When your washing machine starts leaking, relax, don’t panic. Although water leaks may sometimes be a little tricky to diagnose, you can still fix the problem yourself before calling a professional or before buying a new machine. Read this article on how to fix a leaking washing machine to avoid the costly service call.
Tips on Troubleshooting and How to Fix a Leaking Washing Machine
If your machine is leaking from behind, it may seem like a leak from the bottom as the water flows forward, making you think it leaks from the bottom. When your washer is leaking, the best thing to do is to locate the leak before troubleshooting for you to fix the issue.
Water Hose Leak
If a washer is leaking, determine first if the water hose is leaking. This is the most common issue or reason when a washing machine is leaking. A water hose at the back might be loose and may just need to be tightened. Here’s how to fix a leaking washing machine with a common issue.
- Unplug your machine from the outlet.
- Slide your washer out around 12 inches (make sure not to damage the water hose).
- Locate the water hose behind your washer.
- Check the hose’s connection to the wall and from the back of your washing machine.
- Tighten both the hoses that are connected to the outlets on the wall.
- Tighten both the hoses that are connected to your washing machine.
Back Leak
If water still leaks, check what’s causing the washer to leak at the back. Here are some easy tips:
- Check the hoses and connections to determine if they are the source of the leak.
- Feel around the connections and check for moisture using your hands.
- If moisture is present or a leak in the connection, make sure that it is installed securely and properly.
- Turn off the water, remove the water hose, and check the hose washer in the threading.
- If you that the hose is damaged, replace them with a new one and reconnect.
Water Leak from the Detergent Drawer
Another tip on how to fix a leaking washing machine is to troubleshoot and look for leaks from the detergent drawer.
- Make sure that the detergent being used is according to the manual/directions.
- Make sure that the detergent in the drawer doesn’t go past the max line.
- If water leaks from the detergent drawer, use less detergent.
- Make sure that the drawer is totally closed when running the washer.
Other Troubleshooting Method
If the washer drain hose is not the issue:
- Check that the drain hose is not put in more than six inches into the standpipe or the tub.
- Make sure that it is properly secure and won’t slide down.
- Secure the drain hose in the standpipe using a zip-tie.
- The standpipe should be no shorter than 18 inches and no longer than 96 inches.
- Make sure that the drain hose and standpipe are not airtight, as this may cause issues.
- The drain hose should have a retainer to secure it in place.
- If the drainpipe is placed correctly, make sure that your washer is 100% level.
If the washer drain pump is causing the leak:
- Check for any leak at the drain pump area.
- Inspect the water that goes to and from the pump.
- Make sure that all the hose clamps on the water lines are tight and not damaged.
- Tighten the water hose on the drain pump to fix the leaking water hose.
- If there is a damaged water line or hose clamp, replace it with a new one.
A leaky drain pump needs to be replaced. Once you have done all the troubleshooting mentioned, run a wash cycle and check if the water leak is gone.
If you’ve done all these tips on how to fix a leaking washing machine yet water is still leaking from your washer, you may need to call in professional help or call your washer’s manufacturer for the service. Here’s how to learn more about repairing appliances.
Conclusion
Having a leaky washer may be oftentimes annoying, especially when you don’t know where the leaks come from. This leaking issue has to be fixed quickly and with little to no cost as possible. Learning how to fix a leaking washing machine yourself will not only save you time and money but will give you some peace of mind as well. With this article, you may be able to fix the problem and bring your washing machine back to working normally!