Washing Machine Leaking: Where to Look and How to Fix It?

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Is your washing machine leaking? Start by looking at where the water is, because its position points to the cause. At the back, it is usually the hoses; at the front, the detergent drawer, suds or the door seal; underneath, the drain filter or an internal part.

Common symptoms and causes

Also note when in the cycle the water appears: filling, washing, draining or spinning.

• Water behind the machine: external hoses, connections, gaskets, a blocked standpipe or drain.
• Water in front of the machine: too much detergent, an overloaded drum, a machine that is not level, a scaled-up detergent drawer, the door seal, the pressure switch (the sensor that reads the water level).
• Water under the machine: drain filter, pump, cracked internal hoses, a punctured drum.
• Leak during the spin: the trail leads to the pump or the drain.
• Leak at the start of a cycle: the trail leads to the water inlet or the inlet valve connection (the valve that lets water into the machine).

Tip: water spreads fast and misleads you about its origin. Dry the whole floor, slide paper towels under the machine, and the first damp patch on the next cycle will show you the right side.

Before you start

Have a shallow tray and a floor cloth ready for the drain filter. Write down the exact model of the machine and the code on the display, if there is one.

Warning: unplug the machine first, then mop up the water on the floor and keep cables out of it. Turn off the water supply tap before working on the pump.

Warning: unplug the appliance from the mains before opening it, and never work on one that is plugged in. The capacitors in some appliances (TVs, microwaves, power supplies) stay charged after unplugging: do not touch them.

Warning: opening the appliance may void the warranty. Check the warranty end date first. Removing the pump or the door counts: if the machine is under 2 years old, go through the seller.

Solution 1: check the hoses and the drain

This is the lead to follow for water behind the machine or a leak at the start of a cycle.

1. Check that the hose connections are tight.
2. Examine the rubber gaskets in the connections: they must be in good condition.
3. Inspect each hose: it must be neither pinched nor damaged.
4. With the machine off, pour water into the drain hose.
5. Watch the level: if the water overflows quickly, the drain is blocked.
6. Clear it with a drain snake, or with vinegar and baking soda.

The connections must stay dry. The water you pour into the hose must run away without overflowing.

Good to know: Samsung advises cleaning the water inlet filters, located in the hot and cold supply hoses at the back, once or twice a year.

If a hose is cracked or pinched, here are an inlet hose with Aquastop safety and a universal drain hose to compare.

Solution 2: check the drain filter for a leak underneath

A leak right after cleaning? LG says a drain filter that was put back badly lets water through.

1. Unplug the machine.
2. Turn off the water supply tap.
3. Mop up the water on the floor.
4. Check that the drain filter is correctly back in place.
5. Close the pump cap firmly.
6. Close the cap of the residual water hose firmly, the small hose that drains the remaining water.
7. Fix the emergency drain hose so that it does not fall back into the drum, as LG requires.

Reopen the tap, plug the machine back in and watch the next cycle. The floor must stay dry around the filter. According to LG, the emergency drain hose can be hard to pull out.

Tip: keep the shallow tray under the filter during the check. A little water often remains behind the cap.

Samsung recommends cleaning this filter at least 5 to 6 times a year. A clogged filter shows up as wet laundry, a late end of cycle, noise and vibration; the codes 4E/4C and 5E/5C relate to it.

If the water no longer drains, follow our guide on the washing machine that won’t drain. Laundry soaking wet at the end of the cycle? See the one on the washing machine that won’t spin.

Solution 3: clean the detergent drawer and cut down the suds

Here the water comes out through the drawer or through the door. Bosch states that excess suds overflow through both places, and Samsung names residue in the drawer as a source of leaks.

1. Pull out the detergent drawer.
2. Rinse it under the tap, with hot water and white vinegar if deposits resist.
3. Clean its housing with a brush and a damp cloth.
4. Put the drawer back.
5. Measure the detergent according to how dirty the laundry is and the size of the load.
6. Adjust the dose to the water hardness: a little more if the water is hard.
7. Set aside any unsuitable or expired detergent.

The next cycle should no longer push water or suds out through the drawer or the door. Bosch also lists lightly soiled laundry among the causes of excess suds: allow for it in the dose.

For a full clean of the drawer and the seal, see our guide on the smelly washing machine. On the Samsung forum, some posts say powder detergent can block the channel between the drawer and the drum; this is not official information.

Solution 4: inspect the door seal

The door seal is the rubber ring that makes the door watertight. It is the part to check when water comes out at the front of the machine.

1. Open the door and remove any laundry caught in it.
2. Remove foreign objects between the door and the seal, hair for example.
3. Clean the seal and the door with a damp cloth and hot water.
4. Inspect the seal: if it is torn, stop there and call a technician.
5. Load the machine without overfilling it.
6. Close the door until it clicks.

The door must lock with a clear click. Not a single drop should run under the door any more.

Warning: do not use an abrasive product on the seal, it attacks the rubber.

Tip: pull the fold at the bottom of the seal open with your fingers. Small objects and deposits lodge there and go unseen.

According to one repair guide, replacing the seal means removing the door (hinge screws), then the seal’s retaining band or ring. LG refers you to a technician for a torn seal.

If nothing works

Stop if the leak comes from the drum, the pump, a bearing or the control board, or if the cause stays unfound after the hoses, the filter, the drawer and the seal. A leaking drum cannot be repaired at home. Replacing the pump means taking off the front panel and noting where the wires go: leave it to a technician.

Before you call, gather these details:

• the exact model;
• the code on the display, if there is one;
• where the water appears and at what point in the cycle.

Bosch offers a technician inspection on its help page, through online booking or its repair hotline. LG refers you to its customer service if the leak persists. According to the consumer organisation Test-Achats, replacing the machine can cost less.

If the repair costs more than the machine is worth, here are three 9 kg washing machines to compare.

For a recent machine in Belgium, according to Test-Achats, the 2-year legal guarantee gives you a free repair or replacement from the seller. For a new machine in France, a 2-year period is also mentioned. Elsewhere, warranty rules differ, so have the seller confirm your rights.

Take better care of your washing machine: our toolbox

These products help prevent leaks and spot them early.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my washing machine leaking from the bottom?

A washing machine leaks from the bottom because of the drain filter, the pump, a cracked internal hose or the drum. Check first that the filter and its caps are properly closed. If the water comes back, the repair is a job for a technician.

Why is water coming out of the detergent drawer?

Water comes out of the detergent drawer because of excess suds or residue in the drawer. Pull the drawer out, rinse it and clean its housing. Then review the detergent dose.

Can too much detergent cause a leak?

Yes, too much detergent creates excess suds that overflow through the drawer or the door, according to Bosch. The risk also exists with lightly soiled laundry or an unsuitable or expired detergent. Measure according to how dirty the laundry is, the size of the load and the water hardness.

How do I find where a washing machine is leaking from?

Spot where the water appears and at what point in the cycle. The back points to the hoses and the drain, the underside to the filter, the pump or the drum, the front to the drawer, the suds or the seal. A leak during the spin points to the pump or the drain, a leak at the start to the water inlet.