Just realized I was wrong about those cheap universal washer hoses

I had a job last month where the old supply lines on a washing machine were shot. The homeowner had already bought these no-name universal hoses from a big box store, the kind that come with a bag of plastic adapters. My other choice was to run to my supplier and get the proper, brand-specific OEM hoses, which would have cost about $35 more for the pair and added an hour to the job. I went with the cheap ones to save the client time and money. Big mistake. Two weeks later, I got a callback. One of those plastic adapters had cracked at the valve, causing a slow leak that ruined the laminate floor in the laundry closet. The repair bill for the floor was over $800. I ate the cost because it was my call. Now I will never, ever install a universal hose kit again. Has anyone else been burned by trying to save a few bucks on the small parts?

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3 Comments

brookeross7mo ago

Yeah, a "time bomb" is right. I mean, they should just call them flood kits.

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matthew_hart256mo ago

Wait, they actually use plastic for that?

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price.tara7mo ago

Yeah, that's the exact lesson. Those plastic adapters are a time bomb. The stress from the machine vibrating, plus hot and cold cycles, makes brittle plastic fail. It's not a matter of if, it's when. The real cost isn't the part, it's the water damage it causes. I keep the right OEM hoses on my truck now, even if it means telling a client there's a wait. The extra charge for the correct part is just insurance.

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