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How often do you inspect washing-machine hoses if they look fine?
If washing-machine supply hoses have no obvious cracks, bulges, rust, or damp spots, is there still a good reason to replace them based on age? I’m curious whether the answer changes between rubber hoses and braided stainless-steel ones, since the braided type can still fail.
What do you check at the hose ends and connections, and on the floor nearby, to catch a slow leak early? Also, do you close the washer valves whenever the machine isn’t running, or is that mainly worth doing during longer periods away?
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2 replies
Yes - age can matter because a hose may weaken or deteriorate internally without showing obvious external damage, so a visual check can’t establish how much life remains. Braided stainless-steel hoses aren’t failure-proof either. Check the hose manufacturer’s replacement guidance rather than relying on a universal age cutoff.
Look around both ends of each hose - the shutoff valves and the washer inlets - for fresh dampness, dried mineral traces, or corrosion, and check the hose itself near its fittings. A flashlight can help in the tight space. Also inspect the floor and wall behind and beneath the washer for dampness, discoloration, or water marks; a small leak may leave evidence there even when the hose looks dry.
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