Review of drain hoses for washing machines. SMA is an indispensable unit in every family’s home. The range of this device is very diverse: activator or drum, automatic or semi-automatic. Just look at the diverse range of SMAs provided by various companies that manufacture them. Water drain hoses sometimes become damaged for a variety of reasons, so it is important to understand their characteristics to make the right choice.
- Types of hoses and their sizes
- Installation and connection
- Elongation
Types of washing machine hoses
Like any other equipment, SMA comes with several accessories, including water hoses for washing machines.
Each SMA kit includes hoses:
- bulk;
- drain
Drain hose
The drain hose for a washing machine, also known as a drain tube, is primarily designed to drain used water into the sewer. The material from which it is made is most often corrugated polypropylene. This sleeve connects the SMA outlet pipe and the sewer pipe, and its correct connection ensures automation of the processes of water collection, washing and draining in the washing machine.
Drain hose
The length of the drain hose, included in the basic package, is small and amounts to 1.5 or 2, less often 3 meters and has a standard fitting diameter of 19x22 mm. However, it is not always convenient to position the machine so that the length of the sleeve is sufficient to connect it. In such cases, the sleeve can be lengthened, but without the proper skill, this can lead to its rupture and flooding of the apartment. For this reason, it is easier and more economical to buy a new one of the required length. They are relatively inexpensive - about 100-200 rubles for a sleeve 3 meters long, and their installation does not take much time and is easy to do if you have the necessary tools.
Fixed drain hose
Inlet hose
The inlet or inlet hose for the washing machine connects it to the water pipe. Its length is 1-5 meters, diameter is 10 mm, and its main purpose is to supply water to the machine’s tank. There are several types of filling tubes that vary in cost and reliability: from the cheapest rubber hose to a special one with leakage protection.
Inlet hose
Unlike the drain hose, the inlet hose for a washing machine must meet a number of requirements, namely:
- withstand temperatures of 90-100 oC;
- withstand pressure from 4 bar.
This is due to the fact that when hot water is supplied, it is subjected to increased pressure and heats up, and, as a result, can crack or rupture. To avoid such situations, the filling tubes are made of heat-resistant rubber, and the product with the Aqua-Stop system for protection against leaks is guaranteed to withstand pressure up to 70 bar.
Connecting the hose to the sewer and water supply
Elongation
Let's return to the topic of hose extension, which was mentioned at the beginning of the article. In general, increasing the footage is, without exaggeration, a piece of jewelry. The essence of this method is to connect several pipes into one.
Extended hose
To begin with, as in the previous section, when we connected the drain to the sewer, we disconnect the washing machine from the water supply and network. You will then need an adapter, which looks like a small tube with a partition in the middle, like a valve, that fits inside both hoses. This whole system is tightened with clamps. Next, it is again necessary to test the “endurance” and reliability of this creation and start a test run.
A very simple, but extremely unpredictable matter. If something moves even a millimeter and becomes depressurized, we start all over again. Therefore, you need to approach this process with extreme caution and scrupulousness.
Expert opinion
Note that it is highly undesirable to increase the length beyond 4 m. This will increase the load on the pump and lead to its premature wear.
Important! Similar drain hoses are used in dishwashers.
Hose selection
If you need to replace a washing machine hose, then when purchasing a new one you must first choose the right manufacturer. Under no circumstances should you buy a product that does not have the manufacturer's logo on it - it will most likely not last long. It is best to buy hoses from trusted manufacturers such as Bosch, Samsung, Indesit, Beko, LG.
It is worth paying attention to the characteristics of the product and the material from which it is made. This is, first of all, the maximum permissible temperature, and for the filler tube also the operating pressure. For an apartment, standard hoses designed for a temperature of 95 ° C and a pressure of 4 bar are suitable, and for private houses it is recommended to take products with a margin of 7-15% of these characteristics.
Hose connection process
It's easy to increase footage. To do this, you must have an adapter. It is a plastic part that is attached to the ends of the drain pipes and secured with 16x27 mm clamps.
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Moreover, it will be necessary not only to lengthen it, but also to connect it correctly. You also need to take into account that the maximum length of spliced parts should be no more than 3.5 m.
These hoses put a strain on the pump. If it is weak, it may soon become damaged.
Installing the drain hose
When connecting the drain hose, it is important to observe the following rules:
- It is not recommended to make strong bends during installation;
- the end of the hose should be at a height of 90 cm above the floor level to prevent spontaneous outflow of water.
