Why Is My Washing Machine Leaking Water?
It’s Sunday afternoon. You toss in a load of laundry, hit Start, and walk away without thinking twice. But you return to find your laundry room on the verge of becoming an indoor swimming pool.
If you find yourself asking why your washing machine is leaking water, the answer could be something as simple as a loose hose or too much detergent. In more serious cases, a failing pump or cracked tub may be the culprit and require professional repair.
Whatever the cause, don’t ignore the water itself. A washer leak can soak flooring, baseboards, drywall, and nearby rooms. To prevent mold growth from joining the water damage party, all affected materials need to be dried within 24–48 hours.
Common Causes of a Leaking Washing Machine
The most common reasons a washing machine leaks include:
- A loose or damaged inlet hose
- Worn door gasket
- Excessive detergent
- Overloaded drum
- Faulty drain pump
- Cracked tub
- Loose drain connection
If your washing machine is leaking, the first thing you need to do is turn off the washer and its water supply. Next, identify where the leak is coming from, and repair the problem before running another cycle.
If water makes its way into flooring, walls, or other building materials, professional water extraction and drying may also be necessary.
Damaged or Loose Water Inlet Hose
The hot and cold water supply hoses behind your washer are good places to start your leak inspection. Check for cracks, bulges, and moisture around the fittings. Also, check for loose connections. Manufacturer troubleshooting guidance similarly recommends inspecting external hoses for cracks and blistering.
If a connection is simply loose, tightening it may solve the problem. Replace a hose that is cracked, bulging, or otherwise damaged rather than attempting a temporary patch.
Pro Tip: After you’ve carefully checked the hoses, dry the area completely and run a short cycle while keeping an eye on the connections. A fresh leak is a lot easier to spot on a dry surface.
Worn-Out Door Seal or Gasket
The rubber gasket on front-loading machines creates a watertight seal around the door. Any debris, clothing, lint, deterioration, or damage to that seal creates an opportunity for water to escape.
Check the gasket carefully. Remove anything trapped underneath it. Maytag specifically recommends checking the seal for trapped clothing and blocked drainage holes when water leaks from the front.
Overloading the Machine
Your washer may be mighty, but it isn’t indestructible. Try not to overestimate what it can handle.
Stuffing too much laundry into the drum prevents clothes from moving around in the machine efficiently. It can also contribute to unbalanced loads or water escaping where it shouldn’t.
When in doubt, stick to the manufacturer’s load-size recommendations and distribute bulky items evenly. If leaks occur frequently with big loads of towels or bedding, try a smaller load before assuming the machine has suffered a major mechanical failure.
Using Too Much Detergent
More soap doesn’t equal cleaner clothes. In high-efficiency machines, excessive detergent or the wrong kind of detergent can create a sudsy nightmare that may lead to:
- Leaks
- Drainage problems
- Poor rinsing
Use high-efficiency (HE) detergent when your washer requires it and follow both the washer and detergent manufacturer’s dosing instructions.
Washing Machine Leaking from Bottom — What It Means
If your washing machine is leaking from the bottom, it needs extra attention because the source could be hidden inside the appliance itself.
Faulty Drain Pump
The drain pump removes dirty/grey water from the washer. If the pump housing, seal, or connected hose fails, water can collect beneath the machine while it’s draining. Accessing the pump may require some disassembly, so this job is better left to an appliance repair technician rather than relying on DIY screwdriver skills and a YouTube how-to guide.
Cracked Tub or Water Tank
A damaged inner or outer tub can produce a substantial leak, and though they’re designed to withstand years of use, physical damage or component failure can still occur.
If you suspect a tub crack, have a professional look at it to make sure that’s the issue. Continuing to operate the washer could turn a minor, manageable leak into significant water damage.
Loose Drain Hose Connection
Check the drain hose at both the washer and household drain. A loose hose can dump water pretty quickly during the drain cycle, and a clogged or slow household drain can also cause water to back up.
Pro Tip: Don’t check directly underneath the washer only. Water follows gravity and paths of least resistance, so a puddle could show up several feet away from the actual leak.
Washing Machine Leaking During Wash Cycle vs. Spin Cycle
When the washer leaks can tell you almost as much as where the leak is.
|
When It Leaks |
Possible Culprit |
What to Check |
|
Filling |
Inlet hose or connection |
Supply hoses and fittings |
|
Washing |
Door gasket, detergent, tub |
Seal, suds, load size |
|
Draining |
Drain hose or pump |
Hose connections and pump |
|
Spilling |
Seal, imbalance, or internal component |
Load balance and seals |
Leaks During Fill (Water Inlet Issues)
If water appears as soon as the machine starts filling up, check the supply hoses, fittings, and connections first. Make sure you turn off the water supply before you tighten or replace any components.
Leaks During Spin (Balance & Seal Issues)
If the washing machine leaks during the wash cycle or spin cycle, an unbalanced load, damaged seal, pump issue, or internal connection is probably responsible.
Stop the machine if it starts shaking violently. Move laundry around to redistribute the load and ensure that the washer is level. If it keeps leaking or continues to shake even when loads are balanced, a professional inspection is your next step.
Before you even begin to think about how to fix a leaking washing machine, you need to stop the immediate source of water. Follow these seven simple steps:
- Stop the washer and shut off its water supply.
- Unplug it if it’s safe to do so. Don’t walk through standing water to reach an electrical outlet.
- Inspect the visible inlet and drain hoses for loose fittings, cracks, or damage.
- Check the door gasket on front-loading models for debris or deterioration.
- Check your detergent use and make sure you’re using the correct type and amount.
- Clean up standing water immediately and inspect nearby flooring, baseboards, drywall, and cabinetry for moisture.
- Test cautiously only after the apparent problem has been corrected.
If water has penetrated carpet padding, drywall, subflooring, or other porous materials, drying the visible puddle only isn’t going to cut it. All water-damaged materials should be dried quickly (within 24–48 hours).
If the damage is extensive, you may need to contact a professional restoration company to accelerate the structural drying process through the use of extraction equipment, air movers, and dehumidifiers.
When Should You Call a Repair Technician?
An appliance repair technician is required when the leak appears to involve the drain pump, tub, internal hoses, bearings, electrical components, or any problem you can’t access safely.
But here’s the key distinction to draw: an appliance technician fixes the washing machine while a restoration service addresses water damage to the home.
Contact a water damage restoration professional promptly if the leak has:
- Seeped beneath flooring
- Soaked into drywall or baseboards
- Saturated the carpet and padding
- Invaded another room or level of the house
- Left behind a significant amount of standing water
If a washer leak has caused your home significant water damage, 24 Hour Flood Pros is available around the clock for emergency water extraction and structural drying. Remember, fast action helps protect your flooring, drywall, and other materials. We’ll get your laundry room back to doing the only soaking it was designed for: soaking clothes.
