How to Seal a Leaking Hose Reel

Regardless of the type of garden hose reel you purchase, there may be a time when the hose reel begins to leak at its connection points or one of the leader hoses on the hose reel itself becomes punctured. Repairing a leaky garden hose reel is not a difficult project. Here is a step-by-step guide to repairing a leaking hose reel.

Step 1 - Replace the O-rings

Purchase rubber O-ring washer for water hose connectors. Use a small knife or flat head screwdriver to gently remove the old O-ring from the hose connector and discard it. Use silicon grease or petroleum jelly to lubricate the O-ring and install it in the connector. This will usually fix most leaks for hose reel connectors leading to your garden hose.

Step 2 - Replace the Leaky Connector

If replacing the O-ring in the hose reel connector does not stop the leak, the connector itself may be damaged beyond repair and need to be replaced. Purchase a "male" or "female" (depending on the type you need) water hose connector that matches the size of the connector on your hose reel.

Slice the hose immediately below the old connector and install the new water hose connector according to the manufacturer's instructions. In some cases, you may need to buy a quick connect coupler to replace the faulty hose reel connector. Avoid water hose connectors that are installed by simply tightening down two screws as these types of connectors will usually leak badly after a short period of time.

Repairing Damaged Hose Reel Leader Hoses

Step 1 - Make a Temporary Repair

You can temporarily repair small cuts or punctures in leader hoses from your hose reel with ordinary electrical tape. Simply wrap that electrical tape tightly around the damaged area and use the hose reel until you can buy a water hose repair kit. You can also purchase hose repair tape for fixing small leaks as well-but for temporary fixes, electrical tape works just as well.

Step 2 - Use a Water Hose Repair Kit

Purchase a water hose repair kit. These kits use couplings to connect the two pieces of the leader hose after you cut it with a knife. Cut the hose and take the connector and a small piece of the hose with you so that you can buy a kit designed for use with the proper hose size.