Burst washing machine and toilet hoses are the most common cause of catastrophic water damage in condos. Our buildings came with rubber hoses for the washing machines and fiberglass/metal hoses for the toilets. Experts recommend replacing these hoses every five years or so. Experts also recommend that they be replaced with steel mesh hoses, as these hoses are less likely to rupture and they last significantly longer than rubber or fiberglass hoses.
If you still have the original hoses for your washing machine and toilets-or even if those hoses have been replaced within the last four or five years-it is a good idea to replace them now.