How Often Should Washing Machine Hoses Be Replaced?
Updated
Short answer
Whirlpool and Maytag both recommend replacing a washing machine's inlet hoses every 5 years to reduce the risk of hose failure and leaks. Samsung adds a caution for its washers: do not use Flood Safe hoses.
The recommendation appears on Whirlpool's and Maytag's own inlet hose listings: "We recommend replacing your washing machine's inlet hoses every 5 years to reduce the risk of hose failure and leaks" (Whirlpool).
When you replace them
- Turn both supply valves off first and keep a bucket handy.
- Connect hot to hot and cold to cold. Samsung shows a 4C2 code when they are swapped (Samsung).
- Leave a little slack so the washer is not pushed against a kinked hose; kinks cause fill errors.
- LG's inlet hoses have filters at the washer end that catch sediment; rinse them while the hoses are off (LG).
Quick answers
How often should washer hoses be replaced?
Every 5 years, according to Whirlpool and Maytag.
What happens if washer hoses are swapped?
Samsung washers show a 4C2 hot/cold error; Samsung says to reconnect cold to cold and hot to hot.
Rather have someone fix it?
Tell us the appliance, the brand, the model number and what it is doing. A local technician calls back with a time and a price before any work starts.