You can avoid Washing Machine Hose Failure

According to insurance companies, washing machine related failures are one of the top 10 leading sources of residential claims. You can protect yourself from a flooding disaster by taking some simple preventive steps.

THE CAUSE

Washer hoses can fail at, or within a few inches of the coupling, especially the common black orignal washer hose. It most often bursts where the coupling is crimped, or attached to the hose.




Washer hose about to burst


The life span of rubber hoses are effected over time by the bend in the hose, water pressure, chemicals and minerals naturally found in water. These chemicals can easily corrode and rust the light metal coupling, inside and out. The corroded insert inside the hose becomes jagged and sharp. The washing machine’s vibration, movement and constant water pressure causes the jagged leading edge of the insert to gradually cut through the hose’s inner tube, allowing the pressurized water to escape and migrate between the tube and outer cover, forming a bubble. When eventually that bursts, you could end up with an expensive mess to cleanup. With 70 pounds of water pressure, a burst washing machine hose can dump 2271 litres of water per hour into your home. With this water weighing in at 2268 kilograms, you can only imagine the damage this happening while you’re sleeping, away for the weekend, or on vacation for several days or weeks.http://www.castanet.net/news/About-the-House-Hugh-Cairns/63881/Leaking-washing-machine-hoses

THE IMPACT



Water damage

Many washing machine manufacturers caution owners to shut off the water supply when not using the machine and to replace the hoses regularly every 3-5 years. Check your manual!

THE SOLUTION(S)

One good option is to steel install braided supply lines. Stainless steel braided washing machine hoses are encased in a woven metal sleeve that help prevents weak spots in the rubber from developing into leaks. They are much more resilient and last longer. They can be purchased at most DYI home centers, hardware and plumbing supply stores. They are more resistant to any cuts or twists in comparison to the rubber hoses.

There are many other options available as well:

     Automatic Water Shutoff at the washing machine

  

     Floodsafe Connectors

     FloodStop

 

     FloodChek washing machine hoses

How to upgrade your washing hoses

Check all appliance hoses frequently and replace at any sign of wear!

Reduce the Risk of Basement Flooding with a BackFlow Preventer Valve

Reduce the risk of flooding through the basement drain with a backflow preventer valve. If your house has a basement floor drain, it could be subject to backflow. Backflow is what happens when the city sanitary sewer surcharges; this refers to the rise in water levels in sewer mains caused by the overloading or a blockage in the City sewer system. The end result - you end up getting sewage entering your basement through the floor drain.

Backflow preventer for floor drains

Luckily, although not completely fool proof, you could install a backflow preventer (also called a check valve) directly in your floor drain. They are inexpensive, and easy to install. It comprises basically of a compressed rubber gasket, with a floating ball mounted on a spring that is installed directly in to the vertical pipe of the floor drain.  The ball is normally pushed downwards (open) by a spring. If the sewers surcharge and backflow into your basement, the liquid will cause the float ball to float up into the ring or ball gasket, thus sealing up your floor drain and preventing the waste from entering your basement. A backflow preventer permanently installed should not interfere with the floor drain’s normal operation.

CAUTION: A backflow prevention valve left in the floor drain could contribute to a wet basement if water from a laundry tub spill or a leaky pipe cannot drain out. These valves could be jammed open by a small amount of debris - backflow preventer valves should be cleaned and checked on an annual basis. Many insurance companies recommend these devices http://www1.johnson.ca/home-insurance/water-safety

 

For a very detailed Ottawa home inspection, call (613-799-3698) or email Barry at (barry@ib42.ca). We inspect homes in Kanata, Ottawa, Barrhaven, Orleans, Stittsville and surrounding areas. Inspection by 42 Home Inspections

Free Exterior Home Inspection Checklist

Created a free printable home inspection checklist that you can use when looking at a home to buy or when preparing your existing home for sale.

 

This exterior home inspection checklist covers the exterior of the home and includes balcony, deck, masonry, chimney, driveway, fences, windows, doors, roof and more...

Click to view checklist

 

Ice Dams

 

THE CAUSE

Ice dams are the accumulation of ice at the eaves and in the valleys of roofs. This can be the result of several factors:

• not enough attic insulation;
• not enough attic ventilation, or
• the combination of both

These conditions can cause roof snow to melt and slide down to the eaves, where the roof surface is cooler and the melting snow freezes to the roof. The melting ice and snow causes water to pool behind this dam and icicles to form at the eaves.

