Avoiding a Laundry Room Disaster

There are a number of areas in your laundry room that, if not properly maintained, may be putting your home at risk of water damage. Here are some specific areas in your laundry room that are at risk and what you can do to prevent potential losses.

Washing Machine Connections

• Inspect for tiny leaks in the connections to both the hot and cold water lines. Repair even the most minor leak.
• Check both ends of the water lines for possible leaks. Replace the small hose washers in the line if they haven't been replaced recently.
• Check for discharge hose kinks and cracks. If the hose is brittle or old, replace it.
  

Money-saving Home tip: The most destructive water damage losses in homes come from broken or burst washing machine hoses. In fact, the output of water from a broken hose is approximately 650 gallons per hour! It is recommended that you replace your machine's rubber hot and cold hoses with woven steel hoses. For less than $15 you can get six feet of woven steel hose from your local home improvement store. This simple upgrade could save your home from serious water damage problems.

Hard Water Problems

• In areas with hard or mineral-laden water, if the washer is slow to fill, there's a good chance that the in-line filter is clogged. Turn off the water supply and remove the hoses. Remove t he small wire filters from the washer inlets, or, if not removable, use an old toothbrush, cotton swab or shop vacuum to clean out the clogged filters.
• Is there a steady drip into the washing machine? Grit has probably damaged the shut-off valve. Repair it yourself or call an appliance repair specialist.

Hoses & Filters

• Inspect and periodically replace all types of hoses.
• When replacing hoses, be sure to also install new hose washers.

Utility Sinks

• If the utility sink drains sluggishly, take steps to remove the blockage
• Watch for any sighs of dripping faucets, water damage to the flooring, or leaks in the drain pipe. Do not ignore even a small leak.

Dryer Connections

• If the dryer vent hose isn't tightly connected to the outside vent, repair the clamp or re-tape to seal.
• If dryer lint is accumulating behind and under the dryer, the vent pipe may be clogged. Check that it is free of debris, both from the inside and outside of the house.
• If there are too many twists and turns in the line for the dryer to vent efficiently, make the exhaust more short and straight.

Laundry Room Smart Tips

• Give the utility sink periodic drain treatments to prevent clogs and promote free drainage.
• If at all possible, connect the dryer hose in a straight line with the outdoor vent.
• Metal dryer vent pipes are preferable to the plastic accordion types.
• Hose clamps and good metal HVAC tape can help seal up a poorly connected dryer hose and eliminate excessive moisture and dust accumulation.
• Make it a habit to vacuum around and behind the washer and dryer routinely.
• Keep the laundry area clean, dust and dirt combined with moisture can promote unwanted growth.
• Remember to clean out the dryer lint trap after each load.

Thanks to the Institute for Business & Home Safety for providing this material along with the folks at Kemper Insurance, a Unitrin Company. Visit IBHS for more ways in which to protect your home at www.ibhs.org.

Remember, all of us at Mars Insurance are advocates for home safety.