Washing Machine Leaking

Even the highest-quality appliance tends to break sometimes. Yet, if defrosting a fridge or a not working oven lead only to your distraction, a leaking washing machine is kind of a mess.

What happens if your washer is leaking? The simplest answer will be it will not do its job. Yet, it's the lesser evil. There are more troublesome events happening after the washing machine leaking including such catastrophic implications as:

• Rotting of the washer's body due to the constant water contact with the metal body. If the leak is small, you can even miss it. But it cuts through the metal leading to more complex breakdowns.
• If the leak is of a considerable size, it is catastrophic as water can damage all around starting from electricity and floor heating. Water causes short circuits, and that can lead to a fire.
• No matter to mention how harmful is water for flooring and wallpaper even for the strongest floor covering i.e. laminated flooring or parquet. The wallpaper will get soggy and fall off the wall.
• Washer leaking is a way to increase humidity in the room. And that humidity leads to mold growth along with bacterial and fungus invasion. This is a real disaster for your health as these molds and bacteria can cause lung damage and even chronic lung diseases.

For private houses' owners, washing machine leaking is less harmful as they are responsible only for their property. What to say about those who rent an apartment in a condo? They will get a double trouble as water leaking can drain through the ceiling slabs and flood the neighbors below.

There are plenty of reasons why your washer should leak. We'll consider the most important ones in our article. So let's start with it.

Front Load Washer Leaking

Front-load washers are the most popular option worldwide. But it is also the most sensitive option at the same time.

Let's start with the most common causes of front load washer leaking. These include:

1. Poor fixation of the water supply hoses leading to the washing machine. Often, improper fixation can cause leakage.
2. The hoses themselves may be damaged. For example, if they were interrupted while moving the washing machine. Or, the hoses may have worn out during prolonged use of the washing machine.
3. Often, the leak is associated with a breakdown at the junction of the inlet hose with the inlet valve on the back of the washing machine. Loose gaskets or worn gaskets may be the cause.
4. A loose washer drain filter is another common cause of leakage.

But such reasons are typical for many washers. But the load washer leaking is most often associated with the door.

Front Load Washer Leaking from Door

In case your front load washing machine is leaking from the door there are also several reasons for its damaging behavior.

1. So, due to the fact that the hatch of the machine is in the front, the possibility of leakage from the hatch is added to the risk of leaks from below. Water flows through the worn rubber seal on the loading door. The rubber seal may leak due to the damage from sharp objects that accidentally fall into the washer. If the cuff is torn from the inside, from the side of the drum, water will flow under the inner wall, forming a puddle under the machine, if the front load washer leaking closer to the door, water will flow closer to the front panel.
2. The door can also fly off the hinges due to external damage and cause the front load washer leaking.
3. Also, the drum shaft may be the cause of leakage.

Leaks of a front washing machine should be entrusted to be repaired by a qualified technician who can accurately diagnose the cause and correct it.

Top Load Washer Leaking

Top load washing machines, like everyone else, can break down over time. And some malfunctions are peculiar only to washing machines of this type. These breakdowns are connected with the peculiarities of the top load washer construction and its nodal elements' arrangement.

• The drain filter is leaking. Such a leak in a top load washing machine only requires checking the condition of the seal and checking the tightness of the filter.
• Worn upper door seal. Despite its location at the top, checking the top door seal is one of the first steps in diagnosing your top load washer leaking.
• The condition of the drain hose and the drain connection is another reason for the top load washer leaking.
• And, of course, it is worth checking the tank for leaks: it is the deterioration of the tank that can serve as a real flood.

Washer Leaking from Bottom

It is not an uncommon thing when a washer is working clockwise yet there is a water puddle under its bottom. What can cause your washer leaking from the bottom?

First of all, if you find a puddle on the floor while washing, immediately unplug the washing machine from the mains, trying not to enter the room where it is located. Spilled liquid on the floor, while the washer is running can cause an electric shock.

