Washing machine hoses- stainless steel vs rubber

You just picked the perfect laundry pair for your home and family. There's one more thing that you should purchase before you are ready to install and test out your washer and dryer, the washing machine hoses. Not all of them are made the same and it's important to not go the cheap route with these. Burst hoses are a common cause of water damage in the home. Follow these tips to avoid issues in the future.

It might seem simple, but do not go with the rubber hoses. It might seem standard to just go with them because that's what our parents used, but don't do it. They are the cheaper hose option and are easier to find, but don't be fooled. These types of hoses are the most likely to burst and cause water damage. Some might even say that they are reinforced, which means that they are reinforced with braided rayon or polyester mesh. This material inside makes the rubber stronger, but there is still chance for leaks and bursts.

The middle option is stainless steel braided hoses. This is what we recommend that you get. They are a little more expensive than the rubber hose, but hands down it's worth the upgrade. With this choice, there is still a layer of rubber in the inside, but is surrounded by stainless steel string that is braided together. This adds strength and will make it way more burst-resistant. Make sure that the hose does not become bent or kinked as the stainless steel can dig into the rubber hose.

Here are additional reasons to go with stainless steel water lines:

• Stainless steel hoses are more resistant to heat
• Stainless steel hoses are more resilient to pressure
• Rubber hoses lose flexibility over time and become rigid, causing the hose to burst

The next upgraded option is to have a auto-shutoff hose. This hose is braided with stainless steel, but also has the feature of having a shut-off valve on one of the ends of the hoses. This is an extra safety persuasion just in case there would ever be a burst. The mechanism can sense a water pressure change and will stop the flow of water from entering into the tube. This can save you from having a huge water or flood damage in the room or your whole house.

You can never be too safe with braided stainless steel hoses for your washer. Take the extra persuasion and make the upgrade today, before it's too late and you have water damage in your home. Remember to check your hoses periodically for signs of aging before it becomes an issue! Let our team know if you have any questions on this topic.

3 Benefits of Adjustable Bases

There is one common statement that I hear from my customers who own an adjustable bases; “I Love it.” I have yet to have someone say they don’t.  There are three common reason and benefits to adjustable bases that everyone should consider that we can all share in.

1. Alleviation of pressure on the lower back and other problematic areas.  From my personal experience and my customers this is probably the largest benefit that we talk about.  When you lie on your back without an adjustable you might not notice the pressure and tightness in your lower back, but lift your head and feet slightly with an adjustable base and you can feel that pressure and tightness that you didn’t even know you had just ease away.  From a comfort standpoint this is the largest benefit and one that every loves. 
2. Ease of Reading and Watching TV.  We all have tried to lie in bed and read, holding the book over you head and having it fall in your face, propping our head up with pillows and getting a crick in our neck, or trying to watch TV and not able to get comfortable.  I take it for granted now that I can just lift my head up until I’m at the perfect angle to watch tv, work on my laptop and stay in my Pajamas.
3. Sleep Apnea, heart burn ect.  This is one of those things that depending on you talk to depends on the answer you get.  While it doesn’t fix or cure these issues I can tell you from personal experience that I don’t nearly have the same heart burn or acid reflux I use to.  Now I could probably just skip the evening snack, but it’s my favorite.  There are countless health benefits that have been reported for adjustable bases; from sleep apnea to helping with poor blood circulation.  Even if you don’t have poor circulation we could all benefit from a little help.

An adjustable base isn’t just about comfort in bed, while that is a great reason.  It’s about health, better sleeping, better support, and overall getting the type of sleep you deserve that makes you feel refreshed and ready to go in the morning. I would say it’s not for everyone but as a stomach sleeper my self; switching to an adjustable base and sleeping on my back, I have never felt better!

What problems do you have sleeping? I bet that an adjustable base can help. Give us a call at one of our 16 store locations.