Product review (4 stars): Danco Flood Armour Washing Machine Hoses
These plastic washing machine hoses are lined with a second hose and contain a built-in shut-off valve to prevent damage caused by a burst hose and the accompanying mess and expense. Braided steel hoses have a PVC lining. Their benefit over rubber hoses is they can withstand greater water pressure and the mesh exterior mitigates the breach hopefully limiting it to a leak rather than a flood.

This product sets out to improve upon braided metal hoses. First, the hose within a hose should contain any break in the interior liner so there isn't even a leak. And, the built-in shut-off valve and alert indicator both call the users attention to the problem and should automatically stop any water intrusion.

Another advantage is that the metal connectors on the ends that attach to the washer have a 90 degree angle. That eliminates one of the stress points where hoses often burst. This angle also permits the washer to be placed closer to the wall  something important because the other end of these hoses is bulky and requires an additional, in my cramped laundry space, six inches of space.

Eliminating the potential problem is so serious it is recommended that all washing machine hoses be replaced every five years. I admit to being ignorant of this rule and have in fact only replaced hoses when new appliances were installed  and never had a problem. But, now that I know better I won't take the risk by waiting so long.

Replacing every five years should also help reduce the difficulty I had removing the old hoses, which was the hardest part of installing this new set. Mineral build-up where the metal ends connected required the use of a wrench to loosen. I only needed to hand tighten the new hoses.

This design offers additional safety features, but the cost is considerably higher than that for a good braided metal set. So, the question is whether this expense is warranted or over-kill. My laundry is located in the main living area so the potential for damage is much more significant than if situated in an unfinished basement or garage, so any reasonable steps taken to reduce the possibility are sensible.