A failure at 70
pounds of pressure can disgorge up to 650 gallons of water per hour. The
problem is that most washing machine hoses are poorly constructed and offer
very little in the way of protection. The key is to understand why hoses fail.
Contrary to popular perception, hoses do not simply burst due to high water
pressure.
Rather than
simply bursting, hoses fail in a very specific place- the coupling. The truth
is that standard hose couplings are rolled and stamped from a thin sheet of
copper alloy. In time, water flow hones them to a fine edge. When the hose
bends at the coupling, this sharp edge is forced into the exterior wall and
slices it open. This is called "razoring."
Unfortunately,
most people assume that installing a braided stainless steel hose (steel
braided hose) will solve the problem. Even worse, many so-called
"experts" believe this to be true. If you do an Internet or newspaper
search, virtually everyone passes this on as gospel. Marketing people take
advantage of consumer ignorance by marketing them as "burst-proof."
Metal hoses,
like most rubber hoses, are built to fail. In order to secure the rubber tube
and steel braid to the swivel, the manufacturers must use an aggressive crimp
and a relatively thin rubber tube. When the hoses are bent and flexed, they
fail at the crimp point. In fact, the crimp pushes the steel braiding directly
into the single, un-reinforced rubber tube. Since the steel braided hoses
arePOROUS, once the rubber tube is severed there is nothing to prevent the water
from pouring out.
Steps you can
take to prevent hose failures:
1. Regularly
inspect your washing machine hoses;
2. Make sure
there are at least 4 inches of clearance between the water connection and the
back of the washing machine. This space will help reduce the chances that the
hose will kink.
3. Make sure
your connections are secure.
4. Buy a high
quality hose. There is one type of hose (Floodchek) that was originally
designed for use in condominiums. It contains a non-corroding rounded brass
insert and several other features which were specifically designed to address
the shortcomings found in most washing machines.
5. Shut off
your hoses when not in use. You can either shut them off manually each time, or
install an automatic washing machine shutoff valve, such as the Watts
Intelliflow.
6. Never leave
your washer on when you are asleep or out of the house.
Original Article
If you do experience flood damage as a result of a washing machine malfunction, contact the professionals at Water Damage Local.com
