Preventing Washing Machine Hose Disasters
27 Sep
(Post 48 in a series for DIY beginners)
I want to tackle the leak with the most dire consequences first in this series on water leaks, because it is the easiest to deal with. The hoses that feed your washing machine are constantly under pressure because the taps that feed them are always on – the washing machine itself decides when the water feeding into the washer should be on or off.
Washing machine supply lines
Close up of washing machine hoses - notice how the ends are very similar to garden hose ends. If you are practicing being aware of details, then you might have noticed that the hot water side - tap with the red ring - feeds the hose that is discolored - hot water is hard on stuff!
The one that feeds the hot water has a bit of a tougher job, because rubber tends to break down a bit when exposed to heat. The bad thing about this situation is that if these hoses develop a weak spot and burst, the water just keeps on coming. The tap that feeds it is always on full blast!
Yikes!
If you aren’t home to shut it off right away, you’ve got big problems. Some people turn them off when not in use; most of us do not. If we are in the “do not” group, there are some easy preventative steps we can take – just check the hoses once in a while (do a visual check, and squeeze the hoses to see if there are any soft spots in them), and if you have any doubts about their suitability for continued service, by all means, replace them. Or, you could just replace them once every few years no matter what they look like. They aren’t that expensive, especially compared to a disaster cleanup bill. They attach just like a garden hose, and, as with a garden hose, you need to make sure the round rubber washer is inside the end before you install it. You’ll probably need a pair of pliers to get the old ones off, but don’t be tempted to use them to over tighten the fittings when installing the new ones. Just spin them on by hand until they seem tight, and then use the pliers to go only another half a turn or so. You’ll know if you got it right as soon as you turn the taps back on!
Water pump pliers - or "slip joint pliers." Because of their design, they can open to a lot of different sizes, and you can get a really tight grip. That is one well used and ugly old pair of pliers!
(Note for new visitors: This post is part of a series designed to give DIY newbies a confidence boost. My goal is to provide the basic basics of home and auto repair and maintenance, give you a heads up about some of the pitfalls that you might come across, and generally demystify the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems in our lives. For best results, please take in the whole “mini course” that started with this post)
