kevins_news2 wrote:
A long time ago i saw reference to these things. Some sort of box
that connected to the water supplies. Washing machine electical plug
was plugged into it. In the case that the washine machine hoses
broke, this box would stop the flow and prevent flooding.

I have my laundry room on the 2nd floor. I absolutely love it, but of
course it makes me afraid of what will happen if my washing machine
hoses break. Big flood from the top of my house all the way down.
But i have a few questions.

1. Should i be worried? I'm still not sure if this is something that
only happens to people that haven't replaced the hoses in 30 years or
if it's really a problem. How often should washing machine hoses be
replaced then?

2. If it is a valid conscern. Where can one get these things?
Specifically, where can a Canadian. My search skills seem to have
failed me today since i cannot find good references to these online.
And is it worth paying for these? I seem to recall them costing a
couple hundred bucks. But i guess the answer to that is how much do i
value everything that would get water damaged should a hose break.

Any thoughs appreciated.

Here's one kind which uses a water sensor placed on the floor. Can be
applied to hot watewr heaters and toilets too:

http://www.safehomeproducts.com/SHP/...od_Stop_Washer

But, I have heard of the kind which you plug the washing machine into.

The way I understand how those things work is that they use a pair of
normally closed electrically operated water valves and a "black box"
which supplies power to open those valves only when the washing machine
is drawing electrical current from the outlet on the box, i.e. while
it's "running".

But, if that's all they do, could they protect against a hose which
decided to let go during the course of a normal wash? Seems like a lot
of water could squirt out of the hose during the time it took the
machine to complete it's timed cycles.

My inquiring mind wants to know....

Jeff

--
Jeff Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying."