What Do You Do with Washing Machine Taps?

Just curious what others do after a load of clothes washing.

Poll Options

  • 17
    Turn off the tap/s after every wash
  • 2
    Turn off the tap/s when I remember
  • 52
    Leave them on, I'm a risk taker
  • 10
    Leave them on, I have insurance
  • 4
    There's tap/s connected to my washer?

Comments

  • +2

    Always on, you never know when you might need to do the washing.

  • https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2216126

    I will only turn mine off when I go on holidays, but since I work from home there isn't really any need to turn off.

    • Official Bargain Hunter Peace Keeper and Knowledge Leader has a nice ring to it.

  • +12

    I didnt even know closing taps after washing machine runs was a thing.

    Wouldnt the constant close/open action affect the reliability of the taps?

    • how you would do with the kitchen or bathroom sink then? replace them every year or so?

    • Once a day turn on, turn off. How does your kitchen, shower, hand basin taps fare?

  • I turn mine off. But this is a recent thing. I noticed that with the pressure I was getting some risidual water down the back of the washer and thus mould. So I turn them off after each wash.

    Incidentally, I only use the cold anyway.

  • +2

    Don't touch them.

    In the instance you need to turn them off to disconnect the machine, at least the tap washers won't be worn and have dripping water on your floor.
    Constantly turning them on and off just means another set of taps you have to maintain and fix dripping or leaking taps.

    Pain the bum having to change the tap head washer (where the tap turns and water leaks from the joint) by having to move the entire washing machine to do it.

    Leave the taps alone.

    • I heard the complete opposite: not turning them causes the washers to stiffen and perish, turning them keeps them supple and working properly.

      We would turn on and off every time - just another point of safety with a burst pipe - until taps are inaccessible in the new house

      • +1

        Hmm… better turn off at the wall the dishwasher, any flick master taps you have in the kitchen or laundry (these have taps in the wall that can be turned off when servicing them), and all the toilet cisterns in the house too then ;).

        Maintenance folks. Every 5 years or so, change hoses if you are that concerned about burst hoses (or buy braided metal hoses if you want to overkill it). But these things are designed to be left on. Maybe not for 20 years (when they get brittle and burst), but 5-10 years no problem.

        • The book with your machine will say every 1 or 2 years for hoses actually.

        • +1

          And the maker of that book also sells that hose I bet :).

          Check a 5 year old hose, still quite soft and flexible when compared to a new one. It's when they get rock hard and completely inflexible, that's when problems occur. Change before then, but not 1 or 2 years. That's just a waste of money.

  • Personal choic..
    Leave on & risk burst hose or failed w/m valve…
    Turn off & risk nothing. The old maids tale about washers drying out is just that..
    Just do your thing…

  • Mine are neatly hidden under the sink in the cabinet so they are annoying to get to (similar to mixer taps for the kitchen tap).
    I've got an Aldi washing machine and it's been going for about 8 years now! The solenoid is a simple mechanism inside and probably more reliable than washers on your taps, which will eventually wear out if you turn them on and off constantly!

    Never had a burst hose either… but hmmmmm. maybe I should change them…. especially considering how old the machine is.

    Oh and We only wash with cold and have a front loader, so its only one tap for me to worry about! :P

    • yeah those taps make it difficult to turn off after every washing day…I used to have those in old house…now I am in another house I have taps easy to reach so turn them off as I am a worrywart :/

      • The wear and tear on the rubber washer in the tap by turning them on and off everyday will likely cause a leak before the universe aligns in such a way, everyones taps explode.

  • +2

    I've never heard of turning your washing machine taps off. Unless they are above the sink a lot of modern houses have them built in so they can't easily be accessed.

    Insurance exists for a reason people. If you don't have it there is something wrong with you.

  • +1

    For general peace of mind change them everyday. Same with doors and light bulbs and flooring.

  • +3

    Never thought about, out of curiosity I will check with the maid.

  • I've never turned mine off and have never had a problem.

  • Use a Laundromat.
    Problem solv'd.

  • +2

    hot water tap is always off, can't trust the other half to always use cold, just in case it costs me an extra $2 every quarter in electricity.

    • so what happens when the other half choose a warm water wash in the machine anyways… you waste electricity to heat up the water.

      • Depending on when the machine is using the hot water it can be cheaper to heat a small amount for the wash and not heat up a big storage tank. Peak vs off peak rates make the equation more complex.

        eg it is cheaper to heat up a cup of hot water in the kettle than to reheat the big storage tank.

  • You dont have the leave them on that's how they are designed option. In my whole life I have never had a washing machine threaded tap fail on me, or heard of one, and my Dad is a retired plumber. (The things I have heard about systems where people put fats, coffee grinds and sanitary products into them however, they would turn your hair grey…worry about what matters, even when you cant see it. Trust your taps, and look after your pipes.)

  • General advice for moving parts is the less you can touch them the better.

    Reasons being wear and tear etc.

    So for washing machine taps I generally leave them but other family members like to close them so it's 50/50 for me.. honestly haven't done enough research myself to know haha sorry.

    • General advice for moving parts is the less you can touch them the better

      Disagree. Many devices need to be moved once in a while to stop them from seizing up or to keep the seals in good condition for when you do need it.

      Having said that, I don't usually turn off the washing machine taps. It hides in behind the machine so it's hard to get to.

      • True I guess each use case is different. I was more explaining talking about constantly using moving parts to the point they start degrading. Think loose hinges and things.

  • You could always connect an anti flood hose

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