Leaky flexible braided hoses have caused a plumbing nightmare for some homeowners. 

Flexible braided hoses that connect to more rigid pipes have been the source of flooding and dangerous gas leaks when they fail. They first started to be installed about 15 years ago, in the place of copper pipes, and have become extremely widespread in residential construction and renovation. 

Cathi Lane's Pukehina bach, near Tauranga, flooded in September last year thanks to a leaky flexi hose, but luckily someone was staying there to alert her of the damage. 

"We only visit our batch every few weeks, so if we hadn't have had someone staying there at that particular time, we would have had lots more damage."

According to Australian research done by IAG insurance, flexible braided hoses accounted for more than one in five water damage claims lodged by Australian households in 2016.

After 10 years, the risk a pipe would burst increases significantly, the research found.

The hoses Lane had were nine years old. Hoses under building code are only required to last five years, though this code is not policed. 

Ian Thomson was not as lucky. Two years ago his pipes burst causing water to seep through the tile grout and swell the floor boards. His insurance covered the repair following the burst pipes, but identified a slow leak from his shower which had caused the floor to rot, which was not covered.

Thomson said he paid $5000 to remove the flooring, replace the shower, and plaster the walls and flooring around it. 

New Zealand plumbers are lobbying the Minister of Building Nick Smith and the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment to start policing standards on quality the way Australia has. 

Source: Stuff