Vent: Got a $400 water damage bill because I trusted a cheap flex hose on the washing machine
Last Tuesday in my basement I found a puddle spreading from the laundry area. That braided flex hose I installed 3 years ago had pinhole leaks along the crimp. The cheap stainless braid was rusting from the inside out. Had to rip out a section of drywall and replace the baseboard. Plumber buddy told me after that those no-name hoses are junk and to use the brass-end ones. Anyone else had a cheap hose fail on them?
Actually the braided stainless hoses aren't always better if they're cheap. The real fix is getting ones with brass fittings AND rubber inner hose that's reinforced. I had a "burst proof" hose split after 2 years because the interior rubber dried out and cracked. Spend the extra $15 on a good brand like Floodsafe or similar, it's Worth it for the peace of mind.