Replacing washer fill hoses: when, which type, new rubber washers and the leak check

Fill hoses are a common source of laundry-room floods. Replace both hot and cold hoses every three to five years (the Certified Appliance Accessories hose sheet says every five years), whenever the washer moves to a new location, and at once if they show bulges, cracks, kinks, rust at the fittings or any drip. Braided stainless hoses resist punctures and kinks but still have a rubber core that ages, so they are not 'lifetime'. Use new rubber washers, make sure no old washer is stuck in the inlet, hand-tighten plus a small turn with a wrench, leave slack behind the machine, and check for leaks with the valves fully open before pushing it back.