the occurrence of tangles or kinks is kept to the barest minimum. However, when you want to select an appropriate hose reel, there are certain factors you will need to consider. For example, you should consider the length of the hose, your budget for the hose reel, and the kind of functionality you want.

Hose reels can be decorative hose reels, hideaway/box reels, retractable hose reels, stationary/mounted hose reels, and cart hose reels. Decorative hose reels are less expensive than other types but are often of lower quality. Box reels, on the other hand, function the same way as decorative hose reels. However, they prevent your hose from being exposed to other elements, thus improving its lifespan and durability.

Retractable hose reels are very easy to store, and just like box reels, protect your hose against harmful elements. However, they are cheaper and they break easily. Stationary hose reels, on the other hand, are mounted on a wall and can not be moved. Although they are cheaper, one major disadvantage is that they can all the places in your house since they are stationary. So, if your garden hose is long and you have a small garden, that shouldn’t be much of a problem.

Lastly, cart hose reels are the best when it comes to functionality. They come with wheels and this makes them more expensive than the stationary reels. The wheels enable the reel to be moved easily especially when you have a large garden. Also, they can be moved away from the sun or other elements.

2. Use a leader hose for your hose reel

A leader hose is a short hose that serves as an extension of your hose. They are very useful when the spigot is hard to reach or for attaching your hose to a water supply. Universe leader hoses are better as you don’t have to worry about incompatible couplings.

3. Winding and unwinding

To wind your hose, slowly roll your hose around the reel such that excess water is drained properly. If your storage technique is different, you can roll the hose loosely around your arms and then place it on a garden hose holder. When unwinding, do this carefully to prevent kinks and knots from developing.

Hose reels are mechanisms designed to roll, unroll and store hoses. They vary depending on their use; a medium-duty or heavy-duty. The medium-duty are usually lightweight and less strenuous like those in homes, while heavy-duty hose reels are sturdy and durable to withstand industrial operations. You can find an array of gardening equipment and other applications on giraffe tools, from washers to reels, such as retractable hose reels. In this post, we discuss the retractable hose reel facts.

Facts About a Retractable Hose Reel

Retractable reels have characteristics similar to other reels, but some significant factors are unique to them, making them better. We look at their construction, cost, and how to find affordable reels.

1. Construction

Retractable hose reels are made with different materials like metal, plastic, fiberglass, and resin. The materials determine the kind of operation they can be subjected to and their longevity and durability. Huge gardens require long and wide water hoses; hence a heavy-duty hose reel is ideal. Select a reel made of metals like cast iron, aluminum, and stainless steel. However, before choosing the reel material, consider the possibility of rust and corrosion and take the necessary precautions.

 For portable retractable reels, go for lightweight materials like plastic and fiberglass for easier movement around the workspace. The beauty of these materials is they are not subject to rust, corrosion, or staining; hence the hose reel stays in good condition.

Resin-made hose reels last for long periods. The material is suitable for wall-mounted retractable reels to give it extended protection. If your hose reel is mounted in direct sunlight, it weakens gradually with time. You can create a shade structure to slow down this process and have the reel for a long.

2. How Much Does a Retractable Hose Reel Cost?

The price of the hose reel varies depending on the type, brand, materials, and other additional features that differ between them. The types of retractable reels are designed differently, like wall-mounts, portable and ground reels. The materials used also vary depending on the use and efficiency levels; hence the cost is bound to differ.

The brand impacts the cost greatly. The well-known brands value their name; therefore, the products are sold at a higher price. On the flip side, upcoming brands or companies sell at a lower price to attract customers and create a name for themselves. Generally, retractable hose reels cost more than their counterparts because of their advanced features and ease of operation.

3. How to Find Affordable Retractable Hose Reels?

When you think of ‘affordable’ more often than not, you think of the quality. In most cases, equipment sold at a lower price has compromised quality. However, there are ways to acquire high-quality reels at a considerably low price tag.

Look for stores that are running a sale like on holidays and special occasions. Most online stores are known for this, and good to jump on it before it ends.

Identify sellers that offer promotional deals

Some stores accept vouchers and coupons from trusted sources, and you buy the reel at half the price or less.

Conclusion

Anytime you want to buy a hose reel, consider its construction, cost, and where to source for it. Be keen on the quality level and get the best retractable reel for better performance and increased productivity.

