Water hose home inspection guide
Flexible Hose Bursts: A Hidden Risk That Could Flood Your Home – How Ivanhoe Plumbing and Gas Can Help
This might hit closer to home than you realise. One of the biggest causes of major water damage and costly insurance claims throughout Melbourne is a burst flexible hose beneath taps and basins. When these hoses fail, they release water at a full blast — approximately 1500 litres per hour — flooding your home before you even hear a thing.
A Real Emergency: Burst Flexible Hose in a Melbourne Home
Recently, one of our experienced plumbers at Ivanhoe Plumbing and Gas attended a job where an elderly client returned home after a two-week holiday to find her house flooded. Water had soaked carpets, walls, and ceilings — even upstairs areas — with water still flowing uncontrolled.
Upon inspection, we discovered the cause: a burst flexible hose under an upstairs bathroom basin’s hot tap. The damage was extensive, and the hot water unit was still pumping water into the home, compounding the issue.
Why Water Pressure Matters – And What Your Insurance May Not Cover
During discussions with the client’s insurance provider, it became clear that their home’s water pressure exceeded the insurer’s coverage limit of 500 KPA. High water pressure is a common but often overlooked cause of flexible hose failure, and it can leave you exposed to severe damage and potential insurance complications.
How to Protect Your Home from Flexible Hose Bursts
At Ivanhoe Plumbing and Gas, we recommend the following to reduce your risk of flooding and damage caused by hose failure:
Control your water pressure: We can install pressure-reducing valves to keep your water pressure within safe limits.
Install mini stop valves on taps with flexible hoses: These valves allow you to isolate individual taps, reducing flood risk if a hose bursts.
Turn off your water supply or hot water unit before extended absences: This simple step can prevent disaster if a hose fails while you’re away.
Know your home’s plumbing layout: Our team can provide walkthroughs to help you identify potential risks and plan maintenance.
Regularly inspect flexible hoses: Healthy hoses are shiny and smooth. Look for stains, bulges, rust, or fraying, which indicate wear and potential failure.
Use daylight saving changes as a reminder: When you change your smoke alarm batteries, also check hoses, temperature and pressure relief valves (TPR), and other critical plumbing components.
Book a Plumbing Maintenance Check with Ivanhoe Plumbing and Gas
Maintenance is always easier, more cost-effective, and far less stressful than emergency repairs after damage occurs. If you’d like a licensed plumber from Ivanhoe Plumbing and Gas to inspect your property, offer practical advice, or provide a no-obligation maintenance quote, call us today on 0421 204 969.
Note: Call-out fees apply on weekends and public holidays but will be waived if you proceed with any work.
Protect your home from costly water damage and flooding risks. Schedule your plumbing maintenance with Ivanhoe Plumbing and Gas now.
