Washing Machine Leaking: What is the Potential Problem and How to Solve It?

A regular laundry day. You load the first batch of clothes and, out of the blue, instead of having squeaky-clean clothes, you get a broken appliance. Not only do you have to repair it, but the damage might have not been showing itself for some time. What if it causes a leak into a neighbouring apartment? 

Unfortunately, a leaking washing machine is quite a common household problem, especially if you have been using your appliance for more than 10 years. To solve the “why is my washing machine leaking” mystery, you have to first identify which part of the appliance the water is coming from (and do it fast!) and only after that apply the solution. We hope that this post will serve you as a guide. 

So, if you:

• Have a leaking washing machine;
• Want to find the reason why your washing machine is leaking;
• Wish to know how to repair the faulty appliance;

Then keep on reading. This post is right for you!

Before you start

Before going any further, make sure that you are using your washing machine accordingly with the manufacturer manual. All DIY repairs should be done with the appliance unplugged from the electric sockets and with the water supply turned off!

Back leaks

Most of the time, you don’t need professional help with fixing the back leaks. Usually, they are caused by weak connections between the water supply and a washing machine or simple wear and tear. Below, we have listed the main problems that you might be dealing with.

Water hoses are not properly secured 

This is a very common reason that causes washing machines to leak from the back. It’s an inevitable side effect of intense drum spinning, which creates movement and vibrations. Because of these vibrations, the hoses’ connections loosen up over time and let the water out. 

In this situation, simply search for the hoses that connect the rear of your washing machine to the wall. Hand tighten both the hot and cold hoses from both sides. And don’t forget to level your appliance to avoid recurrence of the issue.

Damaged water hose washer

If the water hoses are tightened, but the connections are still moist, check the condition of the water hose washers. These circular rubber pieces are located inside the water fill hose and should prevent the appliance from leaking. 

However, if they wear out, some of the water gets lost on its way, resulting in a leak. The best thing is that the problem can be solved without any professional help. You can buy the replacement hose washers in the nearest hardware store. Take the damaged ones with you to be sure that you buy the right size.

Water hose damage

Another reason why puddles form at the back of your washing machine is a damaged or torn water hose. Inspect the inlet hoses for damages. It might be anything from a small crack to rust forming on the hose. In any of these situations, you will have to install a new hose.

Bottom leaks

When attempting to identify the bottom leak, thoroughly examine your washing machine. Bottom leaks can signify more serious damages since the drainage system is located on the bottom of the appliance.

Drainage system problems

If you have noticed water coming from underneath your washing machine, there is a possibility that your drain hose is not attached correctly or even damaged. To check if the culprit for leaks is the drain hose, you have to examine it thoroughly. 

Usually, all modern washing machines will indicate the leak by showing some kind of error code on the display if they are equipped with one. If they are not they most likely have a LED panel that will flash the error code and you would have to count the flashes.

With drainage issues, the washing machine will give you some kind of indication of where the problem might be, and between different brands, the codes can vary. Here are some examples of the drainage issues errors on different brands: E04 (Panasonic), F02 (CDA), E23 (Bosch), E10 / E11 / E12 / C1 (AEG), E06 (Electrolux).

Faulty water pump

The water pump is responsible for draining water from the tub. Usually, if the water pump is faulty, the washing machine creates a lot of rumbling sounds and shakes, especially during the rinse cycle. 

If you remove the front panel of the washing machine, you will find it on the bottom left side. For an amateur handyman, the replacement might seem quite complicated, as it involves certain knowledge of the washing machine wiring and connections. We highly recommend running professional diagnostics first, before attempting any repairs. After all, there is a chance to turn an inexpensive repair into the purchase of a new appliance. 

However, if you insist on DIY repairs, here is what you need to do:

1. When you remove the front panel, locate the water pump;
2. Unplug the wiring in the back of the water pump;
3. Move the spring clamps that are holding the hoses and remove the damaged pump;
4. Install a new water pump by plugging the wires onto it and securing the hoses with the clamps;
5. Put the front panel back the same way you removed it. 

