Mark Bolton
12-11-2016, 11:01 AM
Passing this along. I have long had my chops busted in the trade for refusing to use flex lines under water closets, vanities, sinks, water heaters, dishwashers supplies, etc.. To this day we always use soft copper and plated sink and closet supplies and hard pipe everywhere other than washing machines of course. Ive seen these flex lines everywhere and even seen them buried in walls several times. One of my early jobs in the trade almost 30 years ago was an insurance job for a complete first floor and finished basement when a first floor washing machine hose let go in the night and the homeowner woke in the morning to a half inch of water in the first floor (there was a tight fitting sweep on the basement door) and the finished basement (drop ceiling, drywall, carpet) completely destroyed. This was before the days of a washing machine trays (not that they will even catch a spraying supply hose).
Well, here is another. Sometime in the night this water heater supply decided to give up the ghost.
349258
This is bleeding off after the water has been shut off. It was a full pressure, misty, spray shooting clear across the small basement. Along with the contents of the basement being drenched the leak just so happend to point directly at the service entrance lol...
349259
The stream was hitting directly at the top of the panel so the panel took on quite a bit of internal water through the romex connectors. Could have been much worse given the supply pretty much fell apart when it came off. It was like the internal rubber tube just turned to putty. This is on a chlorinated city water system (an enemy of plastic) which likely didnt help the situation.
While solid/copper can also spring a leak its pretty rare and usually gives you a long visual warning. I cant imagine what these flex lines will cost the insurance industry and homeowners over time but it'd be worth giving them a pinch/squeeze/wiggle occasionally to possibly try and catch one on the way out but it may be tough to tell under pressure.
Well, here is another. Sometime in the night this water heater supply decided to give up the ghost.
349258
This is bleeding off after the water has been shut off. It was a full pressure, misty, spray shooting clear across the small basement. Along with the contents of the basement being drenched the leak just so happend to point directly at the service entrance lol...
349259
The stream was hitting directly at the top of the panel so the panel took on quite a bit of internal water through the romex connectors. Could have been much worse given the supply pretty much fell apart when it came off. It was like the internal rubber tube just turned to putty. This is on a chlorinated city water system (an enemy of plastic) which likely didnt help the situation.
While solid/copper can also spring a leak its pretty rare and usually gives you a long visual warning. I cant imagine what these flex lines will cost the insurance industry and homeowners over time but it'd be worth giving them a pinch/squeeze/wiggle occasionally to possibly try and catch one on the way out but it may be tough to tell under pressure.