What is an inlet hose?
An inlet hose, or sometimes referred to as a jumper hose, supply hose, or feeder hose, is simply a short garden hose that supplies water from the faucet or spigot to the hose reel. Because all garden hoses are equipped with garden hose thread fittings, any type, size, or brand of garden hose, in any length, can be used as the inlet hose for an ELEY garden hose reel provided that the male fitting of the hose can fit through the 1.25-inch ID opening of the reel's main axle. View Video Example
Garden Hose Threads (GHT)
Standard Garden Hose Thread, or GHT is the universal threads used on the fittings of all garden hose sold in the United States and Canada. It doesn't matter if the size of the garden hose is 1/2-inch, 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch, they all use the same threads. Garden hose threads are also used on all watering tools like sprinklers and spray nozzles, so it doesn't matter what brand of garden hose, hose reel, or watering tool you own, all can connect to each other because they all use standard garden hose threads.
Drinking-Water-Safe Standards
The term "Drinking-Water-Safe" typically refers to the NSF/ANSI Standard 61 (NSF-61), a set of national standards relating to water treatment. It establishes stringent requirements for equipment that comes in contact with potable (drinking) water or products used in potable water production. However, there is no NSF standard for a garden hose under which a manufacturer can get certified because the Safe Drinking Water Act exempted garden hose and other outdoor watering products from the prohibitions.
The 2011 Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act (RLDWA) also created exemptions in SDWA Section 1417 from the prohibitions on the use or introduction into commerce of “pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings or fixtures, including backflow preventers, that are used exclusively for non-potable services such as manufacturing, industrial processing, irrigation, outdoor watering, or any other uses where the water is not anticipated to be used for human consumption” (SDWA 1417(a)(4)(A)) Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux for Drinking Water
As such, if a watering product is for non-potable, outdoor use, it cannot be certified under NSF 61 for drinking water. The manufacturer can only say the materials have been certified. Unfortunately, most garden hose reels on the market today ARE NOT produced with inlet hoses that are made from drinking-water-safe material. ELEY inlet hoses ARE. Our hose reel inlet hose is made from UV-stabilized FDA and NSF grade polyurethane material. Combine that with our crush-proof, lead-free machined brass fittings, and the ELEY inlet hose is a 100% drinking-water-safe garden hose. Even the rubber gaskets are made from drinking-water safe material.
What comes with the hose reel?
The standard inlet hose that comes prepackaged with all ELEY garden hose reels is 6-1/2 feet long and 5/8-inch inside diameter. Made in the USA, it is the exact same polyurethane hose that we sell in lengths up to 200-feet. ELEY polyurethane hose is tough as nails and backed by a 10-YEAR no-leak guarantee. Once assembled, about one foot of the hose will be used inside the hose reel, which will give you approximately 5-feet to reach your faucet. If you'd prefer to use a different size or length of inlet hose to feed the reel, you can certainly do that. You don't have to use the one that comes with your hose reel. However, when you buy an ELEY hose reel, you'll be getting the 6-1/2 foot hose regardless, and it cannot be exchanged or returned for credit.
Need a longer or shorter inlet hose?
If the 6-1/2 foot inlet hose that comes with the reel doesn't meet your needs, you have some options available to you to get the right length of hose.
Shorter Inlet Hose
We recommend purchasing our Garden Hose Repair Tool and either our Male Garden Hose Fitting or our Female Garden Hose Fitting. Acquiring this repair tool and one of the fittings will allow you to cut the 6-1/2 foot hose that comes with the reel, down to the length you want and then press on the new fitting. The new fitting you press on will be the same factory-grade quality as the new hose. You'll also have a new tool to add to your shop's tool inventory as this ELEY 5/8-inch garden hose repair tool and the ELEY hose fittings can be used to repair most brands of 5/8-inch garden hose. You will no longer have to put up with the inferior hose repair fittings found in big box and hardware stores.
Longer Inlet Hose
For a longer inlet hose you're going to have to buy another hose. Here are your options:
- Buy another short inlet hose (either our brand or a different brand) to replace the 6-1/2 foot hose that comes with the reel.
- Buy another short inlet hose (either our brand or a different brand) to connect to the 6-1/2 hose to extend it's length. Our standard hose lengths start at 6-1/2 feet, which would create a 13-foot inlet hose when connected to the original 6-1/2 foot hose that comes with the reel. The next standard length available is 12 feet, then it jumps up to 25 feet.
- If you want something more "custom" in length then see the last section of this article entitled, "Custom, Cut-to-Length Inlet Hoses."
3/4-Inch Inlet Hoses
For those who want a full 3/4-inch flow hose reel, all you need to do is swap out the 6-1/2 foot x 5/8-inch inlet hose that came with the hose reel with a 3/4-inch inlet hose. The entire plumbing of an ELEY hose reel consists of just two components; 1) the brass swivel, which already provides a full 3/4-inch flow, and 2) the 5/8-inch inlet hose. So by simply swapping out the 5/8-inch inlet hose with a 3/4-inch one, you'll have a full 3/4-inch flow hose reel. If you decide to go the 3/4-inch inlet hose route, make sure that the male fitting is small enough to fit through the hose reel's axle. You'll need to purchase this 3/4-inch hose from another source as ELEY does not offer any 3/4-inch hose at this time.
Hoses with Male-Male or Female-Female Fittings
Hoses equipped with the same fitting on both ends can be obtained by modifying a standard-length ELEY polyurethane garden hose. You'll purchase one of our hoses along with our Garden Hose Repair Tool and either our Male Garden Hose Fitting or our Female Garden Hose Fitting. Simply cut off the end you don't want and press on the new ELEY fitting you do want. The new fitting you press on will be the same factory-grade quality as the new hose. You'll also have a new tool to add to your shop's tool inventory as this ELEY 5/8-inch garden hose repair tool and the ELEY hose fittings can be used to repair most brands of 5/8-inch garden hose. You will no longer have to put up with the inferior hose repair fittings found in big box and hardware stores.
Custom, Cut-To-Length Inlet Hoses
If you want a custom-length inlet hose then we recommend purchasing a longer length of hose along with our Garden Hose Repair Tool and either our Male Garden Hose Fitting or our Female Garden Hose Fitting. Acquiring this repair tool and one of the fittings will allow you to cut the 12 or 25 foot length of ELEY hose you buy, down to the length you want and then press on the new fitting. The new fitting you press on will be the same factory-grade quality as the new hose. You'll also have a new tool to add to your shop's tool inventory as this ELEY 5/8-inch garden hose repair tool and the ELEY hose fittings can be used to repair most brands of 5/8-inch garden hose. You will no longer have to put up with the inferior hose repair fittings found in big box and hardware stores. For example, say you want a 17-foot hose.
- Buy 1) the ELEY Repair Tool, 2) an ELEY female fitting, and 3) a standard 25-foot ELEY polyurethane hose.
- Measuring from the male fitting, cut the 25-foot hose down to a 17-foot length.
- Using the ELEY repair tool, crimp the new ELEY female fitting onto the cut end of the 17-foot hose.