After listening to several friends who have experienced damage to walls and floors from washer hoses that burst while no one was home, I’ve told my wife to always shut off the water valves when finished doing the laundry. Since we have the style of valve set that has a single lever which controls both the hot and the cold water supply, it takes very little extra effort to shut off the water. It’s a simple flip of the control lever.

After 18-years, the lever snapped off when my wife started the laundry on Easter morning. It had corroded from a very minor leak at the valve body. Of course, it broke when dinner guest were just hours away! Luckily, a few buckets of water carried from the kitchen (like our grandparents used to do) dumped into the washer got the laundry done.

Fortunately, about $35 for valve parts and a couple hours of plumber’s time has everything back in working order. But, while talking with several plumbers, they all asked why we were bothering to turn off the water so often. It has made us think maybe we are being too cautious.

Thinking about one relative who lost two rooms of hardwood floors and a friend whose hose burst while he was on a weekend ski trip flooding his condo and the one beneath his, I thinking turning off the water is a wise choice. I should also mention that I installed braided reinforced hoses when we moved in.

Do you bother to turn off the water at the end of laundry day. Interested in hearing your opinions.

Always.

Never.

Nope. Just follow the good practice of new braided washer hoses every 5 years.

I have heard of toilet hoses getting old and breaking down, causing a flood. Do you turn off the water to your toilet after each use? I have never turned off the water to any appliance or fixture between uses and can't imagine doing so.

Wow. Sounds just like the discussion we’re having at home.

We’ve never done it, but my brother and SIL had a hose break while they were gone and it sure made a mess. They installed a manifold with lever shutoffs that’s quick and easy. That’s s one of those “round tuit” things that I never remember to do.

Never.

We do have the braided stainless hoses, which hopefully will last a long time.

I only secure the water if we will be away for more than a day.

They make water sensors now that can alert you to a leak.

We do because we've had a hose break and leak. It was a three year old braided hose by the way. They're better than rubber but not infallible. Look at the inside of a braided hose and see what they're lined with.

If you chose not to, have a plumber and dry wall contractor on retainer. It wasn't inexpensive.

How compulsive are you? Do you unplug all electrical appliances in case there is a thunderstorm? This could go on forever.

Never.

No I don't. I would be more worried about any gas dryer and the feed line to it but I don't shut that off either. If house was going to be vacant for a while then I would. I understand their are portable water alarms that can connect to wifi and send an alert if the alarm goes off.

Bathroom sinks, kitchen sinks, toilets, dishwashers, refrigerators...all have water lines going to them. Might as well cut the main every time you leave the house.

The more you operate valves the more they wear and are prone to leaks too. I’d prefer a valve leak over a hose rupture but I really don’t worry about it. My washer and dryer are in the garage anyway so it would just water the garage floor and driveway. I use quality hoses and I’ve never had a leak in 20 years though. I did have a used steel braided hose rupture on me when I was remodeling my kitchen. I was in the kitchen when it blew so it was no big deal but the quality of the box store hoses is not stellar. I use steel braided hoses in an industrial environment and have never seen them rupture like the box store hoses do. I would think the quality of the box store hoses is much less than the ones we use at work.

No, I leave it but replacing the hoses isnt a bad idea. I have insurance so bad comes to worse I get a home makeover. Besides you do that and then your fridge leaks, chase that and your toilet goes. Theres always a Corellian death ray, try not to worry too much about it. Regular checks and maintenance go further I think than messing with a valve constantly in my thinking.

We don’t turn off the valves to the appliance, but I do kill the breaker to the well pump when we are out of town.

I don't turn mine off. I don't download my magazines either. And, I don't press check a gun I carry every day.

quote:

Originally posted by Scurvy:
They make water sensors now that can alert you to a leak.

There is even better than that. They have water sensors that automatically actuate the valves.