Cutting Off Water Supplies

[johnrk]

Looking through the vintage washer manuals that I've purchased on this site, all of the early ones for autos caution that the operator be certain to cut off the hot and cold water taps after each wash day, then turning them back on the next time the machine was used.

I've always turned my taps to the washer off when I've gone out of town, but certainly never do it on a daily or weekly basis.

Was there some point in the past when people quit doing this task every wash day?

 

[washerlover]

I always use the metal-reinforced hoses, not the traditional black rubber ones so I don't have to turn off the taps after each use. Never had a problem.

 

[wayupnorth]

Force of habit for me to shut the washers faucets off, like putting a seatbelt on . Too many people have been flooded when a hose bursts. Not worth taking a chance for me.

 

[frigilux]

I turn off the taps after the final load of the day. Always have, always will. As mentioned, I've seen the damage done by a burst hose or faulty inlet valve.

 

[rapunzel]

I always turn the taps off after the last wash is done. Had one incident with a burst cold water hose - I learnt my lesson. Turning taps off requires next to no effort.

 

[gyrafoam]

Old valves can leak. I have a WO-65-2 that will drip a bit of cold every now and then. Enough to put a quart or two in the bottom of the tub within a day or so.
When I had the basement plumbed I had lever-style main cut-offs installed. Makes it easy to just shut everything off when I am through with the wash day.

 

[yogitunes]

my laundry room has main valves to shut the whole room off since there are so many machines....

safety first...always!

a few seconds to turn a valve, or hours of clean up and water damage....

it is recommended to replace the hoses every 5 years, but who really keeps track of that?....

there was a time, such as going on vacation, to shut down just about the whole house, water gas and electric....

remember during an electrical storm to unplug certain appliances, Refrigerator, TV....

there was a bad storm here about a year ago.....everyone thought I was nuts running around unplugging everything.....after the storm, two of my neighbors lost quite a lot....TV, computers, washer, water heater....for them, insurance doesn't cover those items from storm damage...

don't just flip the breaker, pull the plug!

may be a bit of overkill on my part....until you see the kind of damage that can occur...

 

[kb0nes]

I've never turned off the valves, never even given it a thought. Mind you I do have a basement location next to a floor drain for my washer. Use quality hoses and keep them in good condition and a failure is darned unlikely. Manufacturers are likely to suggest turning off the supply because it can limit liability if the machine were to fail, "We told you to shut it off in the manual"...

As for metal braided hoses, these are mostly feel good window dressing. Hoses don't fail in the middle of the hose unless they are damaged (the metal braid may help here). Hoses are more likely to leak/fail at the end. I'll take a name brand known quality rubber hose over a China brand metal braided hose. The manufacturers have done a good job of fooling the buying public of possibly buying a lesser product with something shiny in this case.

 

[wayupnorth]

I have the original Maytag hoses on that came with my 511 35 years ago. Force of habit, shut off faucets, prevent anything happening and fasten your seatbelt, which is the law here. Both wise ideas.

 

[mattl]

I too have never turned off the water to any of my machines.  Never saw the need.  True, my stuff is in the basement, but doubt I'd worry if they were not.  Hoses are quite durable, unless something is really off balance they never see any movement, they are not repeatedly disconnected and reconnected as a garden hose would be, so little wear and tear.  Not a bad idea to replace them every 5-10 years but some of mine are 20+ and fine.