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Home Repair Plumbing

What is the likely issue here, is replacing the tap the only solution?

11 months ago

We noticed some black gunk/residue on the cold water mixer hose - see photos.

I was wondering what the root cause could be and whether we should replace just the cold water mixer hose or the entire mixer tap.

Maybe there is another solution - would be great to know.

Thank you very much.

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Comments (6)

dreamer
11 months ago
This is called flexi hose, and there was a batch of inferior hoses installed in Australian homes that were suddenly bursting. This happened to us in our bathroom. Lucky we were home at the time, and turned the mains water off straight away. It’s caused by the strapping around the hose fraying, therefore weakening the hose. I can see a bit of fraying on your cold water flexi hose. I would get a plumber out and change all the flexi hoses in the entire home, that is what we did.

This article explains:

Most problems with flexible hoses come from the use of low-quality steel and brass barb fittings. When not properly manufactured or heat-treated, they are more susceptible to corrosion.

The size of braiding is also important, as some of the cheapest flexible braided hoses use a thinner, weaker braid which can fail or corrode more easily.

Some products provide an extra layer of protection against the incidence of bursting flexible hoses, with a plastic coating applied over the stainless steel braiding, making it more resistant to corrosion.

As a general rule, always ensure that your flexible hoses display the WaterMark certification.

Do flexible hoses last?
Generally, stainless steel flexible hoses will need replacing every 5-10 years. Before you find yourself in deep water, it’s wise to check hoses regularly, preferably by a professional plumber. Look for signs of ageing, such as bulges, kinks, frayed areas or rust spots on the braided section of the pipe.

Make sure you also check warranty period and expiry dates. If your hoses have reached their shelf life, or are showing any signs of wear, get in touch with a plumber

Despite their relatively long shelf life, recent data released by insurance companies show that flexible hoses are the number one cause of internal flooding in Australian homes. Burst flexible water hoses cause more than 20% of water damage claims, sometimes bursting within months of their installation. As flexible hoses can leak up to 1,500 litres of water per hour, this can lead to irreversible water damage to your house.

Why do flexible hoses burst?
The rubber tube inside flexible hoses expands under pressure, and the stainless steel braid is designed to prevent further expansion. However, if the stainless steel fails and breaks, water pressure will cause the rubber lining to bulge out of the sleeve and rupture.

Sometimes, damage occurs during installation, especially when people attempt to do plumbing installations themselves. Twisting or stretching the hose to make it fit during installation may cause a weak point in the hosing.

Particular attention should be paid to the torquing of the nuts at either end of the connectors, too. If the nuts are not tightened enough, this will create a leak path on the outside of the hose. If they are too tight, the seal will rupture. In both cases, chlorine from the water supply will build up on the braiding and corrode it over time.

Those leaks are the most common source of bursting. The presence of water exterior to the hose is required for corrosion, which is why most failures are seen under sinks, toilets and dishwashers.

Flexible hoses used in closed cupboards under sinks are most at risk due to the high humidity environment caused by condensation. This is especially true for cupboards where household chemicals are stored. Those chemicals often contain chlorine which stays in the air in the closed cabinet and dissolves into hydrochloric acid under humidity, corroding the stainless steel braiding.

Preventing bursts
There are several things you can do to reduce the likelihood of a burst flexible hose, but as a general rule, remember that regular maintenance is much cheaper than damage repair.

Buy good quality flexible hoses (with the WaterMark certification) and always get them installed by a licensed plumber
Talk to your plumber to start a preventative maintenance program, regularly checking your flexible hoses for damage or leaks
Get mini stop valves added on all water lines with flexible hose connections, so that they can easily be isolated in an emergency situation
Install a vent hole in cupboards to allow for ventilation and reduce humidity and chlorine levels in closed cupboards where household chemicals are kept
Switch off the main water supply of your home when you are going away for an extended period
dreamer
11 months ago
Just thought I would mention my home with the hose issue was built in 2004.
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Leonid Shamis
Original Author
11 months ago
Thank you for your response. This is what we suspected, I just was wondering if replacing the flexi hoses is the right way to go about it or replacing the entire mixer tap. Are the flexi hoses sold separately universally suitable for different mixer tap brands?
dreamer
11 months ago
Consult your plumber, but in our case, our plumber replaced all the flexi hoses, no mixer taps needed replacing. This was in 2016 on 2004 installed flexi hoses. No issue since hoses were replaced. Therefore flexi hoses must be sold separately.
dreamer
11 months ago
Just googled, lots of flexi hoses sold individually.
Leonid Shamis
Original Author
11 months ago
Thank you very much for your help!

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