New washers need new hoses — LG’s installation guidance is explicit that you should never reuse old inlet hoses. If you’re setting up a fresh machine or replacing tired rubber lines before they burst, the job is straightforward: shut off the water, swap the hoses, then tighten and test. The whole process runs through four simple stages, and we cover each below along with the mistakes that cause most leaks.
What You Need Before You Start
Gather two adjustable wrenches and the new hoses. Most replacement hoses come in pairs — one for hot, one for cold — and include the rubber washers that seal each end.
Before touching anything, shut off both water supply valves behind the machine. For a new install, LG’s inlet hose installation guide also instructs turning off the power at the circuit breaker and keeping a towel ready for water left in the old hoses.
How To Connect The Hoses Properly
Once the water is off, disconnect the old hoses from the supply valves and the washer’s inlets, catching any residual water with a towel or shallow pan. Then follow this order for the new pair:
- Seat the rubber washers inside each hose end — a missing or crooked washer is the #1 cause of drips.
- Connect the red-banded hose to the washer’s red or hot inlet, and the blue to the cold inlet.
- Hand-thread each coupling onto the valve and washer inlet, turning clockwise until snug.
- Give each connection one additional 1/4 turn with a wrench. Home Depot’s installation guide cautions against overtightening, which can crack the plastic couplings.
Check that neither hose is kinked or stretched taut against the wall. If they’re too short, don’t pull them — buy longer replacements. Home Depot’s washing machine installation guide notes that stretching a hose stresses the fittings and invites leaks.
Drain Hose Height: The Rule Most People Miss
The drain hose has its own set of rules, and getting the height wrong causes siphoning or slow drainage.
Below that range, water can siphon back out of the standpipe; above it, the pump strains against gravity. Most laundry setups land naturally in this range, but basement installations with elevated standpipes deserve a measurement before you commit.
Also, don’t cut the drain hose to fit. Most are designed for full length, and a trimmed hose can drop below the minimum height or lose the built-in curve that keeps it anchored in the standpipe.
Final Test And Leak Check
With both inlet and drain hoses secured, the job isn’t done until you confirm it holds water. Slowly open the hot and cold supply valves — a quick snap-open can blow a washer out of place. Watch each connection for a full minute. Any bead of moisture means a re-seat and re-tighten.
Run one short empty cycle and inspect again, per Lowe’s recommended practice. The floor should stay dry and the drain line should carry water away during the spin phase without gurgling. If everything holds, pull the washer out, snap a photo of the connections for your records, and slide it into place.
If your inlet valves sit further from the wall than standard hoses reach, you’ll want a longer set — our picks for the best 10-foot washing machine hoses cover the top-rated options that eliminate the stretching problem entirely.
FAQs
How tight should washing machine hoses be?
Hand-tighten each hose, then give it just a 1/4 turn with a wrench. This creates a watertight seal against the rubber washer without overtightening, which can crack couplings or crush the washer and cause leaks. If a connection drips, tighten in small increments rather than torquing hard.
Do I need new hoses when I buy a new washer?
Yes. LG’s installation guidance says to always use new hoses and never reuse old ones. Old rubber hoses develop micro-cracks and stiffen over time, making them the most common source of leaks behind a new machine. The cost of a replacement pair is far less than water damage to floors and drywall.
Why does my washing machine drain hose keep siphoning water?
Siphoning happens when the drain hose end sits too low — below about 30 inches from the floor. Water flows backward out of the standpipe and into the washer between cycles. Raise the hose into the 30-to-96-inch range, and check that the bend near the top keeps it hooked securely in place.
References & Sources
- LG USA Support. “Inlet Hose Installation – Washing Machine.” Official guidance on new-hose use, connection sequence, and tightening.
- LG USA Support. “Top Load Washer: How to Install the Drain Hose.” Specifies the 96-inch maximum drain height and routing rules.
- The Home Depot. “How to Install a Washing Machine.” Covers overtightening cautions, washer placement, and connection steps.
