Is your washing machine leaking water? Whether it's a slow drip or a full-on puddle, it's important to act quickly to avoid further damage to your machine or your home.
Written by an in-house eSpares repair specialist, this guide will take you through the steps to identify the source of the leak, troubleshoot the problem, and fix it without needing to call a repair professional.
Why is my washing machine leaking?
There are a number of possible reasons for your washing machine to be leaking, whether due to blockages or faulty parts. However, you won't be able to get to work on fixing the fault if you haven't been able to diagnose it first. Below, we're going to explain how to identify the actual cause of the leak, then show you how to carry out the necessary fix!
Before you rush into fixing your washing machine, you need to pinpoint where the water is coming from. Let's take a look...
Turn off the power and water supply
Safety should always be your priority. Before inspecting anything, unplug the washing machine and turn off the water supply to avoid electric shocks or water damage.
Detergent drawer
The first place your washing machine might be leaking from is the detergent dispenser. If this seems to be the case, remove the detergent dispenser drawer and look inside the dispenser housing at the interior roof.
In the roof, there will be a bunch of small holes which are water jets. These can get blocked up by mould over time, causing water to leak from the dispenser. Also, if the detergent drawer is cracked or clogged with soap, water can leak out from this area too.
However, when water leaks from the detergent dispenser, it can trickle down and around the door frame before reaching the bottom of the machine. This can make it seem like the leak is coming from the door instead of the dispenser. Fortunately, you can determine whether or not the leak is coming from the detergent dispenser or the door fairly easily.
Trap a piece of tissue beneath the dispenser drawer, then run a cycle on your washing machine. If the piece of tissue becomes wet, it means this is where the leak is coming from.
Fixing the detergent dispenser
To fix detergent dispenser leaks, simply do the following:
- Use a dish brush to give the inside of the drawer housing a good scrub, making sure you thoroughly clean and unblock the jets. If this area is especially dirty, you can use a washing machine cleaner to help get it clean again.
- Don’t forget to also scrub away any muck from the dispenser drawer itself, as this can also become dirty fairly easily.
If you find that the dispenser drawer is actually damaged instead of just dirty, it will need replacing. You can find a replacement detergent drawer in our washing machine spares section. We also offer a helpful guide, complete with a video tutorial, to walk you through the process of replacing the dispenser drawer yourself.
Door seal
If the leak is definitely coming from the door instead, the issue will be with the door seal (also known as a gasket), as this is one of the most common causes of a leaking washing machine. The door seal on your washing machine door can deteriorate or suffer rips and damage over time, causing water to leak out.
To fix or prevent leaks coming from the door, you'll need to inspect the entire door seal. Check the outer lip all the way around for any rips or tears...
Then also pull the door seal back and check all the way around the inner side too.
If there's no damage but you only find a build-up of detergent or fabric softener residue, simply cleaning the seal may fix the problem. However, if you find that there are any rips, tears, or visible damage, you will need to replace the seal.
Fixing the door seal
If your machine's door seal is ripped or damaged, head over to our article on how to change a washing machine door seal for guidance on safely replacing a washing machine door seal step-by-step.
Drain pump filter
Another place your washing machine can leak from is the drain pump filter, which is usually located at the bottom corner on the front of the appliance. This can become blocked or even damaged, so you'll need to clean (and possibly replace) the filter to stop your machine leaking from here.
Cleaning or replacing the filter
To inspect the filter, simply open or remove the small panel that covers it. When removing the filter, be aware that there might be water inside the housing. To avoid any spills, it’s a good idea to place a small container or towel beneath the filter opening to catch any water.
With the filter removed, inspect it. If it's covered or blocked up with debris of any kind, give the filter a thorough clean, ensuring it’s free from debris, mould, or dirt. You'll also want to make sure you check and clean the filter's seal (if there is one), which is the small black rubber ring around the front of the filter. If any grit or small pieces of debris get stuck in this seal, it can cause the filter to leak.
It’s also important to clean inside the filter housing. Any accumulated grime could obstruct the filter and lead to further leaks, so clean this area thoroughly - including the rim where the filter seal meets the machine.
After ensuring both the filter and housing are spotless, simply screw the filter back into place and refit the cover panel. If the leak persists, it's likely that the filter is simply damaged or no longer working properly, and will therefore need to be replaced. Fortunately, we offer a wide selection of washing machine filters here at eSpares!
Hoses
If your washing machine appears to be leaking from the back, there's a good chance this is due to an issue with one of the hoses, such as a rip or a faulty seal. The hoses are the drain hose and the water inlet hose.
First, simply inspect both hoses for damage such as rips or tears, as this will cause water to leak out. If you find any damage such as this, the damaged hose will need replacing.
If there is no damage but you still suspect the leak is coming from the water inlet hose, you can test this by wrapping a piece of tissue around the top of the hose and running a cycle on your washing machine. If the tissue is wet after the cycle, it means the water inlet hose's seal is likely faulty.
To check the seal, unscrew the water inlet hose from the back of the washing machine and check the seal inside the head. If the small black rubber seal is in good condition and hasn’t perished, you can simply reattach the hose and make sure it's nice and tight to prevent any future leaks. However, if the seal is brittle or damaged, the hose will need replacing.
Replacing damaged hoses
If you need to replace either of the hoses, we offer a wide selection of replacement washing machine hoses to help you get your washer back in action. We also have step-by-step instructions on how to replace a washing machine drain hose to guide you through the process!
Checking for internal leaks
Finally, if your washing machine isn't leaking from any of the above locations but appears to be leaking from inside instead, you can inspect the interior components. Start by removing your washing machine's back panel.
Again, make sure your appliance is switched off and unplugged from the mains before doing this. You may also need to refer to your appliance's manual for specific instructions on how to do this, but it should be a simple case of unscrewing the panel with a screwdriver and pulling it free.
There are a few areas to check inside the back of your machine for leaks. If your washing machine is leaking when it's full of water during a cycle, this could be due to one of the hoses inside the machine (such as the sump hose) so inspect these for any damage. We also have a guide on how to replace a washing machine sump hose if you find that this is the damaged or faulty part.
You can also test if the tub is damaged by pouring a small jug's worth of water into the washing machine's drum. If water leaks from the tub inside the appliance when you do this, it means the tub has been damaged and needs to be replaced.
Preventing future faults
To prevent your washing machine from developing any future faults, be sure to give it a regular clean. Using a washing machine cleaner and descaler regularly will help to clean the interior parts of your appliance by ridding them of limescale and deposit build-ups, keeping everything in working order for longer!
If your washing machine does develop another fault, we have a wide range of other articles on fixing, caring for, and maintaining it alongside all the washing machine spare parts and accessories you need to help you get your appliance back up and running again.
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