To replace or install the drain tube, you need to partially disassemble the machine. Depending on the SMA model, the back, front or side panel is removed. If the hose is being replaced, you need to remove the clamp and disconnect the old hose. It is recommended to take a photo of the clamp so that there are no problems with its installation in the future. After connecting a new tube to the washing machine, its other end is mounted into the water supply using couplings or fittings (permanent drain) or simply lowered into the sink (temporary drain).
Aqua-stop system
The washing machine hose protection system requires special attention. Since liquid from the water supply is supplied under high pressure, the hose may not hold up and burst, damaging property in the house. It is this protection system that can save the owner from trouble. This sleeve has a double coating, with a knob filled with a special powder or equipped with an electromagnetic valve.
When the hose breaks, water enters the area with powder, which expands and shuts off the flow of liquid from the tap. If the hose breaks at the outlet itself, water will accumulate in a special tray, which is equipped with a float system. Some models are equipped with an emergency pump that pumps out water when the float contacts are activated.
The hose for a washing machine with the Aqua-Stop protection system operates only once in the event of an accident. The hose cannot be reused, so it is disposed of. Of course, such an application is considered costly, but it is guaranteed to help avoid flooding of the apartment in the absence of the owner.
Installing the inlet hose
Installing the filler tube is more difficult. Firstly, it should not be longer than 3 meters, otherwise the pressure acting on it from the inside will lead to breakage. Secondly, when installing it, you need to take care of the connection to the water supply - for this, use a tee with a shut-off valve, on which the tube is secured with a plastic nut with a fitting (to reduce the risk of contamination of the washing machine, you can install a mechanical filter at the outlet of the tee). After these operations are completed, the curved end of the filler tube is connected to the fitting in the MCA.
Types of filling devices
The inlet hose for a washing machine comes in the following types:
- standard fixed length from one to five meters;
- up to 10 meters long, which is wound into a bay;
- telescopic type, which, thanks to the corrugated wave, is able to increase in length by stretching;
- hoses with the Aqua-Stop protective system designed to eliminate water leaks.
When purchasing a hose in a coil, you can cut off the length of the product required for installation, after which you need to install the fitting and nut using the flaring method. A telescopic hose, despite the fact that it can stretch, is also better to use the appropriate length. It is advisable to avoid strong tension on the sleeve.
Some installation tips
After installing both hoses, it is recommended to test the CMA. This is done to check the tightness of the connections. An indicator of the correct installation of the SMA liner is the uninterrupted operation of the drainage system throughout the entire washing process.
To avoid possible problems when replacing or installing hoses, there is no need to skimp on spare parts. Products from trusted manufacturers will last longer. Thus, the product from LG is of high quality. If the washing machine is new, then it is better to use the tubes included in the package - they are usually of better quality than purchased ones and have a warranty.
If you are not confident in your abilities, then it is recommended to call specialists to connect the hoses to the washing machine.
Design features
The inlet hose is needed to connect the washing machine (they are also suitable for dishwashers) to the pipe through which the water supply is carried out.
A high-quality tube is a guarantee of the absence of any leaks. Therefore, after the next wash, you will not find puddles in the bathroom all over the floor and will not have to pay for repairs to the neighbors’ apartment below. A device for connecting a washing machine to a water supply pipe is made from polyvinyl chloride. For additional strength, manufacturers add nylon braid or reinforced threads to the design.
At both ends of the hose there are fittings and nuts made of plastic. Also, for a more stable connection of the device, pressed metal sleeves must be present near the nuts.
When choosing an inlet hose, consider the distance from the washing machine to the water supply pipe
The manufacturer applies a marking on each hose indicating the maximum permissible water pressure - most often this figure is 20 Bar.
Attention! It is best to tighten the plastic nuts on both ends of the hose by hand. If you use metal tools, they may crack.
Connecting the inlet hose
The filler hose has a nut with a standard ¾-inch thread at the ends, which is used to connect to the shut-off valve. In modern houses, the connection point for the tap for the washing unit is designed in advance, which has not been done before. In houses where a special place for connecting the machine is not prepared, it is necessary to make a separate tap connection. Connecting to plastic water pipes is simple and easy.
A very common method is to connect a washing machine hose using a coupling to the faucet. In this case, the mixer is removed, and a tap is screwed in its place to connect the machine. Then a mixer is installed on top of this device.
There are also special taps with which you can connect a hose to the float valves of the toilet.
