Dealing with the Washing Machine Hoses Today

Okay, so I finally got around to swapping out the supply hoses on my washing machine today. Been meaning to do it for ages. The old rubber ones were looking a bit sketchy, honestly. You know, slightly bulged in places? Didn't want to come home to a flood someday, that's the main thing.

First thing I did was head over to the local hardware store. Stood there for a bit looking at the options. Just plain rubber again, or those fancy-looking braided stainless steel ones. Decided to go with the braided steel hoses this time. They cost a bit more, but figured it's worth it for the peace of mind. Grabbed a pair, one for hot, one for cold.

Got back home. Pulled the washing machine out from the wall a bit. Always more dust back there than you think! Then, the important part: finding those little taps on the wall where the hoses connect. Found 'em, one red handle, one blue. Turned both of them off tight. Had to give them a good twist, they were a bit stiff.

Next, I grabbed an old bucket and some towels. Knew some water would spill out. Put the bucket under the connections. Took my adjustable wrench and carefully started loosening the old hoses from the wall taps first. Yep, water dribbled out, caught most of it in the bucket. Did the same for the connections on the back of the washer itself. The old hoses felt kind of brittle when I took them off.

Alright, time for the new ones. Unpacked the braided hoses. Checked they had the little rubber washer things inside each end. Started by connecting them to the back of the washing machine. Matched the hot hose to the hot inlet and cold to cold. Just screwed them on hand-tight at first, then gave them maybe a quarter-turn more with the wrench. Don't want to strip the threads or crack anything by going too tight.

Then I connected the other ends to the wall taps. Same process: hand-tight, then a little snug-up with the wrench. Made sure both ends of both hoses felt secure.

Moment of truth. Took a deep breath and slowly turned the water taps back on. Opened the hot valve first, then the cold. Immediately looked closely at all four connection points – where the hoses meet the washer and where they meet the wall taps. Watched for any drips. Wiped everything down with a dry paper towel so I could easily spot even a tiny leak. Looked good, bone dry.

Pushed the washer back towards the wall, leaving a little gap just in case. Decided to run a quick rinse cycle just to put some pressure through the new hoses and double-check everything while water was actually flowing. Kept an eye on the connections during the cycle. Still dry. Success!

Feels good to have that job done. Simple task, really, but one of those things that can save you a massive headache down the line. Definitely worth checking your hoses every now and then and replacing them if they look old or worn.