Is there a mysterious puddle on your laundry room floor? If your washing machine is leaking, it could be an old hose, a leaking pump, or excess foam. Fortunately, all of these common fixes are easy to do yourself. See step 1 and beyond to learn how to diagnose and repair a washing machine leak.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Finding the Source of the Leak
Step 1. Make sure your washing machine is on a flat surface
To determine the source of a washing machine leak, you should look at the location of the puddle and try to find out where the leak is coming from in the machine. If the washing machine is not on a level place, water will run off and it will be more difficult to pinpoint where the leak is coming from.
Step 2. Check for problems that can be fixed quickly
Before deciding to replace hoses and gaskets, determine if the leak is caused by an easier-to-fix problem. Check the machine manufacturer's instructions to make sure you are using it correctly. Here are some problems that are easy to fix:
-
The washing machine is overloaded or unbalanced.
If you try to fill the washing machine with too many clothes, a leak may occur. Leakage problems can also occur if the washing machine is so full that clothes accumulate on one side, causing an imbalance that shakes the washing machine during the spin cycle.
-
Tendency to interrupt the rinse cycle by increasing the time.
If your rinse cycle has a spray rinse function, adding more time while the water is spraying may cause the spray to last longer than it should, resulting in leaks.
-
Make sure the factory drain plug is removed.
If your washing machine is new, remove the attached drain plug before connecting the drain hose. If you run the wash cycle without removing the stopper, the washing machine will not drain properly.
Image -
Make sure the drain hose is securely attached to the drain pipe.
Incorrectly installed hoses can be a source of leaks.
Image -
Make sure the drain is not clogged.
Maybe you think your washing machine is leaking when your drain is clogged. Make sure the drain is clean before attempting any repairs.
Image
Step 3. Find out if excess foam is the problem
When the soap you pour into the washing machine produces too much foam, it can overflow and cause a leak. This is a common problem in homes with water filters, you don't need to use a lot of soap for washing.
To see if the problem is excess foam, wash as many clothes as you normally would. When you take your clothes out of the washing machine, dip a piece of clothing in a bucket basin and twist it slightly. If the water is foamy, the clothes still have soap in them, and you may have used too much soap
Step 4. Run a wash cycle and see where the leak occurs
Wash as many clothes as you normally would and check where the water drips from the washing machine. Often you can tell what the problem is just by looking at the location of the water leak from the engine.
- Leaks in the front of the washing machine are usually caused by a clogged tub overflow or an old seal that is not properly installed (on a front door washer).
- Leaks in the back of the washing machine usually occur because the water supply hose is damaged or loose.
- Leaks under the washing machine are usually caused by a hole in the water pump or a leak in the inner hose.
Step 5. Replace the parts that leak most frequently in order
If you can't find the exact cause of the leak, and your washing machine is quite old, repairing the hoses and other parts that are most likely the cause is the best option. Over time washing machine parts can become clogged or loose and cause leaks. In the end, you do have to replace it. So, do it now and try to stop the leak.
- If you don't want to do all the repairs at once, start with the most common repairs, run the engine to see if there are still leaks and perform the next repair on the list. Keep doing it until you can fix the leaking part.
- If the washing machine is still leaking after all the repairs have been done, contact the washing machine company to see if they can help you find the problem. Maybe you just have to swallow the bitter pill and call a washerman to come home and sort things out.
Method 2 of 2: Performing General Repair
Step 1. Turn off the power
Make sure the washing machine is turned off before you attempt any repairs. Performing repairs while the power is on may result in injury.
Step 2. Check and repair the water supply hose
The hose is located at the back of the machine, which functions to drain water into the machine during the washing cycle. Old or damaged water supply hoses are often the cause of leaks behind the engine. If the water supply hose leaks, water will continue to drip during the wash cycle. Here's how to repair the water supply hose:
-
Turn off the water line or close the valve.
Image -
Remove the water supply hose bolt with pliers.
Image - Love the slang. If it looks old and rusty, replace it with a hose without blowing it and a new washer.
- If the hose is in good condition, replace the inside of the washer. Old washing machines usually come loose and don't fit tightly anymore.
- Make sure all connections are tight and secure before using the washing machine again.
Step 3. Check and repair the inner hose
The hoses inside the machine can also rust and wear out, and should be replaced from time to time. To access the inner hose, you must open the washer cabinet or the back panel where the hose is attached by removing the bolts.
- Look for old, rusted or torn hose and hose clamps that are rusted.
- To remove the hose, use pliers to clamp the hose clamp and loosen it, then remove the hose.
- Replace old hoses and hose clamps with new ones.
Step 4. Find out if the pump is leaking
The pump moves water from the washer tub to the drain. These pumps are made with inner seals which can wear out over time which can cause leaks. If you see signs of a leaking pump, with evidence of stains or rust, you should replace it.
- Rearrange the correct pump placement for your washing machine.
- Open the washing machine cabinet.
- Loosen the engine motor mounting bolt.
- Remove the pump hose and loosen the bolt, then remove it from the engine. Replace with a new pump.
- For more detailed instructions on how to replace an engine pump, see How to Replace a Washing Machine Water Pump.
Tips
- Try not to place the washing machine at an angle.
- The hose is still connected so the washing machine cannot be pulled far until the drain hose is removed from the wall or drain hole.
- The washing machine should be empty when you pull it away from the wall. Be careful not to scratch or scratch the floor.
- If this washing machine is new enough, disassembling its body will be the biggest challenge.
- If the hose is damaged, the pump is cracked, etc., you will need to replace the damaged part.
