Avoiding Serious Damage From Burst Flexible Hoses
Flexi hoses are throughout most Australian homes. They can be found in connections from the wall outlet to sinks, toilets, washing machines, dishwashers, taps connected to home mains, plumbed fridges and more. However, they are not without risks to your home. If not checked and maintained properly, you can end up with burst flexi hose, leading to heavy flooding.
Flexible plumbing hoses, or flexi-hoses, are rubber pipes surrounded by braided lengths of stainless steel. They’re used to connect water to taps and fixtures. These flexible hose pipes reduce the stress on pipes by absorbing hydraulic shock and ground movement.
What are the advantages of using flexible hoses?
These hoses are relatively cheap and readily available. They’re also versatile as they can be bent and shaped to accommodate your water supply. They are quick to install and they overcome tricky alignment issues.
Tips for choosing the best flexible hose
While there’s no burst proof flexible hoses, not all hoses are equal.
Most problems with flexible hoses come from the use of low-quality steel and brass barb fittings. When not properly manufactured or heat-treated, they are more susceptible to corrosion.
The size of braiding is also important, as some of the cheapest flexible braided hoses use a thinner, weaker braid which can fail or corrode more easily.
Some products provide an extra layer of protection against the incidence of bursting flexible hoses, with a plastic coating applied over the stainless steel braiding, making it more resistant to corrosion.
As a general rule, always ensure that your flexible hoses display the WaterMark certification.
Do flexible hoses last?
Before you find yourself in deep water, it’s wise to have your hoses inspected regularly by a professional plumber to ensure they are in top working condition. Look for signs of ageing, such as bulges, kinks, frayed areas or rust spots on the braided section of the pipe.
Make sure you also check warranty period and expiry dates. If your hoses are showing any signs of wear, get in touch with Platinum Plumbing today.
Recent data released by insurance companies show that flexible hoses are the number one cause of internal flooding in Australian homes. Burst flexible water hoses cause more than 20% of water damage claims. As flexible hoses can leak up to 1,500 litres of water per hour, this can lead to irreversible water damage to your house.
Why do flexible hoses burst?
The rubber tube inside flexible hoses expands under pressure, and the stainless steel braid is designed to prevent further expansion. However, if the stainless steel fails and breaks, water pressure will cause the rubber lining to bulge out of the sleeve and rupture.
Sometimes, damage occurs during installation, especially when people attempt to do plumbing installations themselves. Twisting or stretching the hose to make it fit during installation may cause a weak point in the hosing.
Flexible hoses used in closed cupboards under sinks are most at risk due to the high humidity environment caused by condensation. This is especially true for cupboards where household chemicals are stored. Those chemicals often contain chlorine which stays in the air in the closed cabinet and dissolves into hydrochloric acid under humidity, corroding the stainless steel braiding.
Preventing bursts
There are several things you can do to reduce the likelihood of a burst flexible hose, but as a general rule, remember that regular maintenance is much cheaper than damage repair.
Have good quality flexible hoses (with the WaterMark certification) installed by a licensed plumber.
Talk to us today to start a preventative maintenance program, regularly checking your flexible hoses for damage or leaks.
Get mini stop valves added on all water lines with flexible hose connections, so that they can easily be isolated in an emergency situation.
Install a vent hole in cupboards to allow for ventilation and reduce humidity and chlorine levels in closed cupboards where household chemicals are kept.
Switch off the main water supply of your home when you are going away for an extended period.
If you notice any damage on your flexible hoses and need a local plumber to install or maintain the flexible hoses in your home or investment property, Platinum Plumbing would love the opportunity to help.
Call us today on 07 5452 7880 for more information or to book your inspection.