Why Is My Washing Machine Leaking?

If you've ever had the experience of starting a load of laundry only to realize water is on the floor where water should not be, you understand the mild panic that occurs with a washing machine leaking.

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What Are Some Reasons a Washing Machine May Leak?

The most common cause of a leaking washing machine is a damaged hose. Your washing machine uses hoses for both filling the washing machine basin and draining it. If a hose becomes disconnected, damaged or clogged, a leak can result.

But there are many other reasons a washing machine can leak, and the causes depend on whether you have a front-load or top-load washer.

How Do You Fix a Leaking Washing Machine?

The location of the leak is going to determine how you approach fixing it.

Top-Load Washer Leaks: Front of Washer

A leak at the front of a top-load washer is usually indicative of a clogged overflow tube or an unlevel or overloaded machine.

Overflow tubes that become clogged usually do so because of using too much detergent. If your clothes come out of the washer feeling stiff and starchy, that's an indicator you're using too much detergent. A little bit of detergent goes a long way — and if you're using high-efficiency formulas, you need even less. Follow the instructions on the bottle for how high to fill your detergent cup.

If your top-load washing machine is unlevel or overloaded, it might also leak from the front. This is an easy fix — make sure your washer is level. You may need to call a professional to help if this involves lifting your washer.

If you think it's leaking because it's overloaded, wash smaller loads and make sure the machine doesn't look overstuffed after loading clothes.

Another reason a top-load washer might leak from the front is if you manually advance the spray rinse timer on the machine. This may cause the spray rinse cycle to go on for too long. Instead, let it proceed through the spray rinse cycle without manually advancing the timer.

Top-Load Washer Leaks: Back of Washer

A leak at the back of your top-load washer indicates a hose may not be connected correctly. Be sure the drain hose that comes from the washer is properly secured into the drainpipe (which leads to pipes outside). If there's still a leak around the drain hose, the drainpipe is likely clogged and you may need to call a professional.

Another cause of a washer leaking from the back is a loose hose connection. You can check on this by turning off the water supply and disconnecting hoses, making sure rubber washers are present and in good shape. If that doesn't fix the problem, there could be a leak in the fill hose, and you may need a professional's help to replace it.

If your washer is new and it's not draining, the installer may have forgotten to remove the manufacturer's drain plug before installing the drain hose. You can check this yourself by removing the drain hose and checking for a plastic plug, which needs to be removed. If there's water in the washer while you do this, have a large bucket and towels ready to catch and absorb the excess water.

Front-Load Washer Leaks

Leaks at the front of a front-load washer usually indicate an unsealed gasket or the door itself being out of alignment.

Front-load washers have a rubber seal on the door called a gasket, and this needs to be cleaned periodically. Most of the time, a quick wipe with a dry cloth to absorb excess water will do the trick, but if it's starting to produce unpleasant odors, you can also run an empty washer with about 1/2 cup of bleach in the detergent compartment to clean the gasket.

If the door is out of alignment, the hinges can be loosened to adjust the door and then retightened.

A leak at the back of a front-load washer can happen because of malfunctioning drain and water inlet hoses, similar to a top loader. The same steps described above can be used to locate and address the leaks.

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Why Would a Washing Machine Leak From the Bottom?

On a top-load washer, a leak from the bottom of the machine can indicate a leaking water pump. It's possible to replace it yourself, but it's a good idea to call a professional for an involved job like this.

For a front-load washer that's leaking from the bottom, this can be due to a leak between the drum seams. A front-load washer has an outer drum and an inner drum. The outer drum is sometimes manufactured in two pieces and then sealed together. This seal can begin to leak and will need to be replaced or repaired with the help of a professional.