These High Efficiency Washing Machine Hoses are very well made and should last a long time. They should also help reduce concern of flooding from burst hoses; it's unlikely these will burst unless abused or used for a very long time. All washing machine installations should include water shutoff valves so the pressure can be relieved on the hoses when not in use anyway.The outside diameter of the hose is about 3/4 of an inch, give or take a few thousandths. The selling point of these hoses is that their larger diameter allows for faster water fill of the machine. However, faster fill does not necessarily increase machine efficiency.Furthermore, the large O.D. coupled with the stiffness of the braid reduce the flexibility, so there must be sufficient room for the hoses in your installation so that the hoses do not get kinked. I estimate that the I.D. looks to be about 7/16 inch. However, fast fill and large hoses are not part of industry guidelines for HE machines. The main point of HE machines is to use less water, thus minimizing the effects of fill time on efficiency. HE washers also use a specific high-efficiency detergent designed to work with lower water levels while still providing a powerful clean. (Lower water level means less fill time for any given hose.) HE washers save 6,000 gallons of water per year for an average family according to the EPA.Some of the negative reviews complain that only one hose was received when the photo seems as it is for 2 hoses. The description clearly states, in at least 2 places, that it is a package of 1 [ONE] hose. Reading the listing should clear this up; also see photo displaying one single hose. Another stated that the supplied hose washers are too thin and new sealing washers are needed. The hose washers supplied with my hoses were very thick, much thicker than typical garden hose washers. I found the washers to be more than adequate.