Washer leaking water
First: stop the water
Close both water valves behind the washer and unplug it. If the washer is on an upper floor, tell the neighbor below and the property manager now. Water travels fast through a wood-frame floor.
Find the source
| Where and when | Likely source |
|---|---|
| At the back, while filling or even when the washer is off | Supply hoses, hose washers, inlet valve |
| At the back, while draining | Drain hose cracked or loose, standpipe overflowing |
| Front of a front-loader, at the door | Torn or dirty door gasket, something caught in it |
| From the dispenser drawer | Clogged dispenser, water pressure too high, too much detergent |
| Underneath, during wash or drain | Drain pump, pump filter cap, tub-to-pump hose |
| Underneath, during spin, with a rumbling noise | Tub seal and bearings |
| Suds on the floor | Too much detergent, or regular detergent in an HE washer |
Supply hoses
Rubber supply hoses are under full house pressure all the time. They harden and bulge with age, and a burst hose floods a room in minutes. If your hoses are black rubber and more than five years old, replace them with braided stainless steel hoses. It is inexpensive and it prevents the worst kind of washer leak.
Door gasket on front-loaders
The large rubber gasket around the door collects hair, detergent residue and small items. A coin or a bra wire can cut it. Wipe the gasket folds after washing and leave the door open so it dries. A torn gasket is replaced as one piece.
How we repair it
We run the washer with the panels off and watch each stage: fill, wash, drain and spin. That shows the exact source. Then we replace the failed hose, pump, gasket or valve. A tub seal and bearing job is a large repair, and on an older washer we will tell you honestly whether it is worth doing.