Home Maintenance Tip: Change Your Washing Machine Hoses

Washing machines are one of the most essential appliances that we have in our homes. Like every appliance, though, a washing machine requires maintenance. Washing machine hose bursts account for more than $150 million in damage to homes each year. Because of the pressure on the supply hoses, water can leak from a burst washing machine hose at an average rate of 650 gallons per hour and flood your house.

Washing machine hoses break because of age, faulty installation and manufacturer defects. A simple way to prevent this damage is to check your washing machine hoses every few months. Look for the following:

• Kinks or cracks, as well as brittleness, all of which make the hoses vulnerable to bursting.
• Signs of water drips, rust drips on the floor and rust on connectors.
• Bulges on rubber hoses and unraveling of stainless steel hoses.

If everything looks good, check to make sure that the connections are tight. Replace the hoses every 3-5 years regardless of condition. To change your washing machine hoses:

• Purchase new washing machine hoses at your local hardware store. Choose either reinforced rubber hoses or stainless-steel reinforced hoses. Some professionals consider the stainless-steel reinforced hoses to be more durable. Make sure the hoses are long enough. If you have a tight installation, you can purchase a rigid right-angle hose connector.
• Turn off the water supply valve(s) to the washing machine.
• Turn on the washing machine to take the pressure off the hoses. A small amount of water will enter the washing machine. When the water stops entering the machine, turn the washing machine off.
• Unplug the washing machine.
• Pull the washer away from the wall enough to have room to work.
• Disconnect the existing hoses from the supply valves and from the washing machine.
• Thread the new hose connector onto the supply valve. Repeat for each hose at both the supply valves and at the washing machine connectors. Use a wrench to tighten the hose connectors.
• Move the washing machine back to the wall leaving at least 4 inches between the back of the washing machine and the wall to prevent kinking of the hoses.
• Turn the water supply valve back on.
• Put a magnet on the washing machine and record the date when the hoses where changed.

Be smart. Never run the washing machine when no one is at home. Teach everyone who lives in your home where the whole house water shutoff valve is located and how to close the valve in the event of a leak from any plumbing fixture or appliance.

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If you have questions about your home’s foundation or foundation repairs, contact Atlantic Foundation and Repair at 919-855-0855.