Okay, let's talk about this electric water hose reel project I tackled recently. Honestly, wrestling with the old manual hose was getting really old, especially after washing the car or watering the garden. It always ended up in a tangled mess. So, I decided it was time for an upgrade.

Getting Started - Unboxing and Planning

First thing, got the box inside. It was heavier than I expected, gotta say. Popped it open and laid all the bits and pieces out on the garage floor. You get the reel unit itself, a mounting bracket, a short leader hose, hardware (screws and stuff), and the instruction manual – which, you know, I glanced at.

Looked over the main unit. Seemed pretty sturdy. The hose itself felt decent quality too. Main thing was figuring out where this beast was gonna live. I wandered around the side of the house and the garage, hose reel in hand, trying to find the best spot. Needed it close to the spigot, obviously, and also near an outdoor electrical outlet. Didn't want extension cords running all over the place if I could help it.

Mounting the Bracket

Settled on a spot on the garage wall, right next to the door. It's brick, so I knew I needed the right drill bit and anchors. Grabbed my drill, a masonry bit, and the plastic anchors that came with the reel. Measured things out – used a level to make sure the bracket wouldn't be crooked. Nothing worse than a wonky hose reel, right?

Drilling into the brick took a bit of effort. Made sure the holes were deep enough for the anchors. Tapped the anchors in gently with a hammer. Then, lined up the bracket and drove the screws in. Gave it a good wiggle to make sure it was solid. Felt strong enough.

Getting the Reel Up and Connected

Next step was lifting the reel unit onto the bracket. This was the heavy part I mentioned. Had to hoist it up and slide it down onto the bracket slots. It clicked into place, which was satisfying. Secured it with whatever locking pin or screw it came with, just following the picture in the manual.

Then, connected the short leader hose. One end screwed onto the reel's inlet fitting. Put a bit of plumber's tape on the threads first, always a good habit. Ran the other end of the leader hose over to the spigot and screwed it on there, again using some tape. Tightened both connections snugly with a wrench, but not too tight.

After the water was hooked up, I dealt with the power cord. Found the nearest outdoor GFCI outlet. Luckily it was only about ten feet away. Unwound the power cord from the reel and plugged it straight in. I made sure the cord wasn't dangling where someone could trip over it.

The Moment of Truth - Testing

Alright, time to see if this thing actually worked. Turned the water spigot on slowly. Listened for any hissing sounds... checked the connections at the spigot and the reel inlet. All dry. Good start.

Pulled the hose out. It came out smoothly, locking in place when I stopped pulling. Walked it out maybe 50 feet or so. Then, the big test. Found the retract button on the side of the reel (some have remotes, mine was on the unit). Pressed it.

Success! The motor whirred to life, and the hose started winding itself back in. It wasn't super fast, but it was steady and guided itself neatly back onto the reel. No kinks, no fighting it. Let it retract all the way.

• Checked for leaks again - still dry.
• Pulled it out and retracted it a couple more times - worked perfectly.
• Sprayed some water just to make sure pressure was good - no issues there.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this thing is a game-changer. No more bending over, cranking a handle, fighting a tangled hose. Just pull out what you need, and push a button when you're done. Took maybe an hour total to get it installed. Yeah, it cost more than a manual reel, but the convenience? Totally worth it so far. Makes cleanup after yard work way less of a chore.