• Is my washing machine hose in danger, too?

    Jul.29.2008

    Our neighbor's washing machine hose burst and flooded their utility room and adjacent kitchen, causing some pretty major damage. What causes something like that to happen and what can we do to keep it from happening at our house?

    Phillip, San Diego, CA

    It is likely that your neighbor's washing machine water supply hose was of poor quality, old, damaged, or any combination of these conditions. Check the supply hoses connected to your washing machine for stress "bubbles" like you would the tires on your car. If you see any signs of damage at all, or if you don’t know or can't remember when the hoses were installed, it’s time to replace them.

    I recommend going with braided washing machine hoses made of stainless steel. They are more durable than rubber hoses and since they’re under constant pressure (usually around 60 PSI), durability is key. Be sure to turn off the water at the hose bib before replacing the hoses. For additional peace of mind, shut off the water valves behind your machine when you go on vacation to help avoid the disaster that happened at your neighbor’s place.

Comments

My toilet seems to run alot. It will spontaneously flush. I am on the second floor of a four story condo building. Does this have to do with my toilet or the plumbing of the entire building? If it is my toilet, what can you do to fix it?
Also, how often do you recommend the hoses in my washing machine be replaced?

Posted by: Sheila at 1:40 PM on Oct 21, 2008

Your toilet question is a great one, and we’ve posted it with a response on the main page of our blog. Please check there for your answer.

Regarding your question about when to replace your washing machine hose, the answer is every 3 to 5 years. Also, you should regularly check your hoses for cracks, brittleness or damage. In addition to the 3 to 5 year rule, you should always change your washing machine hoses when you move to a new home or get a new washing machine.

Posted by: ARS/Rescue Rooter Home Connect Experts at 3:29 PM on Oct 22, 2008

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