As a homeowner in Brisbane, when you think of the potential for flood damage to your home, you probably think of weather events. But you should know that there may be a ticking time bomb, ready to inflict tens of thousands of dollars in damage, hidden in plain sight. As you sit on your toilet blissfully unaware, you may be within mere metres of one of the most significant risks of flood damage to your home.

You can find flexible hoses all over your home - in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry, or anywhere plumbing fixtures such as toilets, sinks, taps, refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and hot water systems are installed. Flexible hoses are notorious for bursting unexpectedly and causing extensive damage in just a few hours. Imagine if one bursts when you are at work, or worse, when you’re away on holiday!

What Is a Flexible Hose Assembly?

Look behind most plumbing fixtures in your home, and you will see a rubber hose covered in stainless steel braiding. It usually goes from the back of the item to an outlet on the wall. 90% of the time, these hoses are attached to mains water pressure, so imagine the damage the volume of water that could be flooded into your home if it splits.

When was the last time you checked all the flexible hoses in your home for signs of stress and potential failure? Flexihoses, like most things, have a life span; for compliant models, it can be between 5 to 10 years. Non-compliant hoses pose a silent threat, just waiting to turn your home into a flood-ravaged mess.

How Do I Know If the Flexible Hose Assemblies in My Home Are Compliant?

Unfortunately, even a recently installed hose may pose risks, as non-compliant hoses are being installed throughout Brisbane and other parts of Australia. Because of this, a watermark product database is available with all the compliant watermarks that must be on the flexi hoses listed. Only compliant watermarks are in this database, so if you can't find it here, your hose isn't compliant with Australian standards.

The horror of a burst flexible hose assembly can be easily avoided by checking your hoses now and adding a routine check every five years or so. If you are worried, but crawling around on the floor or behind appliances isn't your thing, contact a trusted Brisbane Master Plumber to do an urgent flexible hose assembly compliance check as soon as possible.