Check and replace washing machine supply hoses
Rubber supply hoses burst at the 5-7 year mark. A burst hose can dump 650 gallons an hour into your laundry room. Replacing them is a 20-minute job.
What you'll learn
- Why rubber hoses fail catastrophically after 5–7 years
- How to spot bulging, cracking, or corrosion near the couplings
- Why stainless-braided hoses are worth the extra $20 (they fail slowly, not suddenly)
- How to shut off the water if a hose bursts mid-cycle
Step by step
- Pull the washer away from the wall.
- Shut off both hot and cold supply valves (turn knobs clockwise until stopped).
- Place a bucket under the hoses; unscrew them from the wall valves and from the washer.
- Install new stainless-braided hoses hand-tight, then another quarter turn with pliers.
- Turn the valves back on slowly; check for drips with a paper towel.
Safety note
Replace rubber hoses every 5 years even if they look fine. Stainless-braided hoses last 10+ years and give warning signs before failure. Under $25 for the pair at any hardware store.
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