--- title: "Washer fill hoses: when and how to replace them" description: "The two hoses behind the washer stay under pressure day and night; replace them every five years and inspect them in between." url: "https://washerrepair.center/guides/fill-hoses-when-to-replace/" date_modified: "2026-09-25" --- Maintenance and prevention # Washer fill hoses: when and how to replace them Washer fill hoses connect the hot and cold supply valves to the back of the washer and stay under pressure all the time. GE and Whirlpool both recommend replacing them every five years, and sooner if you see bulges, cracks, kinks, rust at the fittings or dampness. Replacing them takes a bucket, pliers and the supply valves closed. By [WasherRepair.center technical team](https://washerrepair.center/authors/technical-team/) Published September 25, 2026 ## At a glance. The two hoses behind a washer hold full household water pressure every hour of every day, whether the machine is running or not. They age from the inside, so a hose that looks fine from the outside can still be close to giving way. Read the whole guide ### Replace Every five years The interval GE and Whirlpool both give, regardless of how the hoses look. ### Standard length 4 feet, 3/4-inch connections GE's standard hoses; longer ones are sold separately. ### Which goes where Hot on the right, cold on the left Facing the back of most GE washers, with H and C marked by the ports. ### Always under pressure Unless the valves are closed Closing the supply valves when away takes the load off the hoses. In this guide 1. Why fill hoses fail 2. The five-year rule 3. What to look for between replacements 4. The inlet screens behind the hoses 5. Replacing washer fill hoses yourself 6. Step by step 7. Questions ## Why fill hoses fail A washer does not draw water the way a sink does. The supply valves on the wall stay open, and the washer's own inlet valve does the switching, so the hoses between them are pressurized around the clock. Every time the inlet valve snaps shut, a small pressure surge runs back through the hose as well. Rubber softens and cracks with years of heat and pressure, starting on the inside wall where no one can see it. The weak points are the crimped metal collars at each end and any tight bend behind the machine. A slow drip at a fitting is a warning; a split in the hose body can release water at the full rate of the supply until someone closes the valve. Where the washer stands changes how much that matters. A washer in an unfinished basement near a floor drain can lose water for a while with little harm. A washer in a hallway closet, a second-floor laundry or an apartment above a neighbor sends the same water through ceilings and into walls, which is why hose age deserves the most attention in exactly the homes where the machine is hardest to see behind. ## The five-year rule GE Appliances recommends replacing washer fill hoses every five years, and Whirlpool's product help says the same. The interval is not tied to visible wear, which is the point: by the time a rubber hose looks bad, it has usually been weak for a while. Most owners do not know how old their hoses are. If the washer came with the house, or the hoses came from an earlier machine, count them as due. A strip of tape on each hose with the install date written on it settles the question next time. ### New washer, old hoses GE notes that its washers stopped shipping with fill hoses in August 2010, except compact, unitized and contract models. Many installers reconnect whatever hoses were already on the wall, so a brand-new washer can be running on hoses much older than the machine. Source: [GE Appliances — Washer inlet fill hoses](https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=22658) — Replace hoses every 5 years; hoses not included since August 2010 except compact, unitized and contract models; standard 4-foot hoses with 3/4-inch connections and stainless options; hot right, cold left facing the rear; check valves not recommended; [Whirlpool Product Help — Checking the fill hoses if the washer is not filling](https://producthelp.whirlpool.com/Laundry/Washers/Product_Info/Washer_Installation_Support/Checking_the_Fill_Hoses_if_the_Washer_is_not_Filling) — Fill hoses should be replaced every five years; clean clogged inlet screens with a brush and mild soap without removing them Close on an old rubber fill hose with a bulge near its fitting, held up beside a new braided steel hose. ## What to look for between replacements Pull the washer forward a few inches with the machine off, and look at both hoses along their length with a flashlight. Replace them now if you find any of these: - A bulge or blister anywhere along the hose. - Cracks or crazing in the rubber, especially near the collars. - Rust, green corrosion or a white mineral crust at a fitting. - A kink or a bend so tight that the hose flattens. - Dampness, drips or water stains on the floor or the wall below the valves. ### Braided or plain rubber Hoses wrapped in a stainless braid resist kinks and punctures better than bare rubber, and GE sells both kinds. Under the braid there is still a flexible inner hose, so the braided type is not a reason to skip the inspection or the replacement interval. ### Length and routing GE's standard hoses are 4 feet long with 3/4-inch connections, and longer ones can be bought where the valves sit far from the machine. Choose a length that lets the hoses curve gently behind the washer with the machine pushed back. Too long invites loops that kink; too short pulls on the fittings every time the washer is moved. ## The inlet screens behind the hoses Where each hose meets the washer, a small mesh screen sits inside the inlet port to catch grit and scale. When the hoses come off, it is the time to look at the screens. Whirlpool's advice is to clean them in place with an old toothbrush and mild soap and