Avoiding the Flood Waters.
Here’s the problem.
One of the most common causes of flood damage in the home (kitchen, laundry room, garage, or basement) is from a burst washing machine hose.
It’s true.
Which leads me to ask the question, “Have you ever checked the water supply hoses to your washing machine?” No? That’s okay, most home owners never do.
If you haven’t checked the washing machine supply hoses since you’ve lived in your house, or within the last five years, you should replace them as soon as possible.
Believe me, I’ve known many people whose homes have been flooded simply due to an old washing machine hose. And this is not a cheap cleanup — typically around $4,000.
Ironically, washing machine hoses are inexpensive, easy to change and certainly worth the $20-$30 bucks to do so. Plus, the only tool you need is an adjustable pliers/channel locks (well, and some Teflon tape).
By the way, there are two types of washing machine hoses available; standard rubber hoses and braided hoses.
The braided hoses cost a bit more but are a worth the extra money as they are very resistant to any abrasion like moving the washing machine or things falling on the hoses. Six foot hoses are the most common and allow you to pull the washer completely out to perform any service.
Although I don’t do many “how to” articles, I’ve made an exception with this do-it-yourself article, “How to Change A Washing Machine Hose“.
Succeeding with speed through knowledge and preventive maintenance.
If you have questions about your DIY projects, just ask your personal DIY consultant. I’m here to help you.
Wow, I didn’t know how important checking that hose is. It’s probably been five years since I’ve replaced it. I’ll have to do that soon. I want to avoid a flood if at all possible. Especially if it is one caused by something so easy to maintain.
It is such great advice to double check the tubing on your washing machine when you move into a new home (or if you’ve been living in a new home for a long time). It’s not too hard to replace the tubing and it can save you so much hassle and heartache. Thanks for breaking down the process so simply, this was a great article.
Flooding can lead to major problems. Checking the washing machine hoses regularly is a great way to avoid flooding. One time my family left on a vacation. One of the hoses popped off; we came home to 5 inches of water. It was not very fun having to clean all of that up. Having a plumber regular check all hoses and pipe connections can prevent you from having a similar catastrophe.
I have never looked at my washing machine tubes before. Since the day after I installed my new machine around 7 years ago, I have just assumed they are in great shape. I never knew that they were the number one cause of home flooding. Maybe I should just replace them with a better tubing.