FLOODCHEK INDEX

Number of washing machines in the U.S. : 100,000,000
Number of hot and cold water supply hoses for these washers : 200,000,000
Estimated property damage caused annually when these hoses fail : $200,000,000
Property damage caused annually when Floodchek washer hoses fail ⁽³⁾ : $0.00
Industry standard length of these hoses in feet : 5
Total length of these hoses in feet : 1,000,000,000
As measured in miles : 189,393
Number of times they would circle the earth at the equator : 7.61
As a fraction of the average distance to the moon : 4/5
Weight of a standard washing machine hose (less steel coupling) in ounces : 10.4
Weight of all washer hoses in the U.S. in tons : 65,000
Number of steel couplings on each end of these hoses : 400,000,000
Weight of one coupling : 1.1 oz
Total weight in tons : 13,750
Number of years a washing machine is designed to last : 10-12
Number of years most water supply hoses are designed to last ⁽¹⁾ : 3-5
Number of years Floodchek washing machine hoses are designed to last : 20+
How often manufactures warn to replace them in years ⁽²⁾ : 3-5
Estimated annual sales of replacement washing machine hoses : $120,000,000
Potential amount of “old” washer hose added to landfills annually in tons : 6,500
Potential amount of steel couplings added to U.S. landfills annually in tons : 1,375
Annual amount of damaged carpet, drywall and furniture sent to landfills in tons : n/a
Estimated insurance premium increases caused by washer hose failures : n/a
Amount levied against manufacturers regarding defective washer hoses : $75,000,000

⁽¹⁾ Planned obsolescence in industrial design is the policy of deliberately planning or designing a product with a limited useful life, so it will become obsolete or nonfunctional after a certain period. For an industry, planned obsolescence stimulates demand by encouraging purchasers to buy sooner if they still want afunctioning product.

⁽²⁾ Planned obsolescence has potential benefits for a producer because to obtain continuing use of the product the consumer is under pressure to purchase again, whether from the same manufacturer (a replacement part or a newer model), or from a competitor which might also rely on planned obsolescence.

⁽³⁾ There is, however, the potential backlash of consumers who learn that the manufacturer invested money to make the product obsolete faster; such consumers might turn to a producer (if any exists) that offers amore durable alternative.