The hoses that came with my washer were marked "replace every 5 years". While few probably pay attention to such things, I know *far* to many who have had hoses leak, or worse, burst when they're not home and cause huge problems. Washing machines used to almost always be in basements, garages, etc. where a water leak might be onto concrete. That can still cause lots of damage to whatever is sitting on the concrete but the house itself is less likely to suffer serious damage.
But the trend in new homes is to put the laundry room near the bedrooms so it's often on the main floor or even upstairs. How much damage do you think might be caused if a hose bursts? It can easily exceed $100,000 in some houses. And the "pan" they sometimes sit under the washer on an upper floor won't catch more than a slow drip in just the right spot. When hoses fail they typically spray water several feet or more in random directions.
Long story short, it's cheap insurance to replace the hoses. And these braided hoses with right angle fittings are a significant upgrade over the plain ones that come with most washers. The right angle helps keep the hose from being kinked (which can make it fail) and reduces the stress on the hose if it's up against a wall (as most are) as the washer vibrates during the spin cycle.
The stainless hoses look nice but are kind of a gimmick in my opinion. The metal braid is just a sleeve over a plain rubber hose and water runs right through it. While it might help keep the hose from bulging and bursting under high pressure, that's not how hoses usually fail. Typically the rubber gets *harder* as it gets older and eventually starts to fatigue or even crack. They don't get softer and bulge out. So a stainless steel hose will probably leak just as easily as a cheap one.
These hoses, however, are different. The braided material is actually PART OF THE HOSE not just a sleeve slipped over the outside. So they're probably quite a bit stronger and less prone to failure than plain hoses. It's like the difference between a $5 garden hose and a $30 garden hose. The more expensive hose has a braided layer bonded into it that greatly prolongs its life.
The bottom line: These hoses are cheap insurance. They also come in a straight (vs 90 degree right angle) version. Whirlpool 8212638RP 6-Foot Industrial Braided Fill Hose with 90 Degree Elbow, 2-Pack
I have been a fan of the stainless external braid hoses for various plumbing hookups, but the price/length value that this set represented was compelling.
There's a lot of FUD about the stainless external braid being "just a simple hose inside a braided shell", but the fact is that the braid provides both abrasion protection and mechanical support for the internal tubing, and I have sections of it that have been in service under pressure for over 20 years without a failure -- and on hot water. I have never had any stainless-braided hose fail in service. I can't say the same for rigid PVC or CPVC plumbing, or even copper pipe.
I have no reason to expect this set to be superior to the braided stainless variety, and it certainly doesn't look as good.
But this set is definitely less expensive than a comparable length stainless-braided set, and I like the right-angle connectors on one end. The build quality appears excellent, and both ends were drip-free with moderate hand-tightening, indicating good mechanical tolerances and quality washers.
The one missing feature is a marker to distinguish the hot and cold lines. I marked the metal portions of one hose with red paint to indicate the hot circuit, but there really should have been a colored plastic sleeve or clip or tag or _something_. The lack of this feature (which is present in other washer hookup sets on Amazon) cost this set a star.
The 90-degree connectors (used on the machine end) provide a definite advantage, providing strain relief at the most critical point on the hoses. The hose flexibility makes installation easier and will help prevent damage which might be caused by any future movement of the machine.
The six-foot length seems optimum for most installations where the water supply valves are directly behind or very close to the machine. They allow adequate slack for easy movement of the machine away from the wall, when necessary, without having excess hose length to risk getting kinked or pinched.
Longer warranty than many other hoses. Only time will tell if they actually last as long as hoped, but they appear to be the best quality.
The elbow on these fill hoses allowed me to push my washer very close to the wall without any kinks or weird bends in the hose. Also if you are like me and like to forget about replacing these fill hoses, these will last you a while or until you need a need washer.
If you need this type of washer hose (90deg offset) .... then buy this one ..... great quality ..... elbow gives you additional clearance behind washer ....... cloth braid (not SS braid) but it just as 'burst-proof' ... nothing is burst-proof ... replace your hoses every few years, just as you would in your auto, and you'll be fine .......
Well, what can you say about a washing machine hose?
They should be replaced, whether leaking or not, about every 5-7 years, just to be safe (can you say flooded basement?).
After buying a new Whirlpool washer, I didn't want to use the hoses that came with it. The main reason that I bought this particular set is that they have a space-saving 90 degree elbow at the machine end, enabling the washer to be closer to the wall.
Oh, and I really dig the retro-looking black patterned burst-resistant cloth exterior! - Washer - Kitchen - Washing Machine'
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