Here at Speed Services we deal with a lot of water leaks and the resulting damage from them.  Having worked with insurance companies and the different claims involved with a homeowner’s policy we’re going to try and reduce the risk you take with the most common water leak that usually leads to major damage.

The washing machine supply hoses.  Usually out of sight and out of mind, these two hoses can deteriorate to the point of failure.  The most common hoses are the ones that come with a washing machine or are found in a cheap hardware store installation kit.  These are usually a natural rubber type of hose that get brittle with age and tend to develop cracks where they bend to attach to the washer or the valves.

When a washing machine hose breaks or blows out from pressure, it’s always at the least opportune time.  That’s just Murphy’s law.  The leak is likely to go unnoticed until water is either flowing down the hallway or the spray is heard from the living room.  When a crack or burst occurs on one of these hoses it can literally let 100’s of gallons of water flow out into the room or down into the basement in a matter of an hour or two.

There are ways to prevent this kind of damage.  These hoses are only one of the things we check on our home plumbing inspection.  If one of our valuable service techs is already in your home for a different service, be sure to have them do this inspection.  It has the potential to save a lot of money in the future.  Check the hoses yourself.  If they look old, the probably are old.  Look for stress marks, pinched areas or any signs of rubbing.