FloodSafe Connectors

• Manufactured by Watts Water Technologies
• 978-688-1811; www.watts.com
• Cost: About $22 for two-pack of washing-machine hoses

Nothing ruins a vacation quite as effectively as discovering that the water supply to your washing machine burst while you were relaxing on the beach. That’s the kind of lesson you have to learn only once before thinking long and hard about the damage that can be caused by an indoor flood. If it hasn’t happened to you, thank your lucky stars, then go to the store and buy some FloodSafe Connectors.

Braided stainless-steel water lines aren’t a new product, and it’s no secret that they are superior to rubber and soft-copper supply lines. Watts Water Technologies takes stainless lines to a whole new level. The FloodSafe has a clever auto-shutoff valve built into the hose. There are no moving parts during normal operation, but any flow through the hose that exceeds the preset rate triggers the movement of a seal on the inlet side of the hose, which automatically shuts off all flow of water through the device. If for some reason the FloodSafe stops water flow without good reason, it can be reset by simply shutting off the water, disconnecting the hose, and then reattaching it.

The hose won’t protect against slow leaks, but catastrophic failures from burst, broken, or ruptured water hoses and fittings should be a thing of the past. FloodSafe connectors are available for toilets, dishwashers, faucets, ice makers, and washing machines.

Photo: Dan Thornton

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