A common type of household plumbing hose is being kept under close watch by an insurance giant after a series of reported failures across the Tasman.
IAG said the flexible braided hoses found under many sinks were a “ticking timebomb” in people’s kitchen and bathrooms.
IAG, owner of
AMI,
State Insurance, and
NZI, said flexible hose failures may become an emerging issue in New Zealand, as it reported that said failures accounted for 22% of the 15,000 water damage claims lodged by Australian households last year,
Radio New Zealand reported.
“Our research shows that flexible hoses only last around 10 years and as they’re typically out of sight and out of mind, it’s not something you’re probably thinking about replacing,” said IAG manager Cheryl Chantry.
“We are now finding a rise in damaged bathrooms and kitchens due to flexible hoses bursting.”
IAG had not made a similar review in New Zealand, and said it was not aware of any major braided water pipe failure issues in the country, the report said.
“Certainly not to the extent of the problem occurring in Australia... but as this may become an emerging issue, we are working closely with our claims teams to stay across any developments,” said Brendan McGillicuddy, IAG’s national portfolio manager.
Tell-tale signs of possible failure are kinks, bulging, rust, and leaks.
Darren Waith, Auckland plumbing standards expert, said some hoses were guaranteed for five years, some for 10, and many good quality ones would last longer than that.
“The issue is that the hose has to last under the New Zealand law for five years, only five years, which we don’t believe is long enough. They should last at least 15 years,” he told
Radio NZ.
In Australia, householders have spoken of damage bills of up to $40,000 from burst flexible hoses on a consumer website.
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