DIY Plumbing Repairs for Washer Hookups

Washing Machine

If you notice any leaks with your washing machine hookups, you need to repair it right away. You don't want water flooding your laundry room or garage. You also don't want to keep paying higher water bills because of a leak. The two most common washer hookup problems are leaky water hoses or a leaky water valve.

Things You'll Need

• Eye Protection
• Gloves
• Channel lock pliers
• Spray lubricant
• Buckets
• Towels
• Hose washers (for washing machines)
• Screwdriver
• Stainless steel washing machine hose kit

Instructions

Leaky Washing Machine Hose(s)

1. Put on all protective gear.

2. Pull your washing machine as far from the wall as possible. Have a helper on hand. Be careful not to damage the floor beneath the machine.

3. Inspect both the hot water and cold water hoses to see if you can find the leak. It may be leaking at the connection to the machine or wall valve. It may also have a pinhole leak in the hose itself.

4. Set up some buckets and towels under the washing machine valves. Turn off the valve you are working on with the channel lock pliers. If it is stuck, spray on some lubricant and wait about 15 minutes. Then try again.

5. Remove the hose from both the valve end and the machine end with the channel lock pliers. Drain any extra water into the buckets.

6. Remove the hose washers from each end of the hose. You may have to pry them out with a screwdriver. Install new washers. Install new hoses.

7. Replace any hoses with pinhole leaks. Ignore the step above if that is the case.

8. Tighten down on the hose end connections with the channel lock pliers.

9. Turn back on the valves. Check for leaks. Put your machine back in place.

Leaky Washing Machine Valve(s)

1. Repeat steps 1 to 5 from above.

2. Inspect the washing machine cold and hot valves for leaks. The most common leaks occurs at the top of the handle assembly.

3. Tighten down on the packing nut that is located right under the faucet handle, using the channel lock pliers. That should make sure the water doesn't leak out of the handle area anymore.

4. Replace all of the hose washers with new ones, since you already have the hose off. Hookup the hoses again.

5. Turn on the water and check for leaks. Put the machine back in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy washing machine hoses in kit form. They will be marked red for hot and blue for cold.

• Buy stainless steel hoses rather than rubber hoses because they have the highest rating for burst strength, which means they won't break easily.

References

• Readers Digest: DIY Plumbing Repairs for Washer Hookups

Resources

• Askthebuilder: DIY Plumbing Repairs for Washer Hookups