Which Type of Commercial Hose Reel Do You Need?
Retractable hose reels give operators a way to deploy a water hose to large parts of their establishment. For many restaurants and other commercial enterprises, cleaning involves massive buckets of soapy water, mops, and endless trips back and forth to the sink. Environments with lots of debris, such as restaurant kitchens, need a lot of water to get clean, and a mop and bucket isn't always the most efficient way to provide it. Hose reels enable the user to spray water efficiently in hard-to-reach places, such as the inside of cooking equipment. They facilitate cleaning floors, large equipment, and exteriors in a way that mops and buckets struggle to match Hose reels also provide a safe and neat way to store the hose and nozzle when not in use. With a variety of hose reel styles and spray nozzles available, hose reels can be a powerful addition to an operator's cleaning arsenal.
Which Operations Need a Commercial Hose Reel?
Hose reels usually top out around fifty feet long, so if your establishment is quite large, you may need more than one hose or a different solution altogether. But for commercial kitchens and dining spaces, which need regular, thorough cleaning, a single hose reel can make cleanup much faster and easier.
Consider a hose reel if…
- you have a floor that can get wet (i.e., not carpet),
- you have large equipment to clean,
- you need to clean with a hose or mop frequently,
- or you have heavily soiled surfaces to clean.
If cleaning doesn't take up much time, you may not need the extra power provided by a hose reel, but for operations that struggle to get everything sparkling, a good hose reel can help.
Do You Need an Open or Enclosed Hose Reel?
Open hose reels leave the exterior of the hose exposed when it's wrapped up on the reel. This is the simplest design and the easiest to clean.
Enclosed hose reels have an encasement that protects the hose while it's being stored. The primary benefit of an enclosed hose reel is the improved aesthetic as the hose is hidden when not in use.
Hose Reel Materials
The two main materials used in commercial hose reels are stainless steel and epoxy-coated stainless steel. Pure stainless steel is the longest-lasting, most durable option, while the epoxy-coated versions are less expensive. We recommend using an epoxy-coated reel in most commercial kitchen applications, unless the environment in your kitchen is exceptionally rough on equipment.
Hose Reel Features
Mounting Brackets
- Swing brackets: The mounting bracket swings left and right, providing one axis of movement while cleaning.
- Pivot brackets: The mounting bracket provides a full circle of motion. These are the most flexible mounts.
- Undercounter: The bracket goes beneath a countertop, hiding the hose until it's needed.
- Ceiling: These brackets mount on the ceiling, which keeps the hose out of the way and provides greater reach when in use.
Sprayers
- Spray valves: These sprayers provide low-pressure water for rinsing and general cleaning with a wide coverage area.
- Front-trigger water gun: Similar to a garden hose, these have a trigger on the front and provide a high-pressure spray.
- Rear-trigger water gun: These are designed the same as front-trigger water guns, but the trigger is on the back of the mechanism.
