Customer Question: Can I Use a Garage Hose Reel with My Simplicity Central Vacuum?
We recently heard from a customer who wanted to set up a hose reel in the garage and had a very practical question:
“Will your black garage kit on reel work with a Simplicity central vac system? I have a port in my garage that I’m looking to set up a hose to.”
That’s a great question, because this is exactly the kind of upgrade a lot of central vacuum owners want to make. A hose reel in the garage can make cleaning out cars, tackling workshop messes, and handling quick cleanup jobs much easier. But before ordering, most people want to know three things:
Will it connect?
What extra parts do I need?
And how will the vacuum turn on?
In this case, the answer was yes — the setup can work.
The Customer’s Goal
The customer already had a Simplicity central vacuum system and a garage inlet. He was looking at our 98240 Steel Hose Reel with 1.5 inch x 50 foot hose and 1.5 inch commercial accessory kit and wanted to know if it could be adapted to his existing system.
That’s the real-world part of these installs. A hose reel might be exactly what you want, but the question is never just about the reel. It’s about how it connects to the inlet you already have.
The Missing Piece: The Adapter
In this case, the hose reel kit could be used, but it needed one additional part:
45575 metal adapter
That adapter allows the 1.50 inch connector hose from the reel to connect into the central vacuum inlet valve.
So the working setup looked like this:
Even better, if the customer moved forward with the purchase, we could install the 45575 adapter into the hose end before shipping so it would arrive ready to install.
That kind of small detail matters. For a lot of customers, “ready to install” is a whole lot better than opening the box and realizing one more step is needed before anything fits.
One Follow-Up Question We Hear a Lot: “Is This on a Coxreel?”
The customer also asked whether the reel itself was built on a Coxreel.
Yes — it is.
That’s another common real-world question, especially from customers who are familiar with shop equipment and want to know what kind of reel hardware they’re getting.
The Next Real-World Question: How Does It Turn On?
After placing the order, the customer came back with another smart question:
“Is there an on/off switch or does it just power on as soon as you insert into the central vac inlet? My hoses inside the house have handles on the end of them with switches.”
That’s where central vacuum systems can vary a little.
The answer depends on the design of the central vac system and where the hose reel is being connected.
If You’re Plugging into a Garage Inlet Valve
If the garage has a standard inlet valve with low-voltage contacts, the system will usually come on when the 45575 adapter is inserted into the inlet.
That means it works more like a direct-connect setup — plug it in, and the vacuum starts.
If You’re Connecting at a Utility Valve on the Vacuum
Some central vacuum systems have a utility valve mounted directly on the main unit instead of, or in addition to, a wall inlet.
There are two common versions:
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some have low-voltage contacts, which can turn the system on when inserted
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others do not, and the vacuum is turned on using a toggle switch on the side of the power unit
So in the real world, two homes can both have central vacuums, both use a garage hose setup, and still have different experiences when it comes to powering the system on.
Why This Matters Before You Order
This customer’s question is a good reminder that compatibility is often about more than just hose diameter.
When adding a hose reel to an existing central vacuum system, it helps to confirm:
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what kind of inlet you have
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whether low-voltage contacts are present
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whether you’re plugging into a garage wall inlet or directly into the vacuum unit
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what adapter is needed to make the connection work correctly
A setup can absolutely work — but the right adapter and a little planning make the install go much smoother.
The Outcome
In this case, the customer moved forward with the order, and we made sure the 45575 adapter was installed in the hose end before shipping.
That meant the reel setup was tailored to his Simplicity system before it even left our shop.
That’s often the difference between a frustrating install and one that goes the way it should.
Final Takeaway
If you’re wondering whether a garage hose reel kit can work with a Simplicity central vacuum, the answer is yes — it can.
For this customer, the right combination was:
And because the adapter could be installed before shipping, the setup was made easier from the start.
If you’re planning a similar garage install and aren’t sure what adapter or connection style you need, it’s worth asking before you order. A quick compatibility check can save a lot of trial and error later.