No one will gladly say they enjoy having rolling up dirty hoses after use- a few might though. It is a task you just have to get done after using your outdoor garden hose for whatever purpose. Now, such tedious tasks are no longer necessary. For the best retractable hose, visit website to a wide range of options. That said, with a metal hose reel, you can use a hose and quickly roll it back in. It makes using a hose a lot easier and accessible. Here a few reasons why you should consider using a metal reel hose.

Why you should have a metal hose reel

• Extremely durable

When they say that metal hose reels are durable, it is true. A metal hose reel has a lot of protection from the elements of weathering. Many of them are rust-resistant, so there is no reason to worry about having the reel go bad on you. A metal reel is sturdy enough that when it is being used, it does not move around. While the main aim of that is to make it easier to use, it also boosts its defence against weathering. You can rest assured that the connections are also taken great care of.

• Easy assembling

In the dark days, before the use of reels, you would have to tool up the hose yourself. That would lead to a lot of mess. With a metal reel hose, you do not need to worry about that. For the smooth assembling of this tool, you can use the manual handle in the body. By simply winding it with the grip at the side, you can save yourself from being soiled with dirt and whatnot. This also makes for a pretty neat way to keep your hose stored away until its next use.

• Decorative and protective

These metal reels come in stunning earth colors, so they blend in perfectly in your yard. It looks a lot more decorative than having a pile of hoses just lying there. Instead, you have a box that looks great and blends in with the environment storing your hose. Not only does it look great, but it does that while keeping your hoses safe from undesirable elements. Hoses can be sturdy things on their own, but can become weary with time. The general wear and tear can be made worse by harsh weather conditions and make it age faster. Before you know it, the hose is faulty. Your trusty metal reel would never allow that.

• Large capacity

You would want to store your hose and to do so regardless of the size of the hose. Get a metal hose reel. Okay, admittedly, there is no guarantee that it will keep all of the hose. However, metal reels can accommodate an extensive range of hoses, so you can be sure that the hose will be a great fit unless you have a long hose like a python.

Final thoughts

You may have thought of it once or twice or never at all but what you need is a metal hose reel. This is the best way to relieve yourself of the stress of having to carry heavy hoses. The reel will do most of the work for you, so you do not have to break your back while trying. All that is required of you is to wind it up with an easily assembled handle at the side.

Solar panels have become one of the most essential investments nowadays. As the prices of electricity rise, you must be able to produce electricity of your own. With a solar system, you can save a lot of money. Palm Tree solar street light can be the best option to install once you have the right amount of knowledge.

You must prepare the conduit

The first step is picking up an appropriate platform for the solar panels. Either you can place them flat on a surface or you can make them tilt towards the direction of the sun. One of the most common locations for the solar panels is the roof of the house you live in. However, installation on the roof is not something that you will do without expert skills. Even transporting the panels onto the roof carries several risks such as the chances of breakage and hurting yourself. Here is a rundown of the problems that the installation of the roof carries for you.

• The first risk is that all the roofs are not built in the same design, height, and width.
• Some roofs don’t possess sufficient exposure to daylight.
• Most of the roofs need to be serviced after quarterly and monthly intervals. That suggests that solar panels ought to be dismantled first and then reinstalled.
• The roofs have limited space therefore you will be left with fewer choices for the installation of the solar panels.

If you have a wide and high roof that doesn’t need periodic servicing, you will be able to build a kind of custom platform to install the solar panels. Even if there is no roof for the installation of solar panels, you can find a ground, install concrete pillars, and fit onto them a piece of wood to fit the solar panels.

Once the panels have been installed, you can move on to fitting the conduit. The conduit must possess a secure connection right from the solar system to the house. In the case of an additional wooden or steel support, the conduit can be longer. However, if the platform is the roof of your house, the conduit is meant to be shorter.

How to mount the solar panels

Many solar panels have mounting brackets that you can attach easily to the platforms you have created for the panels. However, the condition is that the platforms must be made of wood. In the absence of brackets, you can buy them from the market and fasten them on the solar panels.

You can use angled brackets and tighten the front side of the panels. You must make sure that the brackets have been squared before you secure them with the help of screws that you have.

Solar energy systems are the best option if you want to cut down your electricity bill. However, you should buy the panels and lights from the best manufacturer in the market such as cmoonlight.com. They offer the best quality street lights that you can use to light up your home during the night time.