Recently, a homeowner mentioned that she left her home with her washing machine running and returned 30 minutes later to find the machine still filling up with water. This issue turned out to be a broken water supply line which caused extensive water damage to her laundry room, not to mention the ceiling and wall of the room below.

This happened due to a ⅛-inch crack in a pipe, all in a matter of 30 minutes. Here’s a fact – a small crack like this can release up to 250 gallons of water in a day and a washing machine can use up to 40 gallons of water for each load of wash!

When you use your washing machine, you are risking the chance of water damage if you do not do normal checks to the machine on a regular basis.

Here’s what to look for near the water connection of your machine.

1. Look for signs of deterioration like swells, bubbles, cracks, kinks, or unraveling.
2. Check for moisture, dripping, rust, leaking in, on, or around the hose.
3. Verify that all connections are tightened properly.
4. Your washing machine should not be more than 4” from your connections. This is done to prevent any bending or kinking in the hose.
5. Make sure that the machine is properly balanced so it does not move during use.

Additional Facts that Relate to Water Damage

• Instead of the typical washing machine that can take 40+ gallons of water per load, an “Energy Star” label machine will use between 18 and 25 gallons of water.
• A washing machine hose has a lifespan of 3 to 5 years. If you have not changed the hose during this time frame, it is time to replace to prevent water leaks.
• A water leak behind a wall or under a cement slab can go undetected for months. Check periodically for leaks coming from your washing machine in areas that you can see.
• 25% of insurance claims are because of water damage.
• Approximately 37% of homeowners state that they have experienced some sort of property loss due to water damage.

If you do experience water damage due to your washing machine, the water damage expert team at McMahon Services is here to help. We provide 24/7 emergency services, and no job is too big or small. Homes in Chicago and surrounding areas should call for any type of water damage. You’ll receive a thorough inspection into the issue and a free estimate of what’s required to properly restore your home.