Flood safe hoses

[alsaroy]

Has anyone experienced the problem that we just discovered. A new Whirlpool dishwasher which is used very seldom n a summer only home stopped getting water supply after the first season. Assuming it was a bad solenoid valve not opening to let the water in. However, it turned out that the installer used a new "flood safe" inlet hose. This has a check valve at the water supply to shut off water flow when it detects a leak. However, it also detects normal DW water use as a leak and shuts off the water flow. What a dumb idea!. Now we have to change out the hose for a standard water supply hose.

 

[wayupnorth]

Flood safe reinforced inlet hoses are the best with none of the check valves for a washer that people cant bother to turn off the faucets after use. A permantly installed dishwasher should be hard connected with an easy to get at shutoff. As a just in case. I have heard of and seen some places and the mess caused by a burst rubber hose.

 

[washdaddy]

I would have the installer correct this issue for you. He has installed the dw with an unreliable water source. If it was installed next to your sink he should have installed it right off the hot water line under the sink with a cutoff to shut off the water when you aren't going to be there for an extended period of time.

 

[arbilab]

There are two good 'flood safe' implementations. One involves a flow restrictor and flow above that volume/rate is sealed off. The other is an active device that detects water where it should not be and seals the source.

Frankly, should a "hose" be used with a dishwasher inlet? Every install I've seen (since 1953) is copper to copper.

There are 'flood resistant' washer hoses, wrapped with stranded metal to take the load of expansion off the rubber. But even those are not necessarily "install and forget" like you'd expect a dishwasher connection to be.

 

[combo52]

Flood Safe Hoses With Automatic Shut-Down

Are a complete waste of time and money, as an appliance serverser we have already made a few thousand dollars on service calls that were the result of these stupid hoses. These hoses are designed to shut off the water supply if there is a major burst of the hose or inlet valve on the appliance, well in 30 plus years I have never seen a totally broken inlet hose, yes I have seen many spewing a good sized stream of water but unless the flow started all at once and is flowing at a rate of over 5 gallons per minute the shut-off feature of these hoses will never shut down the water flow.

The hoses that come with a new washer will easily outlast the machine in 99%+ of the time, but If your machine is installed in a part of the home where a water leak would be catastrophic I would consider using better hoses and taking other precautions to prevent water damage in the event of a leak or flood.

 

[frigilux]

John-- What's your recommendation for high-quality washer hoses? Brand name too, if possible. Thanks!

 

[ronhic]

Every install I've seen (since 1953) is copper to copper

That's really interesting as I reckon I'd be hard pressed to find a domestic dishwasher in this country that doesn't use an inlet hose.

 

[kb0nes]

Seems to be hard to find a trustworthy hose (or anything else for that matter) in today's market. Used to be you could buy a Gates or other top quality hose and it would last nearly forever. Today most of these hoses are made in China and sold without any sort of brand name. I always think if the company isn't proud enough to put their name on it I'm not interested.

The other confusion is the stainless braid silliness. Hoses seldom fail in the middle of the run unless they are cut somehow. The stainless braid doesn't make the end joints more solid. Its just like modern appliances, being covered in stainless doesn't make them better then non-stainless units, but it sure sells! Air hoses normally carry more pressure then water supply hoses, yet they never have a stainless over braid.

I have used both Watts and Fluidmaster hoses and they seem to be made well. Those red and blue Floodcheck hoses look pretty good too but boy are they proud ($$) of them, I suppose the significant extra cost helps cover the warranty. The FSP hoses always seemed just fine to me. I just replaced the set that came with the 1981 Whirlpool a few years ago and they were still fine. Do new machines still come with replacement hoses?

John's advice on the flow preventer 'safety' devices is sound, a failure is generally a leak not a blowout, at least at first. They are more likely to cause problems then prevent floods. Choose decent hoses, install them carefully, don't twist or strain them and inspect them frequently. If you are going to be away for a period of time, shut off the water. If I was dealing with a cabin or Summer home you can bet the main water would be shut off when I leave it.

 

[repair-man]

I have seen many rubber fill hoses rupture in the middle. But I will agree it is more often near the end joint. Sometimes it's not obvious where it breaks because the entire outer rubber casing is swelling full of water. I think the braided hose should prevent this. The problem I have with them is they seem more vulnerable to leaks at the fittings. And I absolutely agree that the flood-safe hoses are a joke

 

[henene4]

Miele WPS / BSH AquaStop

A system common on German dishwashers and some washers is the hose-in-hose system with a valve asambly on the faucet end.
Infact, there is a standard (or a bit smaller) rubber hose inside a plastic hull-hose. Within that plastic surrounding, there is a cable conecting to the valve assembly at the faucet end of the hose which is again installed inside a solid plastic box about the size of the palm of your hand. This box contains 2 parallel wired valves so if one fails the system can still shut the water down. The plastic hull ends inside the machine with an open end so if the inner hose fails all water collects in the bottom pan of your DW/washer. This pan is than again equipped with a float switch.
I think to remember that Miele still has a valve inside the machine whereas BSH has not, but I might be wrong.
Now, if the inner water leading hose bursts, all water is kept inside the plastic hull, running down into the bottom pan. Whenever water in the bottom pan activates the float switch (so, no matter if the leak is in the machine or at the hose), all water valves are shut and the drain pump is activated. This happens as well if the overflow protection is triggered.
Both systems have a life long warranty which covers any damage that is caused by water leaking outside your machine.

 

[yogitunes]

this house had copper tubing from valve to dishwasher, with compression fittings.....like any of it really matters.....a leak can happen anywhere along that path....

mine sprung a leak at the valve itself, not from the connection, but from where the handle turns its off.....which had to replaced.....didn't notice it until it started to come through the floor into the basement....

so I could have had the best of every hose and machine safety in place, and still ended up with a flood.....

best thoughts, buy good quality, don't go overkill, and just keep an eye on this stuff annually...turning off supply if going on vacation....