Water nightmare – Episode II

• Posted on December 28, 2015
• by mikew
• in Fix It & Use It
• No Comments.

What’s the number one enemy of the Pacific Northwest home?

Water.

Another story about my next-door neighbor who lives in our duplex. They have been an incredible source of good Fix It and Use It stories.

“I’m on a crusade against rubber supply lines on washing machines!” Realtors and clients have heard me recite that line again and again. Here’s the story and solution for all of you unfamiliar with it.

Late one night our neighbors, Max and Julia, awoke to water pouring from their bedroom ceiling. They ran upstairs to discover the washing machine supply line had ruptured. Water was everywhere. Turning off the water was easy – the faucet handles by the hoses quickly closed but the mess was already made. In their generosity they let me sleep as they cleaned up the mess and then told me about it in the morning. Wet floors and carpet and damage drywall were reminders of the work ahead.

Get ride of your black, rubber supply lines. They last about five years and the hot water line fails earlier than the cold water line. The solution: Stainless steel washing machine connector/supply lines ($28.99 at Lowe’s). You can use anything that his heavy duty but get rid of anything that is more than five years old and black rubber.

A small channel-lock wrench will help loosen the old lines and tighten the new lines. Turn on the water and look for any leaks. You should be good to go. Cost – $30 for the parts, 30 minutes of your time. There’s no cheaper and easier fix for the potential water nightmare that awaits you in the dark of night!