Why Is My Washing Machine Leaking?

Have you ever put a wash load on and gone out for a leisurely lunch, only to be welcomed home by a flooded kitchen?

Washing machines are an integral part to the smooth running of any household so when they develop faults, they are sorely missed.

One of the most common problems our customers face when they contact us at Glotech, is a leaking washing machine. Like most modern electrical equipment, washing machines are much smarter today than they were 10 years ago, having been adjusted to help make our lives so much easier. But sometimes this can also cause us more pain, as washing machine faults can be harder to diagnose.

Luckily, a leaking washing machine can be one of the easy faults to repair and the cause is likely to come from one of the following:

Is the dispenser drawer broken?

A washing machine fills up with water through the dispenser drawer, and not directly into the drum.

Water travels from the mains supply via the inlet hose, through the tank, into the dispenser, and then to the drum.

A cracked, broken, or mis-aligned washing machine dispenser drawer can allow water to leak through, and will require repairing or replacing.

Is there a washing machine rubber seal tear?

Repairman is repairing a washing machine on the white background. Entering malfunction

A rubber washing machine door seal helps to create a sealed environment, preventing water from coming out.

However, over time, they can disintegrate causing holes or tears to occur, allowing water to go through. Mouldy or smelly door seals can also be a sign that the seal needs changing.

Is the washing machine drum loose?

Full length of technician checking washing machine with digital multimeter in kitchen

If you pull away the washing machine door seal, you’ll see a small gap between the drum and the seal.

This gap is intentional to stop the washing machine door seal rubbing on the drum whilst the drum is rotating, and therefore wearing out.

If this gap gets bigger then it can not only start to release water, but also allow small items of clothing to get stuck under the drum. Hopefully that explains why you end up with lots of odd socks!

Is the washing machine hose leaking?

Leaking from the washing machine’s internal hose can happen due to wear from the washing machine shaking around.

It can also be caused by leaking through the soap draw which may happen if the holes in the conveyor (dispenser top) are blocked. This will require checking for obstructions and cleaning them out if there are any.