How to Prevent a Flood in Your Laundry Room

Ever consider the fact that the hot and cold water connections to your washing machine are turned on all the time? That means the only thing preventing water from spilling all over your laundry room floor (and subsequently into the rest of your home) are the little rubber hoses that connect the water supply to the washing machine.

Now if you're like most of us, you never give those little hoses a second thought, but you might want to consider that they're rubber, and over time (say 5 to 10 years), rubber can dry out and crack. So, if your washing machine has been in place for 5 years or so, maybe you can prevent a flood by changing those hoses. Here's how.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Adjustable wrench or locking pliers
• Spray lubricant
• Pail
• Replacement hoses (available at home and plumbing stores)
• Old tooth brush

Instructions

1. Start by shutting off the water at the taps that supply your washing machine.

2. Turn your washing machine on for just a few seconds to drain the water that is in the hoses, then turn it off again.

3. Unplug your washer (to be doubly safe you could also turn off the breaker that controls the power to your washer), pull it away from the wall and remove the drain hose from the drain.

4. Undo the existing hoses at the supply side and drop the ends into the pail, draining the water away from the machine. (If the hoses have been attached for a few years, they may be difficult to remove. If so, spray the connections with spray lubricant (WD-40) and give it a few minutes to work, then use your wrench or locking pliers to loosen the connections. Wait for the hoses to drain completely, then remove them from the washing machine as well.

5. Measure the length of the supply hoses so that you can buy the proper length replacements (they come in different lengths).

6. Before replacing the old hoses with the new ones, check to see if your washing machine has inlet filters and if it does, take this opportunity to clean them out (an old toothbrush will often work well).

7. Attach your new hoses, first to the washing machine and then to the water supply. Be sure you attach the Hot tap to the hot inlet and the Cold tap to the cold inlet).

8. Turn on the water at the tap and check for leaks. If there are none, plug in your washer and push it back into place. If there is a leak, tighten the fitting.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure you don't kink the supply hoses when pushing the machine back into place. A kinked hose is a candidate for splitting.

• It's also a good idea to change the drain hose at the same time you change the supply hoses so you don't need to worry about a broken drain hose in the future.

• Always replace your supply hoses in pairs; it's a false economy to replace just one (besides, they only cost a few dollars each).

• If you have trouble remembering which way to turn to loosen the hoses or any nut or screw--just remember this silly little phrase, "Lefty loosey, Righty tighty."

• Metal mesh supply hoses are available for about twice the price of rubber hoses. The supposed advantage of these metal mesh hoses is they aren't ever supposed to burst. However, over time, even metal hoses will wear, so don't assume you can install a mesh hose and never have to worry about it breaking.