Why Washing Machines Leak Water
Imagine the panic setting in as you approach your washer and end up stepping into a puddle of water. Loaded with gallons of water, any number of things could go wrong, causing the water to leak from your washing machine. Does this Spark an idea?
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Hoses and Couplings
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A hose or a coupling could be a source of a leak. Old hoses can crack and the washers can get worn out in old couplings. Coupling leakage can occur where the hoses connect to the faucets or where they connect to the washing machine. A hose can crack anywhere along its length. If the machine is leaking only during the spin cycle, it could be due to a leaky drain hose.
Too Much Detergent
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Adding too much detergent to a machine can cause it to overflow. Technically not a leak, the excess detergent causes too many suds which then overflow the machine. This is commonly a problem in homes that have a water softener. If you have a water softener, use less than the recommended amount of detergent, especially if you're doing your laundry in hot water.
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Faulty Gasket or Seal
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A washing machine has several gaskets and seals, such as the center post gasket, the outer tub seal, and the air dome seal. Any of these can fail and cause the washing machine to leak. Also, a pump can begin to leak if any of its seals start to fail.
Rust
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Rust can be a major cause of washing machine leakage. Sometimes old hoses become rusted and start to leak. It's also possible for the washing machine tub to rust out. Hoses are typically replaceable and very small leaks in the tub can be patched. Large, un-patchable tub leaks mean buying a new machine.
Front-Door Seal
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Dirt and soap buildup on the seal of a front-loading washer can prevent the door from sealing properly, allow water to leak through. Simply giving both the washer and the door gasket a thorough sealing might take care of this problem. Also check for water remaining just inside the door opening after a wash is done. Use a towel to dry this to prevent this area from rusting.
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References
- Photo Credit dripping faucet image by Kenneth Summers from Fotolia.com