Front leaks

Leaks in the front part of your washing machine are primarily associated with using too much detergent that creates the clogging over time. Another potential cause is defective door locks. The clogging can be resolved by thorough cleaning of the appliance, but the door lock defects might require some technical skills. 

The door is not closing properly

Remember the clicking sound that your washing machine produces before it starts the cycle? This is what the door catch is for – it keeps the door tightly closed while your clothes are being washed. If the mechanism is worn or damaged, the door might still close, but the mechanism will not seal the door and result in leaks. It’s also quite possible that the washing cycle won’t begin at all if the washing machine door won’t lock.

Visually examine the door lock for any damages, wear and tear, or foreign objects that might be blocking the door from closing. If you see that the lock needs replacement:

1. Remove the screws that hold the door catch;
2. Take out the retaining band around the door seal;
3. Move the rubber seal to reach behind the front panel of the washing machine and take out the broken lock;
4. Replace it with the new one and fix it with the screws;
5. Don’t forget to return the retaining band.

Damaged door seal

A damaged or deformed door seal can result in washing machine door leaks. The most common reason why the seal gets damaged is foreign objects catching in the door seal. Metal zippers, coins, or any other objects we forget to take out of the pocket before washing the clothes can get stuck and seriously damage the rubber seal. That’s why you have to regularly clean the rubber seal of your washing machine and check if anything is stuck in the seal.

Overloading can also cause the fabric to get stuck between the seal and the door pane.

To spot any damages, visually inspect the rubber seal. Unfortunately, if you see that the seal has any splits or holes, there is no other option rather than to replace the damaged one.

Detergent drawer leaks

There are two potential reasons why your soap drawer is leaking: the dispenser hose between the dispenser and the drum is blocked with excess detergent or mould built up in the dispense water jets. What you want to do in this situation is to clean the soap drawer thoroughly on the top and bottom:

1. Follow the manufacturer manual to take the soap dispenser out;
2. Inspect the dispenser top and the drawer for any clogging and mould formation;
3. Dip a nylon brush in hot water and scrub the top of the dispenser. The bristles of the brush will help you clean the shower holes that deliver water to the soap drawer;
4. Soak the soap dispenser in hot water before cleaning to soften the detergent residue; 
5. Take the same brush and clean the drawer and every small detail that you can take out. Don’t be afraid that you might break something. The drawers are usually designed to be cleaned easily;
6. Rinse it in hot water nicely, place back in the compartment and run a cycle;
7. If the leaking problem is not resolved, then the clogging might be in the hose between the dispenser and the drum.

Usually, when there are problems with the dispenser hose, the excess water appears when the water fills the dispenser. If you suspect that the dispenser hose is blocked, pour some hot water in the drawer and let the water go through. Along the process, some excess detergent might appear. Remove it with a cloth or any other soaking material. 

Struggling to locate the problem?

Sometimes, the problem is bigger than our capabilities, and it is okay to ask for help. If you have tried everything and didn’t manage to find the faulty detail, we at Fantastic Services offer 25+ home care and maintenance services, including electric appliance repairs!

Specially trained technicians know how to handle even the most complicated washing machine malfunctions and are aware of the specifics of each brand – Miele, Samsung, Bosch, and many more. So, what are you waiting for? Book your washing machine repair service, today!

In the meantime, if you’ve got some laundry that needs to be taken care of you can try our laundry services or dry cleaning services. All your laundry will be taken care of and delivered back to your door within 24 hours.

Takeaways

• Perform any repairs with the power source turned off;
• The most common problem that causes washing machines to leak is unattached hoses;
• Back leaks can signify about the faults on the inlet hoses;
• Bottom leaks are most likely to appear because of errors in the drainage system;
• If you have leaks coming from the door, the reason might be the broken lock or damaged rubber seal;
• Detergent drawer leaks most likely happen due to mould clogging;
• To avoid any damages, perform regular maintenance of the appliance.

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We hope that this post was helpful to you! If you haven’t found a case similar to yours, feel free to ask in the comment section down below.

Image source: shutterstock / cunaplus