How to Fix a Leaky Washing Machine Valve

A leaky washing machine valve can very quickly become a costly affair. A small leak consisting of only little water droplets can very quickly become a flooded and moldy laundry room overnight. However before you break down and call the local plumber, there is a very inexpensive way to fix this problem on your own. Follow these simple steps and save yourself a few hundred dollars on a repair.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plumbers tape or silicon tape
• Large adjustable wrench
• Minor mechanical skills

How to Fix a Leaky Washing Machine Valve

1. Turn off the water to the machine. Find the water supply knobs located at the hook-up to the machine. Make sure to turn off both the hot water valve and the colder water valve. Turn both knobs firmly to the right in order to shut off the water supply to the machine.

2. Locate the leak. This is crucial in the process of fixing your leaky washing machine valve. To find the leak you are going to want to pull the washer out from its slot in the laundry room so you can get to the valves behind it. There are two valves which feed water into the machine, the hot and the cold valve. They both have hoses which connect from the washer to the water supply. There is also a larger center hose which dumps the dirty water down the drain. The leak should be easy to find as there will be water condensed around it and still dripping.

3. Remove the hoses. Once you have located the source of the leak you are ready to begin repairing it. The leak may be coming from the actual hoses themselves, make sure to check these for leaks. If you find any, a short trip to your local hardware store will provide you with some inexpensive replacement hoses. If the leak is coming from a valve then remove the hose from that corresponding valve.

4. Repair the leaky valve. Using the plumber’s tape or silicon tape, lightly wrap the ridges of the valves connecter several times.

5. Reattach the hoses. Once you have done this you can screw the hoses back on to the valve.

6. Recheck for leaks. Now turn the water supply back on to the machine by turning both water knobs to the left. Watch the machine valve for a few minutes until you are sure it is no longer leaking.

Tips & Warnings

• It may take several applications of the silicon tape to fix this leak, so don’t distress and try again if the first time does not work.
• Make sure to turn off the water before you begin to repair the leak, otherwise you may flood your house.

Resources

• Washing machine valve repair information.

[ladyqualita]

on 9/24/2008 Could someone please help me. One of the water handle's
(valve's??) for my washing machine is leaky. It's not
leaking bad but enough water is accumulating on the floor. Do I need a washer for it? How would I take off
the handle?