Washer/dryer advice

[rice is burning]

I was listening to Carolla's podcast the other day and he said that they make a device that:

a) disconnects power from both of them automatically when they're not in use. Dunno if you guys are aware but dryers have a tendency to spontaneously self-combust and burn down your house, even when they're not in use; and

b) disconnects the water lines from your washing machine when it's turned off. I hadn't really thought about it, but the hoses eventually get old and split open and flood your house.

I'm not necessarily paranoid but I'm interested in something like that.

Anyone?

[barry2952]

I was listening to Carolla's podcast the other day and he said that they make a device that:

a) disconnects power from both of them automatically when they're not in use. Dunno if you guys are aware but dryers have a tendency to spontaneously self-combust and burn down your house, even when they're not in use; and

b) disconnects the water lines from your washing machine when it's turned off. I hadn't really thought about it, but the hoses eventually get old and split open and flood your house.

I'm not necessarily paranoid but I'm interested in something like that.

Anyone?

(a) is purely a maintenance and proper installation issue. If you have flex duct, get rid of it. It's the built up dust and lint that catches fire.

(b) is simply cured by installing stainless braided hoses.

(c) make sure your outlet is not clogged with a bird's nest.

[GeoffD]

(b) is simply cured by installing stainless braided hoses.

My stainless braided hot water hose failed when it was 8 months old. I was living in my other house at the time. The insurance check to replace hardwood floors (also 8 months old) and sheet rock/insulation was $8,000.

I now have a washing machine water shutoff and use it religiously. I also added a whole house shutoff that kills water to everything but my boiler and I use that religiously when I'm gone for more than a few days.

...and in the spirit of "while it's opened up", those repairs uncovered a rotted sill. ...and the whole front of the house was re-framed from the inside-out. ...and the electrical in those opened up walls was rewired. It delayed my bathroom remodel project by a year. The new framing and insulation make a big difference with neighborhood noise. It used to be that a neighbor mowing their lawn sounded like the mower was in my living room.

[barry2952]

My stainless braided hot water hose failed when it was 8 months old.

That's pretty rare.

[PowerDubs]

Not only is it 'extremely rare'.. I'd have to see a pic to believe it.

More likely the seal at the end of the hose was damaged or had debris upon install than the physical hose itself fail. The entire purpose of the braid is to prohibit the hose from being able to expand and burst.

Washers can leak for several reasons. 99% of the time, they will only leak while in the process of being ran. The other time, the fill valves that open and close to regulate the fill can fail. Normally they leak slowly when bad (like a leaky kitchen faucet) and just fill the machine when they shouldn't. People will come to the machine the next day and it will have water in the tub from overnight. On rare occasion, the leak will be fast enough to fill the machine and overflow on the floor.

They sell hoses with self closing pressure valves inside. Junk. They are more trouble than they are worth. They close when they are not supposed to and people think the machine is broken.

They also sell fancy electronic solenoid valves that install at the wall and go to a 'sensor' on the floor that shuts off the flow if it gets wet. Waste of money. As suggested, just get SS lines and call it a day. If you are paranoid, manually shut the valves yourself when not in use.


Dryers do NOT spontaneously 'self-combust'. As Larry point out, dryer fires are caused by venting issues.. obstruction due to lack of maint, animals, kinked or crushed venting between machine and wall, etc. If there were no buildup of fuzz or birds nest in places it shouldn't be.. you can leave a dryer on all day long and not start a fire. The physical components that allow it to heat will eventually fail and cease to function.. but no fire will occur.

[rice is burning]

My stainless braided hot water hose failed when it was 8 months old. I was living in my other house at the time. The insurance check to replace hardwood floors (also 8 months old) and sheet rock/insulation was $8,000.

I now have a washing machine water shutoff and use it religiously.

What are you using? I maintain my house but I also use $10/qt oil in my 11 year old Honda. Is it a waste of time? Maybe. Is it a waste of money? Maybe.

Things tend to break. Mine probably won't but the risk/reward factor leans towards being a little pro-active.

