Many people are surprised to learn that appliance failure is the leading cause of household flooding. When washing machine hoses fail or burst, they can unleash up to 650 gallons of water per hour. Inspect them regularly for stress cracks, bulges or other signs of wear. Replace rubber hoses every three years. Be sure to replace them with high quality stainless steel braided hoses which should last five to seven years. Most people leave the washing machine water supply valves turned on all the time, but you'll greatly reduce your risk of flooding if you turn off the valves when the washer is not in use. Next, it's a good idea to inspect the water lines connected to your refrigerator's ice maker and the water supply and drain hoses connected to your dishwasher, water softener, and any other visible water connections to appliances. If hoses are crimped, pinched, or show signs of wear, they should be replaced with the highest quality replacement parts available. A water heater like this one has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. When the tank rusts out, the resulting leak could be a trickle, or it could be a rush of water that spreads out across your floors. Flood alarms like this one will alert you as soon as they detect water. They're inexpensive and reliable, but they're only affective if you're home and you can hear them. If you're away, say on vacation, the resulting flood could be continuous and catastrophic. Your Roto-Rooter plumber can install automatic water detection and shut-off valves that will stop water from flowing into appliances at the first sign of a water leak. And they'll sound an audible alarm to let you know if there is trouble. Homeowners with some do-it-yourself skills should be able to handle many flood prevention tasks on their own, but it's important to be careful and recognize when you're in over your head. Roto-Rooter has experienced plumbers ready to help whenever you need us. [Roto-Rooter jingle]