My washing machine is leaking.

There are a number of reasons why your washing machine may be leaking water. The area of the machine from which the water is leaking usually indicates what is causing the leak. 

Below we have outlined the key causes of water leaks in washing machines.

Water leaking from the front of the machine.

When water is pooling at the front of the washing machine it is usually coming from one of three areas:

  • The door of the machine

    Make sure the door is firmly shut before starting a cycle. There should be an audible click to indicate the mechanism is properly engaged. Make sure there are no clothes stuck between the door and the housing that could be preventing the door from shutting properly.

    Do not overfill your washing machine!

    Check that your appliance is level (use the adjustable feet to level the machine if necessary).

    Clean and check the rubber door seal. The door seal is important for ensuring there are no water leaks - make sure there is no damage to the seal. Clean the seal with a damp cloth on a regular basis (remove any fluff, debris & detergent residue).

  • The detergent drawer

    If you live in an area with soft water or are washing very lightly soiled items, you may need to reduce the amount of washing detergent you use or else you might find that excessive foam is produced that can cause water/bubbles to come out of the detergent drawer.

  • The washing machine filter area

    If water is leaking from the washing machine filter area then the first thing to do is to flip the cover to the filter area and check that the plug in the drainage hose has not come loose. Also check that the access cover to the filter itself is screwed in fully. There is a black seal around the inside of the access cover (which unscrews to access it), but you need to make sure the machine is drained before you look to see if this is damaged as otherwise a lot of water may pour out. Once you have removed the filter it is worth checking that the impeller spins freely and that the filter is not blocked.

Water leaking at the back of the machine

If water is leaking at the back of the washing machine, it is likely that either the cold water fill hose or the waste water hose is responsible. Check to make sure that these hoses are properly connected to both the machine, the cold water tap and the waste water outlet respectively.

Water leaking underneath the machine

Water leaking underneath the washing machine could either be the result of any of the other issues mentioned above (so check these first) or it could indicate a more serious internal leak in the washing machine that needs inspecting by a trained and qualified engineer.