By Gene and Katie Hamilton

When your neighbor has a problem, it seems to bring an issue very close to home. So when ours had a near-flooding situation, it got our attention. After checking with our insurance company, we learned many water damage claims are caused by a ruptured or split washing machine hose, the problem our neighbor had. If the hose is left under pressure and it lets loose while no one is home, water will flow through the house for hours, creating a major mess and repair work to flooring, walls and furnishings. To prevent that from happening you can add a safety valve kit, a leak detection system that automatically shuts off the water whenever it detects a leak in the washing machine. The safety valve kit allows water to flow to the machine only on demand, so the hoses aren't left under pressure. The valve kit includes 3/4-inch motorized ball valves for both the hot and cold water inlets, a water sensor placed on the floor and screws to install it.

A plumber will install a water safety valve kit for $402, which includes labor and material. You can buy and install it yourself for $210, the cost of the device, which we found at www.onsiteproducts.com. It is easy to install the device, and you'll save 47 percent by doing it yourself. You plug the washing machine into the control box of the device and plug it into an electrical outlet. It operates by low voltage wires that run from the box to the solenoids. When you turn on the washing machine, the valves open; they close when the machine shuts off.

Don't want to get involved doing this job yourself? Click here to get to Home Advisor, a free referral service that matches homeowners with their local contractors.

That sums it up. Knowing the average cost to install a washer safety valve lets you compare doing it yourself with what you can expect to pay a contractor. To customize the cost to where you live add your ZIP Code in the cost box.

Improvement and Repair Cost Updated 2019