An apartment renter said a laundry-room inspection may have revealed why their hot-water charges had stayed abnormally high since move-in, with a vendor finding the washer's hot and cold hoses swapped.

Here's what to know

According to the post, the resident had been dealing with "ridiculously high" hot-water bills for about a year. During a visit to check the washer and dryer, a vendor allegedly discovered reversed supply lines, which could mean loads set to cold had actually been drawing heated water.

In a Reddit thread, the renter said they had complained to apartment management for months and eventually quit using the laundry machines. They also described a "really bad musty smell" in the laundry area and said towels could start smelling musty after only one use.

Commenters said the billing issue sounded plausible if hot water was separately tracked. One commenter wrote, "If they track hot water use separately, then yes, that will drive up costs."

Another added, "Having swapped supply lines will increase your costs for heating water!"

More background

Most of the replies treated the odor as a separate problem from the hose mix-up. One commenter said the smell "may be from closing the washer door after use," while another said they could not think of a reason reversed supply lines would create a musty smell and called that issue "unrelated."

The renter said they work from home, so clothes do not sit in the washer or dryer when they finish. They added that they leave the washer door open after use and had already tried multiple bleach cleaning cycles, but "the smell kept coming back."

They also said the appliances are in "a small closet right by my apartment entrance," making it hard to leave the closet doors open for very long because doing so blocks the walkway.

The renter said "the musty smell went away" after they stopped using both machines, and they also noticed "a lot less dust in the apartment." Based on that, they said the dryer vent or HVAC ducts might need inspection, too.

What can be done?

Another commenter suggested checking the issue by starting a cold cycle and seeing whether hot water comes out. The renter said a vendor had already verified the reversed hoses but "didn't fix them," and they were still waiting for maintenance to address the hookup and inspect possible venting problems.

Other replies focused on simple ways to reduce lingering moisture, such as keeping the washer door slightly open and increasing air movement in the closet. 

One commenter wrote, "A fan in the space would help," though the renter said cleaning cycles and bleach had not solved the recurring smell.

Homeowners dealing with stubborn water-heating costs can also look beyond hose hookups to the water heater itself. Cala makes customizable smart heat pump water heaters that can help homeowners decrease their energy bills by heating water exactly when it is needed. For people who own their equipment, Cala offers another way to better match hot-water production with actual demand.

The renter said the backward hookup does not seem to explain everything: "I'm more concerned about the ventilation, which still hasn't been inspected."

Where can I learn more?

A laundry room problem can lead to dirty clothes piling up, musty smells, and steep bills. 

• A Boston renter discovered the hidden cause of enormous energy bills after move-in.

• Another renter uncovered water-heater advice that could trim roughly $2,500 from annual bills.

• Washer owners often miss the little-known maintenance step that keeps filters working properly.

• Appliance experts recommend a simple trick to keep washing machines performing at their best.

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