Washing Machine Leaking Water

The washing machine leaking water and leaks drain to the floor, making it tricky to diagnose puddle problems.

So you have found a puddle on your laundry room’s floor and are worried about its source. The problem could either be external or internal.

The best way to diagnose this problem is first to learn how water flows throughout the washing machine so that you can understand the weak points to check in your Washer.

Water Flow in Washing Machines 

Water gets into the Washer through supply valves in the wall, where two hoses supply either hot or cold water. Other hoses inside the washing machine supply water to the tub. Washing machines also have a combination of pumps and motors that help your laundry get clean.

A drain hose leads grey water out of the washing machines through a drain pipe after a wash cycle. Any of these connections can get loose or break, and this will lead washing machine leaking.

If your drain hose break, I recommend you to get one of these drain hoses.

Possible Reasons Behind Washer Leaking Water

Is Your Washer Balanced?

If you didn’t place your Washer on even ground, then there is a high chance that is why it’s leaking. When your Washer isn’t level, the Washer will agitate and shake violently during a wash cycle which can cause water to pour out through the lid or door.

The imbalance may also be due to poorly distributed clothes in the drum. Agitated washers can also cause a washer’s components to get damaged, leading to leaks. New age washing machines come with an auto-balance feature where the Washer detects an imbalance and corrects itself into levelness.  

Check the Washing Machine’s Door

This step is for front-loading washing machines. Your Washer’s door consists of a catch that helps to create a water-tight seal for your Washer. The door also has a locking mechanism that ensures it won’t open mid-cycle. If the door weren’t closed properly, you would experience a puddle from a leak at the front of your washing machine. 

Another problem would be that the door catch’s seal is old and loose. Therefore the door won’t close tightly. Door catches are available on Amazon and are dependent on your Washer’s brand and model. 

Steps:

1. Remove the front panel to get to the door catch so that it’s visible to you. In some models, you may need to unscrew the door catch to inspect it.
2. Check the catch for any discoloration, cracks, bends, or breaks.
3. If you recognize any faults, you will need to replace the door catch.
4. Also, check how many detergents Did You Pour into the Washer?

Check if you overestimated the amount of detergent you need for your wash cycle. When you add too much soap into your Washer, the combination of soap and water will create suds that will overflow and cause leaks depending on the overestimation. This is a common occurrence in places that have their water softened. Soft water needs less soap to create suds.

Did you Interrupt the Wash Cycle?

Some washing machines have the spray-rinse feature where a pre-set amount of water has sprayed directly on your clothes during a wash cycle to remove any dirt, detergent, and debris. If you interrupt this function, the cycle will become longer than it’s supposed to, which will lead to a leak. 

Faulty Water Level Switch

The water level switch controls the build-up of water in the Washer’s drum. It works in conjunction with the air dome tube and the pressure switch to ensure that the water reaches the level required to do your laundry optimally. If any of these components break, then the checks and balances of your Washer will be compromised, and there will be overfills when you do your laundry. This will result in leaky puddles. Meanwhile, contact your nearest technician to help you diagnose which component doesn’t work and replace it. 

Check for the Drain Plug

If it’s your first time using your washing machine and your notice a leak, locate the drain plug and remove it. A plug has meant to stop water from flowing, and starting a wash cycle with it still in place will cause a malfunction in the drainage. After removing the drain plug, then you can attach the drain hose. 

We also have created an ultimate guide on how to drain a washing machine.

Check Your Hoses

It’s easy to check the Washer’s external’s first before opening your Washer, and the problem may be external and therefore easy to fix. 

Steps:

1. Move the Washer from the wall and inspect the supply hoses for leaks or loose seals. Ensure they have tightly sealed. A faulty supply hose will continuously leak throughout the wash cycle.
2. You may need to replace faulty supply hoses. As long as you know the brand and model, you can easily get them on Amazon.
3. After replacing the hoses, remember to ensure that your connections are secure before using them again.
4. Check the standpipe’s connection to the house drain, is there debris? Check whether there are any cracks that may cause a leak. If there is any break or crack, you may have to replace your hose.
5. In case you don’t find a leak on the external hoses, you will need to check the hoses inside the Washer.
6. You will have to unplug your Washer from the power and water supply to prevent electrocution and more spillage.
7. You will connect most of the hoses in the Washer to the tub. To remove the hoses, use pliers to hold the clamp gently and remove it from the hose. Check for breakages and cracks. You may also fail to find the clamps; each hose connection should have one. This may be the cause of the leak, replace the clamps and test your Washer.

Inspect your Pump for Washing  Machine Leaking Water

Your Washer’s pump could either be belt-driven, direct drive, or electric. Its use is to channel gray water from the Washer to the drain. Pumps contain seals that ensure water-tightness, and these are prone to getting lose and worn out, which could cause water to leak. If a pump is rusty, corroded, or littered with soap stains, this may be the problem. You may realize that your drain pump is faulty when water is leaking from the washing machine during the wash portion of your cycle.

Steps Check 

1. Depending on your Washer’s brand and model, the source for your Washer’s pump replacement
2. Access the washing machine’s cabinet
3. And using a pair of pliers, loosen the motor mounting bolts.
4. Remove the pump’s hoses, and unscrew the pump then detach it from the washing machine.
5. Replace the washing machine

Alternatively, if replacing the pump is too technical, it is best to call a certified technician to help you diagnose and replace it for you.

Check the Water Inlet Valve

The water inlet valve allows water into the washing machine and has located behind your washing machine. If the puddle is behind the washing machine, then this valve might be the culprit. 

Steps:

1. Detach your Washer’s inlet hoses and unplug them from its power supply
2. You can use an adjustable wrench to remove the bolts of your Washer’s rear panel. Find the water inlet valve. The most common place to find the valve is behind the hose connections.
3. After you remove the valve from the Washer, check the screens inside the valve for any clogs. Remember to be careful with the screens because they can’t be repaired. Any damage to the screen will require you to replace the entire valve.

Check the Catch Basket for Clogs

The catch basket is located either along the edge of your Washer’s drum, in the middle of the agitator, or at the end of the drain hose. It’s responsible for trapping lint. It’s most common in older washer models. When a catch basket is full of debris, you will start to notice a leak at the bottom of your washer. Clean out the catch basket and test whether there is a difference in performance. 

Inspect the Tub Cover Gasket

The cover gasket is responsible for providing a water-tight seal between the outer tub and its cover. Its main job is to prevent water from leaking into the transmission shaft. This malfunction is usually progressive and will grow from a small leak into such a widespread malfunction that it will affect the main tub bearing. When you notice leaks when your Washer is being agitated, then this could be the cause. 

Steps:

1. Remove the front panel of your Washer and start the wash cycle by releasing water into the tub.
2. Observe the joint between a transmission shaft and the tub and watch for any leaks.
3. The solution to a faulty cover gasket is to replace it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, fix your front load washing machine leaking from the bottom early before it advances into a full-on flood. Meanwhile, leaks can cause damage to your floors, which in turn leads to more economic loss. If water isn’t cleaned up, then the water damage may be extensive and reach other appliances.