I was looking at replacing my current braided metal type washer hoses as they are very long and the slack seems to bang up against the washer when it's in operation and I was seeing some info online I had never heard before? The supply valves are right near the washer and I don't really need 5 foot hoses anymore.

Something about there being a newer type of hose for HE washers that is not metal braid but a special burst-proof vinyl or other material and the hose diameter is different now too?

Has anyone heard or seen this? Lowe's appears to have something I've not seen before that looks like that and the hoses are actually color coded too, red for hot and blue for cold?

Metal braid is just a covering to keep hoses from abrasion & look pretty. Outer diameter means nothing, the ID is usually the same, as well as the actual hose material. I wouldn't think too hard on it.
I skip the cheapest, usually grab something in the middle price point. Currently I have a red & blue set, but I think that was all of them that weren't the cheapest.

Are you sure that the hoses are making the noise ?
Or
Is it possible that it's the pipes in the wall that could be the noise makers ?

Search for water hammers that attach to the back of the machine,
The hose will attach to it.

There are Y.T. vids on the subject.

My hoses are black rubber or rubber-like material with no metal outer covering, bought off-the-shelf at HD many years ago, about 3' long. Before that I believe we were using recycled garden hose cut to fit, and provisioned with homeowner-attached fittings (my dad, not me). The latter lasted for decades, I don't think this is a hard-use application.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:

Are you sure that the hoses are making the noise ?

It's the hoses.

I'm watching them. On this HE machine on delicate cycle which my wife uses a lot, it seems like the valves taking in the water into the machine are very fast opening and closing and it makes the machine jump and the hoses bang against the back. I could just cushion them somehow I guess?

It's not water hammer, we did have that issue too until last year when I had a plumber put a pressure regulator on the main cold water supply line, it was like 85-90 psi and we got it to 55 psi. All our toilets used to bang after filling and the pipes would bang in various places.

Get some flexible hose insulation, tape and be done with it.

I sliced open a pool noodle & slid in a hose.

Kids won’t miss the noodle til summer.

And replace them every couple of years. They do go bad. Had one burst while I was asleep on the couch and it flooded the entire apartment in a short nap.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MikeinNC,

quote:

Originally posted by recoatlift:
I sliced open a pool noodle & slid in a hose.

Kids won’t miss the noodle til summer.

Very handy item .

My plumber put safety hoses to my washing machine. If a hose breaks the sudden large flow causes a plug to jam into the source end, cutting off the flow.

He also installed Dahl brand quarter-turn shut-off valves. “Angle stops”, he calls them. Very handy, they are. I keep them turned off except while I’m actually using the washing machine. Very easy to do. A quarter-turn CCW and they’re off. A quarter-turn CW and they’re on.

Actually, he replaced ALL of the shut off valves in my house with those Dahl angle stops.

Speaking of pool noodles.
If you cut one and place it , pressure fit.
Between the washer and dryer ,
Clothing won't fall in between the machines .

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bendable,

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
I keep them turned off except while I’m actually using the washing machine.

This right here…have those valves as well. Best practice to prevent your house from flooding should the hose fail, and I NEVER…NEVER leave the house with the washer going. I know that might not be practical for some…

It is water hammer. Dealt with this at an apartment complex I've worked on for years. New washer they bought is what caused it.

Put washing machine water hammer arrestors on it, problem solved and much easier on existing plumbing

I would emphasize replacing these hoses every few years. Woke up one morning last month to discover 3 inches of water covering the entire basement floor. Feed hose was spurting water like a small fountain.

Having seen several houses with thousands of gallons of water in the basement from burst washing machine lines in my life, don’t skimp on the washing machine hoses.

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
I keep them turned off except while I’m actually using the washing machine.

This right here…have those valves as well. Best practice to prevent your house from flooding should the hose fail, and I NEVER…NEVER leave the house with the washer going. I know that might not be practical for some…

As an additional PSA having built several hundred homes, most of which were second homes for our clients, we ALWAYS told them if they were going to be away for any length of time to close the whole house water shut off valve. It literally takes 10 seconds and will save you the aggravation of dealing with a flooded house. We actually stipulated that it was the Owners responsibility to do this in our home warranty booklet.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:

As an additional PSA having built several hundred homes, most of which were second homes for our clients, we ALWAYS told them if they were going to be away for any length of time to close the whole house water shut off valve.

SOP for me when I go away on vacation.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:

As an additional PSA having built several hundred homes, most of which were second homes for our clients, we ALWAYS told them if they were going to be away for any length of time to close the whole house water shut off valve.

SOP for me when I go away on vacation.

Yep, me too. My cut off is under the house in the crawl space but is within reach of the access door so no actual getting under the house to turn it off.

Water heaters leak, washers leak or the drain can run over... sooner or later. I moved both to my garage when I bought this house. Utility room becomes a pantry. Less to worry about.

Mom bought a Maytag washer in 1960, gave it to my brother for his college days. He gave it to me when I got married. In total it lasted right at 30 years... with the factory original rubber hoses... The hoses were still good. Guess they don't make 'em like they used to!

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:

As an additional PSA having built several hundred homes, most of which were second homes for our clients, we ALWAYS told them if they were going to be away for any length of time to close the whole house water shut off valve.

SOP for me when I go away on vacation.

Me as well. Go out, put the luggage in the truck, as Mrs. Flash gets in, I turn off the water to the house (leave it on for the drip irrigation outside).