Water Heaters - Washing machine hoses on hot water heater

Hello - I installed a new water heater a couple of years ago. At the time I was told that I could use the 2 extra washing machine hoses to connect the water heater to the inlet and outlet. I havent had any trouble but I have a bad feeling that if a leak occurred,it would be catastrophic compared to a piping leak. Am I worring over nothing? Should I change the hoses out? Thanks for your advice. Kegler

That is a good question. IMHO, I would use them if you have a good reason to. They are certainly designed to take the heat and pressure. I would be hesitant if the heater were in a closet where the door has to be opened to inspect, because you might not catch a leak. I would also use a good quality (such as Watts) steel braided hose, and snug the fittings a little with pliers.

They definitely ARE NOT designed to take the pressure. The instructions for the machins says to turn off when not in use. These ARE NOT code approved for what you have done, and the likelihood of a leak is great.

Oh, I am sure that they are not "code approved", but they are designed to take the pressure. How many people do you know actually shut off the water to their washing machine when not in use? Theses SS braided hoses are the same ones that I have been using to connect dishwashers (and are sold for that purpose) that are subject to the same water as the water heater.

I would use them if I have a good reason to have to use them., with the caveat that there is a chance that they could leak, and if there is a leak, it could be a flood.
I disagree that the likelihood of a leak is great, unless you leave them connected for 20 years.

All of that being said, it appears from kegler's original post that there is no good reason to use the hoses and he should replace them with copper at some point in the near future.

Well, I did not want to start a fight over this! Really, the rubber WM hoses are not intended to have continuous pressure applied. Yes, of course they are subject to pressure during use of the machine. The fact that almost no one actually turns off their water supplies after use accounts for the VERY LARGE number of FRANTIC calls that every plumber has experienced: " My washing machine hose is spraying all over the place and I can't turn the valve. HELP!!!!) Tell me you never got that call!

Anyway, I think we have made the point for our inquiring homeowner that while he did OK to get himself out of a jam, he really should replace those hoses as soon as possible.

So, we are all on the same wavelength, I think . No worries, mate!

Yes, thank you, we are on the same wavelength. I should have been clearer with caveats on my first reply.

There's also another consideration.
While those hoses have the right size connection, the internal diameter of the hose is substantially smaller than that of the correct hose (or copper flex) made for water heater connections.

If the newer braided washer hoses were used though, it's probably fine, just reduced flow.

Hose thread & 3/4" IPS are different, and I doubt that they are really washing machine hoses. You would have had to get some oddball adaptors to connect a water heater with washing machine hoses, but, perhaps you did.

There are SS braided water heater connectors, and those, while not full-port, will work fine on a water heater. I like to use 3/4" copper flexes.