flexi hose under the sink burst, how often replace them

A braided flexible hose is a rubber inner tube inside a woven stainless steel sleeve. The sleeve corrodes, strands break, and once enough have gone the rubber balloons through and bursts. Under mains pressure, with nobody home, that delivers water continuously until someone finds it, which is why these failures produce some of the largest domestic water damage claims insurers see.

What to check, in two minutes per cabinet

• Broken or frayed strands in the braid, which look like tiny wire whiskers.
• Rust staining at either end fitting.
• A hose that is kinked, twisted or stretched tight rather than gently curved.
• A date stamp on the collar, if there is one.
• Whether the isolation valve under the fixture actually turns.

The cheap insurance

Replacing hoses is inexpensive and is one of the few plumbing tasks a householder is generally permitted to do. If you are having a plumber in for something else, adding a sweep of every hose in the house to that visit costs very little, because the attendance is already paid for.