[Chameleon2]

my (12 year old) washer just died with the tub full of water....how do I drain the water out?

[PowerDubs]

You need to be more specific.

Top load? Front load? Brand?

[PowerDubs]

Just for fun, I am going to take a shot in the dark.

I'm going to guess a Whirlpool built top load with a mechanical dial.

I'm going to guess the lid switch is broken- on the right hand side when you open the lid.

[Chameleon2]

Admiral (Maytag); top load; mechanical dial.

had been making a loud ratcheting sound for a couple of weeks.

doing same today when I heard a loud bang. faint electrical smell.

[PowerDubs]

Same answer- check lid switch.

Most of those basic style of washers use a simple open/close contact. If you have no small children and no intention of sticking your arm into the unit whilst on the spin cycle; bypass the switch.

[PowerDubs]

No fair editing your post with new info.


Skip the lid switch. You ignored a mechanical cry for help and let something turn into something worse. Never a good idea to run things when they make funny noises. There is generally a reason.

If it truly is an electrical smell instead of a rubber belt slipping smell.. then it is coming from your motor.

ShopVac out the water. Buy new machine.

[Chameleon2]

thanks

[barry2952]

You ignored a mechanical cry for help

I may use that, thanks.

[GeoffD]

Not only is it 'extremely rare'.. I'd have to see a pic to believe it.

More likely the seal at the end of the hose was damaged or had debris upon install than the physical hose itself fail. The entire purpose of the braid is to prohibit the hose from being able to expand and burst.

It failed where the hose meets the connector at the faucet.

[technivoro.us]

Admiral (Maytag); top load; mechanical dial.

had been making a loud ratcheting sound for a couple of weeks.

doing same today when I heard a loud bang. faint electrical smell.

Is it a direct drive? If so, the drive coupler probably failed. Probably need something like this: http://www.bafiltersupply.com/Genuin...A-_p_3843.html

[PowerDubs]

No need for a whirlpool coupler on a 12 y/o Admiral/Maytag.

Whirlpool didn't purchase Maytag until 6-7 years ago.

And a broken motor coupler causes a disconnect from the transmission. The unit would still fill and drain.. just not spin / agitate.


- Josh

[rbloedow]

That's pretty rare.

Not really - even braided lines should be replaced every few years. It recently happened to a friend of mine.....

[moonstation 2000]

I have some apartments and use the manual shut off valves in all of them with stainless braided hoses. No problems.

My gf's upstairs neighbour last year had regular hoses that blew out and flooded her place. It was a mess. Insurance covered it but it was still a hassle. Got my gf some stainless lines right away.

[AJB]

I just saw this on This Old House the other day:

http://www.timeoutbykeeney.com/

I might be getting one of those.

[PowerDubs]

WTF for?

Turn the water on when you put the clothes in, turn it off when the load is done.

You really need a timed device to do this for you?

[rice is burning]

Dryers do NOT spontaneously 'self-combust'. As Larry point out, dryer fires are caused by venting issues.. obstruction due to lack of maint, animals, kinked or crushed venting between machine and wall, etc. If there were no buildup of fuzz or birds nest in places it shouldn't be.. you can leave a dryer on all day long and not start a fire. The physical components that allow it to heat will eventually fail and cease to function.. but no fire will occur.

Ummm they do catch on fire, occasionally. Normally, no.

Also Dodge Ram trucks do not melt their wiring harnesses and catch on fire. I watched it happen, and I tried to fight it with a fire extinguisher as I called 911 on my phone. It burned to the ground.

I specifically heard a dude with years of construction experience say that there is an easy way to prevent potential disaster with a couple of devices. Also he wasn't trying to sell me anything.

I could go bang 50 girls and there's a large probability that I wouldn't get HIV. Odds are I wouldn't take my chances.

Later, ricey

[PowerDubs]

Believe what you want. I do this for a living.


- Josh

[barry2952]

People believe stupid ****. What ae you going to do?

They make stupid analogies to try to make their point, too.