Leak and Freeze
Washing machine hoses
A supply hose can fail under full pressure and run until someone closes the valve. When to replace them: every five to seven years, and never past 10 years.
The hoses behind a washing machine hold full water pressure all day, every day. Triple-I says to replace any hose that is cracked or leaking at once, and all of them every five to seven years. IBHS says to change supply hoses on washers and dishwashers that are more than 10 years old, because fittings and rubber gaskets degrade. A steel braid over the hose does not make it immune: IBHS notes that braided hoses still fail from wear, pressure and water quality.
Why they fail
Today's supply hoses are usually flexible plastic, often wrapped in a stainless steel braid. IBHS lists what still takes them out: normal wear and tear, too much water pressure, and water quality. The braid protects the hose from the outside; it does not stop a fitting or gasket from aging.
The routine
- Look at both hoses twice a year. Any crack, bulge or damp fitting means replace it now.
- Replace both hoses every five to seven years, the Triple-I interval, and never let one pass 10 years.
- Put a leak sensor on the floor behind the machine, at the wall valves.
- If the laundry is upstairs, consider an automatic shutoff valve; IBHS notes that an upper-floor washer makes any failure worse.
The machine wears out too
IBHS puts the average lifespan of a washing machine at 12.6 years and a dishwasher at 12 years. An old machine with original hoses is the spot most worth a sensor.
Sources
- Triple-I: How to protect your home from water damage Insurance Information Institute, accessed October 25, 2026
- IBHS: Winter weather ready guide (news release, November 2024) Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, accessed October 25, 2026
- IBHS: State of the Risk, Interior Water Damage (white paper, December 2024) Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, accessed October 25, 2026
Drafted with a language model on October 25, 2026 from the sources listed above, each opened that day. Every threshold and count on the page comes from the site's own code, held by a test. The editor samples pages after they publish; nothing here is an inspection of your house or advice from a licensed plumber or insurer.
Found an error? See Corrections.