1. The first and most common cause is a loose drain filter cover element. You just need to tighten the fasteners to eliminate such a leak.
2. It is much worse if the reason why the washer is leaking from the bottom is drum damage. In this case, water will ooze down during washing, causing leakage and rotting of the machine body.
3. A malfunction of the detergent dispenser can also lead to a leak from the bottom. Then the water begins to overflow over the edge of the container, flows down the walls and gradually causes the bottom to leak.
4. Sometimes, when squeezing, the oil seal, which is responsible for tightness, fails. In such a situation, the washer begins to leak from the bottom.

In all the cases your washer is leaking from the bottom, the visit of a repairman is highly recommended.

Causes of Washing Machine Leaking From Bottom

Washing Machine Standpipe Overflow

Typical connection errors when installing a washer include using multiple spliced hoses when the washing machine is too far from the plumbing pipe. This is not recommended. After all, the more connections there are, the higher the likelihood that one of them will leak over time. It is better to spend a little more money and buy one long hose instead of two short ones.

One more problem with the washing machine standpipe is its overflow due to clogging or just valve closed. Be sure the drain is clear and the valve is opened.

Washing Machine Drain Overflow

Do not ignore your washing machine drain as it can run to overflow. During operation, the machine can draw water at least twice - when washing and when rinsing. The number of such cycles may increase depending on the washing program. It is worth worrying if the machine starts pouring water uncontrollably. This is considered one of the most dangerous breakdowns. In the best case, the machine will constantly drain the collected water; if the drain is clogged, this can lead to failure of the electronics or flooding. In addition to the huge water consumption, the washing machine drain overflow runs to many parts of the washing machine suffer, which are subject to an exorbitant load. The heating element especially suffers in this situation, which is forced to constantly heat the incoming water.

Washing Machine Water Supply Valve Leaking

If the leak is related to the water supply to your washing machine, the cause may be one of the following:

• There are leaks in the pipes of the common water supply system in the house.
• Hoses and pipes that are connected to the water supply are poorly fastened and sealed.
• The hoses and pipes themselves are leaking.
• The gaskets at the joints of the water hoses with the water supply or the back wall of the washing machine have not been changed for a long time.
• The hose is poorly fixed at the point of filling the tank.

All this can be checked on your own, but for an effective repair of your washing machine, it is better to invite a specialist who will accurately indicate the reason why the washing machine water supply valve leaking, and how to fix this problem with ease and fewer costs.

Washing Machine Leaking FAQ

Get answers to the most commonly asked questions about washing machine leaking and its repair services.

Can Overloading a Washer Cause It to Leak?

Overloading the washing machine, as usual, is not a reason for leaks. The newer models of washing machines simply will not start working if there is too much laundry in them. Another problem that can occur with an overloaded washing machine is the poor quality of the wash. Due to too many things, the washing machine simply will not reach full power, and the washing powder will not be able completely dissolve. However, some models also have leaks due to an overloaded drum. They are performed due to the fact, because too much weight of the laundry presses on the cuff of the hatch when loading horizontally. In this case, the cuff may deform and leak. And do not forget that the bearing of an overloaded washing machine can fail, and its replacement is a very expensive and troublesome affair. Therefore, if possible, do not overload your washing machine.

How to Fix a Leaking Washing Machine?

There are only a few situations you can cope with fixing your washer yourself. In fact, only if its drain was clogged or its hoses were badly connected, a DIY repair can be done. In other situation, a skilled repairman is required as modern washers are quite complex appliances that are needed to be diagnosed and repaired according to their specifics. Do not try to fix the washer leaking yourself if you are not sure about its diagnostics and ways of repair. Do not forget also to apply for insurance coverage if you have insurance policies with water damage coverage. It will help you reduce expenses and get compensation for your renovation costs.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Leaking Washing Machine?

As usual, insurance policies in the US cover only the damage caused to the premises. That means, if your washer is leaking suddenly, your insurance company may cover the damaged floor or walls renovation expenses yet the repair of your washer will be out of coverage. By the way, if the washer was leaking constantly due to your delaying its fixing, the insurance company may refuse to cover the damage. One more reason to refuse is the poor washer maintenance provided by the owner. If it is rotten and the leak was caused by that fact, the insurance can refuse both covering costs for renovation and for the washing machine repair as it is the fault of its owner that it is leaking.