| Author | Content |
| claypa West Pottsgrove, PA Zone 6b June 4, 2007 | My elderly neighbor called me in a panic about an hour ago. The cold water supply hose for her washer burst and sprayed water ALL OVER her basement. The ceiling, a wall, the area rugs and everything in between was soaked. It's not a finished basement so it's not nearly as bad as it could be, but it's a mess. It only ran for 15 or 20 minutes before she noticed it, but if she had not been home it would have been a lot worse. With a lot of people installing upstairs laundries, I figured I'd mention it. The moral of the story: look into flood control supply valves for your washing machine, especially if it's upstairs, and use braided steel or other high quality hoses! There are one-handed shut-off valves too. A lot easier to use when water is spraying in your face! It's cheap insurance.
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| critterologist Frederick, MD Zone 6b October 13, 2007 | "flood control supply valves" Now there's something I didn't even know existed! We do have a shut-off valve on our high pressure line to the washer, and we make sure it's turned to "off" when we go on vacation. We should probably get in the habit of turning it "off" after the last load goes into the dryer on laundry day, also. I do love having an upstairs W/D in a nook I added to the design of the upstairs hallway.... |
| claypa West Pottsgrove, PA Zone 6b October 13, 2007 | You know what, I just finished getting the carpet out of my neighbor's basement yesterday. Her son was supposed to do it but I guess his back is bad, from too much golfing, I think. ?!?! The valves are solenoids, a pretty simple electro-mechanical gizmo. If there's a drip or leak (or worse) the water acts as a switch and the water is shut off. Watch, in a few years they'll be required by building codes and homeowner's insurance companies. |
