How often should I change the washing machine hoses?
Who pays, usually: If the washer and hoses are yours, the hoses are usually your cost; with a landlord's machine, the landlord usually handles them, so report wear instead of swapping them yourself.
Filed under Probably yours
How often to replace washing machine hoses is a five-year question, since several makers say five years, and sooner if you spot a bulge, crack, rust or a damp fitting.
From the Whose Pipe Is It? desk. Sources last checked November 3, 2026. .
LG and GE both put the figure at five years in their manuals. Samsung's manual gives no interval at all, which is why the honest wording is "several makers", not "all". What nobody can give you is the date your particular hose will fail, so treat five years as an figure, and look at the hoses now and then.
If you moved in and found a machine already there, assume the hoses are old until you can show otherwise.
What are you looking for?
Pull the machine out only as far as the hoses allow, and use a flashlight. You want to see:
- A bulge or blister anywhere along the hose.
- Cracks, especially near the ends, where hoses bend.
- Rust, green crust or damp on a fitting.
- A tight kink where the machine has been pushed against the wall.
Any one of these moves the date to today. A damp floor under the machine means tell the manager or landlord too, since water may already have gone further than you can see. If it has reached the unit below, the first hour after a ceiling leak is the page your neighbor will need.
Changing the hoses, in a safe order
- Unplug the washer with dry hands, from a dry floor. If the floor is wet, leave the plug alone and tell staff.
- Close both the hot and cold valves. If one won't turn, don't force it. Stop and call a plumber or the super.
- Put a bucket and towels under the connections. Some water will come out of the old hoses.
- Take the hoses off at the valves, then at the washer, and drain them in the bucket.
- Fit the new hoses with their new rubber washers, following the instructions that came with them. Hot goes to hot, and cold to cold.
- With the washer still unplugged, open the valves slowly and check every connection for drips.
- Once the floor and your hands are dry, plug the machine in and watch one short cycle from start to finish.
- Write the date on a tag and tie it to a hose.
Are braided hoses worth it?
Steel-braided hoses are a common choice. No maker or government source read for this page says they last longer, so keep the same date. Nor is there a neutral public figure for how much water damage comes from hoses, so this page won't quote one.
What else cuts the risk?
Closing the valves. GE explains why: it relieves pressure on the hoses and valves and limits leakage if something breaks. LG's manual also has you unplug a machine that will sit for an extended period. So close them before a trip, every time.
A hose on the fifth floor has four floors of neighbors under it, and what happens with the unit below depends on your documents and the policies involved, starting with your HO-6 or renters cover. A floor sensor behind the machine is a cheap second line.
If you own
The machine and hoses are almost certainly your job, even where the pipes behind the wall aren't. If the valves are stiff or weeping, have a plumber look before you need them in a hurry.
If you rent
If the washer came with the apartment, report the hose's age or any wear to your landlord in writing and let them deal with it. If you bought the washer, the hoses are likely yours, so check what the lease says. Either way, close the valves before you go away.
The short of it
Five years is the number several makers give. Look sooner, change sooner if anything looks wrong, and close the valves when you leave town.
Asked next
Do hoses count from the day a new washer was installed?
Count from the day they went into service, if you know it. If an installer reused old hoses with a new machine, the old date still applies, so ask.
Should the valves be closed after every load?
Samsung's manual asks for that, and it does take the pressure off. If the valves are old or stiff, ask a plumber before making it a daily habit, since worn valves can start to weep.
Can a hose fail even if it looks fine?
Yes. A hose can weaken inside or at a crimp you can't see, which is why makers give a calendar date.
Read it yourself
- LG washer owner's manual: five-year replacement and extended absences, read Nov 3, 2026.
- GE washer manual, older PDF: five-year replacement and why to turn off the faucets, read Nov 3, 2026.
- Samsung washer manual: turning off the taps when not in use, read Nov 3, 2026.