This is what no one wants to wake up to — but it happens all the time.
A friend of mine awoke at 2:30am to a homeowner’s nightmare…. A leak started sometime after she went to bed, and a huge volume of water had already coursed throughout her home.
👉 The result?
Warped engineered timber floors. Damaged kitchen cabinets. An insurance claim. And a months-long rebuilding project.
🔍 What caused it?
A flexible braided hose under her kitchen sink — you probably have these too, check your sinks, behind plumbed appliances, or at the base of your toilet.
🛑 These hoses are a plumber’s go-to, but they’re also one of the top causes of internal water damage. In fact, water damage from plumbing leaks is the #1 cause of home insurance claims in Australia.
More bad news: mould risk starts within 48 hours of a leak — especially in places like subfloors and wall cavities that are hard to dry.
My friend acted quickly, getting industrial dryers and dehumidifiers into her home on the same day.
When is the last time you looked at your plumbing connections?
✅ Look for signs of corrosion, fraying, or bulging.
✅ Replace older hoses before they fail (every 5 to 7 years is a good rule of thumb).
✅ Better yet, upgrade to copper alternatives like No Blows (no affiliation — just a fan of prevention).
Yes, home maintenance is a chore. But a quick weekend check and upgrades could save you thousands — and a whole lot of heartache.