I'm not quite clear on what you're describing. What is the purpose of a bibb extension? If it's something you need because your washer supply hose is too short, wouldn't it be simpler to just get a longer supply hose?

If it's for use in the garden, Lee Valley Tools sells something they call a faucet extension. I use one of these so I don't have to crawl through a hedge to reach a poorly situated hose bibb. It works quite well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lee Valley Faucet Extension

Thanks for the reply. The Lee Valley Faucet Extension is the sort of thing that I need but not quite.

The one that I saw I thought was brought up in the discussion about second floor laundry rooms and how to avoid water damage. One point mentioned was that even the 'better' steel wrapped hoses can fail at the crimp. My washer is in a laundry closet which is barely deep enough and very close to the wall/water supply and subsequently the hoses are shoved behind the washer with a lot pressure on the hose.

The brass 'extenders' that I saw had a 45 degree (about) angle which made the hose hang straight down from the brass piece relieving the hose of the pressure of a sharp downward bend. Anybody?

Lots of manufacturers supply washer hoses with a 90 degree fitting for the washer end. Is this the problem your trying to solve? If so, you could probably go to an appliance store and have them order one. Also on the internet you can find them (http://www.plumbingsupply.com/flexes.html#90).

If your looking for a 45 degree or 90 degree brass fitting, I've seen them listed as an accessory in the RV world. The Camco one listed below also comes in a 45 degree version.

Also, the better washing machine hose can be found at:

http://www.floodchek.com

This company may also sell 90 degree adapters.

Here is a link that might be useful: Camco 90 degree fitting

I meant 90 degrees. Right, tell that one to the geometry teacher after a test : )

Thank you. Thats what I'm looking for.

Washer hoses with the 90 degree bent brass fitting can be found almost anywhere, including Home Depot.

The important thing to do if you want to prevent a hose from failing is to turn off the water at the hose bibbs when you're not doing laundry. Relieving the pressure on the hoses will do more to prevent a failure than anything else.

jamesk, sorry for this picky point...

I agree that turning off the water when the washer isn't in use is a good idea. If there is a failure in the hose or washing machine it helps prevent a flood. However, does it really relieve the pressure inside the hose? Maybe my logic has some flaw, but it seems like if the washer isn't calling for water then some intake valve inside the machine closes shut. At that point the hose is pressurized with your water's line pressure. I don't believe closing the valve at the hose bib acts to relieve the water pressure already present inside the hose. Think of a garden hose with a trigger spay head attached on one end and the other end connected to a hose bib on your house. You open the water and use the hose but then release the trigger so water stops flowing. Then you turn off the water at the hose bib. If you pull the trigger on the nozzle, a bit of water sprays out. The water inside the pressurized hose spurts out until pressure inside the hose is released.

Gordonr,

Very picky point, indeed...

The fact of the matter is that the length of hose is so short and the seal on hose couplings being less than hermetic -- once you turn off the hose bibb, any pressure in the hose will deplete rather quickly.

Even if it didn't, and the hose somehow managed to fail with the bibb turned off (which I reckon is a possibility so remote, that it isn't worth thinking about), there wouldn't be enough water in the hose to cause any more of a problem than a few drops of water or a very small puddle.

jamesk,

You are correct that the length of hose is short and doesn't hold much water so even if a hose fails it makes little difference assuming you've using a shut off valve.

With all due respect, I'll just agree to disagree with you on the details of water pressure in a hose. I know it's just a silly little minor point. Maybe we just setup our equipment in different ways. If your hoses somehow dissipate the pressure inside the hose, the only physical explanation I can think of is that your hose has a leak somewhere along it's length or at the fittings. The pressure can't equalize without the water going somewhere. Air cannot "leak-in" around the fittings, the water would have to fizz out. If the mechanism of this pressure release was from the valve inside the washing machine it would mean a person's machine would fill with water when it wasn't running (assuming you didn't have/or use the hose shut-off on the wall.

What is happening here is different than what you see with an inflated balloon or bicycle tire loosing air over time.

Gordonr,

Whatever...it's a point not worth debating.