Why washer hoses fail
The hot and cold supply hoses connect your washer to the valves on the wall. Rubber hoses get brittle with age. The inside can crack or swell long before you'd ever notice from the outside. A hose that's kinked because the washer is pushed tight to the wall wears out even faster.
Insurance company guidance from AIG calls a burst washer hose one of the most common causes of major water damage in homes, and says an unattended burst hose can leak hundreds of gallons an hour.
Leave a few inches of space between the back of the washer and the wall so the hoses don't kink. If you just bought a washer, check that it was set up that way.
What I look for on the hoses
Pull the washer out a little so you can see the hoses clearly, and use a flashlight. Here's what tells me a hose needs replacing:
- Bulges, blisters or soft spots anywhere along the hose
- Cracks in the rubber, or fraying on a braided hose
- Rust, corrosion or white crusty buildup at the fittings
- Any dampness or drips around the connections
- Hoses that are about five years old or more, even if they look fine
When it's time, braided stainless steel hoses hold up much better than plain rubber ones. Swapping them is a pretty simple job: turn both wall valves off, keep a bucket and towel handy, hand-tighten the new hoses and then snug them up a little more without cranking down hard. Turn the water back on slowly and check for drips.
Write the date on a piece of tape and stick it on the new hoses. Next time, you won't have to guess how old they are.
Source: The Spruce
Before a trip, and if a hose bursts
If you'll be gone for more than a day or two over the holidays, turn the two washer valves off before you leave. With the valves closed, the hoses aren't holding pressure while nobody's around.
If a hose does burst, turn off the valves behind the washer right away. If they're stuck or you can't reach them safely, shut off the main water to the house. Unplug the washer before you go near standing water around it, and if the water is near outlets or anything electrical, stay out of it and call for help.
If your washer is leaking, won't fill, or won't drain, give me a call at (470) 999-7395. A $79 diagnostic is how I figure out whether it's a hose, a valve or the machine itself.
