What is Freeze Damage?
Water freezes at 32°F (0°C), and when it does it will grow and expand by up to 9% in volume and size. Expanding ice is one of the most powerful and destructive forces on the planet, generating an astounding 25,000 to 30,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) of force.
If trapped inside a closed container, regardless of how strong the material is, structural failure is inevitable since there is no room for the expansion of the freezing water. Although some of our products are engineered to be freeze-resistant, they are not freeze-proof. If water remains inside during freezing conditions, structural damage will almost certainly occur.
Common "Winterization" Mistakes
Many customers mistakenly assume they can prevent freeze damage simply by:
- Disconnecting the inlet hose from the outdoor spigot, or
- Storing the reel and hose in a garage or shed.*
Unfortunately, those steps often do not provide enough protection. The only safe way to prevent freeze damage is to fully drain the water from the reel and the garden hose before freezing temperatures arrive.
*Unless your garage or shed has its own heat source, even an attached garage can drop below freezing on cold winter nights.
What Freeze Damage Looks Like
On a garden hose reel, the swivel is usually the most susceptible component to fail during freezing conditions. As the ice expands, it can cause the structure to crack, the metal ring to bend, or the pipe to separate, as this video demonstrates.
Common signs include:
- Visible cracks in the metal body
- Split or fractured fittings or threaded connections
- Distorted, bent, or warped metal components
- Swivel parts or watering tools that have separated or come apart and will not reassemble properly
- Sudden failure when water is turned on after winter
More Examples of Freeze Damage
The hose reel swivel is not the only outdoor watering product that can be damaged by expanding ice. The following customer-submitted photos show what freeze damage can look like on the various versions of our hose reel swivels and other ELEY watering products.
Is Freeze Damage Covered Under Warranty?
No, it is not. The ELEY warranty specifically excludes:
“Failure or damage due to freezing…”
Often, freeze damage is not repairable, and the part must be replaced. For full details and exclusions, please refer to our Warranty Policy.
Not Freeze Damage?
If you believe the failure is not freeze-related, please submit our Warranty Claim Form. Please note that providing at least one photo of the failed component is required. You may also upload a video if it better shows or explains the issue.
Replacement Hose Reel Swivel
Freeze damage is usually unexpected and never fun, so we offer our replacement swivel at an affordable price to help keep repair costs low.
Our newest swivel (item #4291) replaces all previous swivel styles and fits all ELEY and Rapid-Reel garden hose reels sold since the year 2000.
NOTE: Before installing, please watch the video on the swivel product page, as this updated design attaches a little differently than earlier versions.
Cracked Gasket?
If the expandable "frost" gasket on the 4291 swivel has cracked, but the brass housing appears to be undamaged, you can replace the gasket with our Swivel Gasket Repair Kit. (Item #1189)
Replacement Parts
Need to replace the freeze-damaged part?
To purchase and replace either the 1120 Comfort-Grip Spray Nozzle or the 1128 Brass Cap on your 2-Way Splitter, click the appropriate button below to go to the respective product page.
How to Winterize Your Garden Hose Reel for Freezing Temperatures
Before temperatures drop below 32°F (0°C), make sure your hose reel system is completely drained by following these steps:
- Disconnect the inlet hose from the faucet.
- Turn off the water supply at the spigot.
- Fully unwind the garden hose, ensuring it's lower than the reel.
- Blow through the inlet hose to push water out of brass swivel.
- Slowly rewind the hose to allow water to drain out.
- Drain all watering tools, nozzles, and attachments. Even a small amount of trapped water can cause freeze damage.
The following linked article covers this subject in detail.
How to Winterize Your Garden Hose Reel for Freezing Temperatures