 

THE IMPACT

Sometimes the water backs up and seeps between the shingle layers, wetting the roof sheathing, and often leaking into the walls and ceilings of the interior spaces below.

THE SOLUTION

1. Make sure that all attic/ceiling penetrations are well sealed and insulated to keep warm, moist air (air leakage) out of the attic. Areas that can be checked:

• attic hatch (needs to be both insulated and weatherstripped. Foam board to insulate the hatch, and foam weatherstripping around the hatch.)
• electrical/light fixtures
• bathroom exhaust fans
• plumbing stacks
• chimneys
• duct work (bathroom exhaust) 

Inspected by 42 - Home Inspections provides a consulting service using an infrared camera to pin point specific locations in the attic where warm air is leaking into the attic space.

2. Make sure there is free and unobstructed air movement beneath the roof surface to provide adequate attic ventilation (approx. ratio of 1 to 300 or 1 sq.ft./300 sq.ft. of ceiling area). http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/yohoyohe/inaiqu/inaiqu_009.cfm

3. Make sure that soffit vents are not blocked by insulation. Use appropriate baffles/barriers between the rafters/trusses to avoid loose fill/blown-in insulation from settling in the eaves. A minimum insulation value of R-40 to R-50 is recommended, and it is generally better to insulate to a higher R-value than the minimum recommended level.

Tip: You can determine the thickness of your attic's insulation; for example, to achieve R-40, you will need approximately 13.5 inches of fibreglass blanket insulation. For R-50, you would need about 16.75 in. Check the insulation values for various types of insulation in the following article:  http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/enefcosa/enefcosa_002.cfm

4. Make sure that eaves troughing, downspouts and downspout extensions are able to  discharging water. Eaves troughing that is not properly sloped or not cleared of leaves and debris, can also cause ice dams.
 

5. All homes are different, you can always contact a roofing professional for expert for advice if you have a ice dam problem that persists.

See Also:

Asphalt Roofing Technical Bulletin #10 - http://www.casma.ca/en/bulletin_10.shtml
 

Keeping the Heat In - http://oee.rncan.gc.ca/node/9373

For a very detailed and professional Ottawa home inspection, ice dam consultation or infrarad scan, call (613-799-3698) or email Barry at Inspection by 42 Home Inspections (barry@inspectedby42.com. We inspect homes in Carp, Bridlewood, Bells Corners, Manotic, Greely, Constance Bay, Kanata, Ottawa, Barrhaven, Orleans, Stittsville and surrounding areas.

Keep Your Gas Meter Accessible and Free of Safety Hazards

NOTE: If you smell natural gas or suspect a gas leak at any time, leave the area and call your gas utility company.

During the winter months, keep an eye on your outdoor natural gas meter, pressure regulator, gas piping and pressure relief valve. Every gas meter has a pressure relief valve which is a safety device used in gas lines to prevent an excess pressure build up. The valve will automatically vent gas to the atmosphere if pressures reach an unsafe level. It is important to keep this accessible, clear of snow and debris. 



Gas meter covered by snow

Tips to consider:

• Never let snow completely cover your gas meter.
• Do not shovel snow up against your gas meter.
• Use caution when using a snow blower or snow plow near your gas meter.
• Never kick or hit the gas meter or its piping to break away built-up snow or ice.
• Do not use sharp objects to clear the snow or ice.
• Remove icicles from your overhead eaves trough and watch for buildup of freezing rain or water dripping from the roof or eaves trough onto your meter.
• Use a broom, a car brush or your hands to gently clear snow and ice.
• Accumulated snow places stress on your meter piping; damage to the piping could cause a gas leak.
• Never use salt, ice melting chemicals or pour hot water on the gas equipment to melt ice.
• Don't try to chip the ice off the gas meter, because you could damage the meter and cause a gas leak.
• Check the area around your gas meter regularly. If possible, maintain a path to your meter for emergency response personnel.
• Be familiar with the location of your meter and its shut-off location.
• Meters should be visible to snow plow operators when located near sidewalks or driveways.

The external vent pipes of furnaces, fireplaces, water heaters and clothes dryers should also be kept clear.

 

Consult your gas utility company for more information and safety tips.

 

 

For a very detailed and professional Ottawa home inspection, call (613-799-3698) or email Barry at Inspection by 42 Home Inspections (barry@ib42.ca). We inspect homes in Kanata, Ottawa, Barrhaven, Orleans, Stittsville and surrounding areas.