August Home Appliance Maintenance: Check/Replace Washing Machine Hoses

With the kids home from school and loads of sweaty garments to clean, your washing machine has likely taken a major beating this summer. With all that extra use, be sure to check that the water supply hoses which connect to your machine are in good condition.

“If they are older black rubber hoses, check for any bulging in the hose or any parts that look worn,” says Tony Dunaway of BEST Plumbing of Cincinnati.

If you have worn hoses, and you’re a wiz at DIY Home Maintenance and Repair, you can swap them out with replacements for as little as $25, but it’ll take you some effort.

• First, turn off the water supply to the hoses.
• Next, use adjustable pliers to loosen one hose at a time from the water supply, and then from the washing machine.
• You’ll also need to make sure your new hose has a rubber washer in each end.
• If your hoses are made of rubber, consider upgrading and replacing them with rupture-proof, braided stainless-steel hoses.

If you want to save time and effort, you can call a plumber, who will usually charge about $150 to do the job.  Just depends how much your precious summer R&R is worth to you.

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Photo Credit:  Bk87 / Shutterstock.com