water, without removing the screens or pushing them out of position. A clogged screen shows up as slow filling or a fill error. Source: [Whirlpool Product Help — Checking the fill hoses if the washer is not filling](https://producthelp.whirlpool.com/Laundry/Washers/Product_Info/Washer_Installation_Support/Checking_the_Fill_Hoses_if_the_Washer_is_not_Filling) — Fill hoses should be replaced every five years; clean clogged inlet screens with a brush and mild soap without removing them ## Replacing washer fill hoses yourself Swapping washer fill hoses is within reach of most owners, as long as the supply valves close fully. GE advises against adding check valves in the hose line, since they can restrict the flow the washer is designed around. Set everything out before the valves close, because the job goes quickly once the water is off: - A new pair of hoses of the right length, with a flat rubber washer seated inside each coupling. - A bucket or a shallow tray and two old towels for the water left in the hoses. - Slip-joint pliers, used gently on the couplings. - A flashlight for the valves and the ports behind the machine. - A marker and tape to write the install date on each new hose. Source: [GE Appliances — Washer inlet fill hoses](https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=22658) — Replace hoses every 5 years; hoses not included since August 2010 except compact, unitized and contract models; standard 4-foot hoses with 3/4-inch connections and stainless options; hot right, cold left facing the rear; check valves not recommended ## Where to stop If a supply valve will not close all the way, leaks at its stem, or the pipe behind it moves when you turn it, stop and call a plumber; forcing an old valve can crack the pipe inside the wall. If a hose has already burst, close both valves and unplug the washer before stepping into the water. Written by [WasherRepair.center technical team](https://washerrepair.center/authors/technical-team/). The washer technicians who show up for the appointments booked on this site. Their writing grows out of machines they have taken apart on laundry room floors, checked against the maker's installation and owner's guides wherever those exist. Sources: [GE Appliances — Washer inlet fill hoses](https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=22658) · [Whirlpool Product Help — Checking the fill hoses if the washer is not filling](https://producthelp.whirlpool.com/Laundry/Washers/Product_Info/Washer_Installation_Support/Checking_the_Fill_Hoses_if_the_Washer_is_not_Filling) ## Step by step. Five steps, in the order worth doing them. 01 ### Shut the water and power Unplug the washer and turn both supply valves fully clockwise to close them. 02 ### Drain and remove the old hoses Loosen each coupling with pliers, first at the washer, then at the wall, and let the hoses empty into the bucket. 03 ### Check the screens and the ports Brush the inlet screens clean in place and make sure the new rubber washers sit flat in each coupling. 04 ### Connect hot and cold correctly Thread the hot hose to the port marked H and the cold to C, hand-tight, then snug each with a small turn of the pliers. 05 ### Open the valves and watch Turn the water on slowly, check all four fittings for drips, then run a short cycle and check them again. For the heart of your home. ## Questions owners ask. ### Do I need to replace both hoses at once? Yes. They were installed together, have aged together, and the second one is rarely far behind the first. ### Should I turn off the supply valves after every load? It takes the pressure off the hoses, and it is a sensible habit when leaving the house for a trip. Old valves that are stiff or drip at the stem may need a plumber's attention before they are worked daily. ### Why does my washer fill slowly after new hoses? Check that both valves are fully open and the hoses are not kinked behind the machine. Grit knocked loose during the swap can also land on the inlet screens. ### Can I reuse the hoses from my old washer on a new one? Only if they are recent and in good condition. If you do not know their age, fit a new pair with the new machine. ## The problems behind it. Each has a page of its own: what it usually means and the causes in the order worth checking. [All 17 problems](https://washerrepair.center/problems/) Water or electrical risk ### Washer Leaking 5 causes, cheapest first Problem ### Washer Not Filling 5 causes, cheapest first Water or electrical risk ### Washer Overflowing 5 causes, cheapest first ## When it needs a technician. The repairs on the right are where this guide ends when the checks do not settle it. ### Water inlet valve repair A washer that will not fill, fills slowly, fills with only cold water or keeps filling, repaired at the inlet valve and its screens. ### Diagnostic visit One visit that turns standing water, a silent drum, a banging spin or a puddle into one named part and a price. ## More in maintenance and prevention. The habits that head off most washer calls, from the door boot and the pump filter to the fill hoses, and how often each one is worth the effort. [The whole section](https://washerrepair.center/guides/maintenance-and-prevention/) Keeping the washer out of trouble ### A washer cleaning routine that keeps odor away What to do after every load, once a month and every few months, from the door seal to the dispenser drawer. Keeping the washer out of trouble ### HE detergent and dosing: why less works better Too much soap is behind many wet loads, suds errors and musty drums; how to read the cap, pods and bulk dispensers. Guides ### All 18 guides Six sections, by what you are trying to find out. --- **[Read on the site: Washer fill hoses: when and how to replace them](https://washerrepair.center/guides/fill-hoses-when-to-replace/)** **[Book a visit with WasherRepair.center](https://washerrepair.center/schedule/)**