How to Identify Water Leaks on a Washing Machine

If your washing machine is leaking and you aren't sure why, don't panic. Leaks are among the most common problems that can occur with washing machines, but fortunately, most of the causes can be diagnosed and fixed at home by yourself. So, let's take a look at why your washing machine might be leaking and what you can do to fix it.

There are a number of possible reasons for your washing machine to be leaking, whether due to blockages or faulty parts. However, you won't be able to get to work on fixing the fault if you haven't been able to diagnose it first. In this article, we'll guide you through how to check why you have a leaky washing machine so you can return your appliance to its safe, working and leak-free state.

Let's get started! To learn why your washing machine might be leaking, you can watch our video on how to identify water leaks in a washing machine or read our step-by-step diagnosis guide below.

Before checking why your washing machine might be leaking, you'll first need to make sure your appliance is switched off and unplugged from the wall for your own safety.

The first place to check on your washing machine for leaks is the detergent dispenser. If you remove the detergent dispenser, you will be able to look inside the dispenser housing and see the interior roof. In the roof, there will be a bunch of small holes which are water jets. These can get blocked up by mould over time, causing water to leak from the dispenser.

When this happens, the water can leak down and around the washing machine's door, making it look like the leak is coming from the door instead. To prevent this, give the dispenser jets a good clean with a brush, then slide the detergent drawer back into place in its housing.

For further advice on cleaning all parts of your washing machine to keep your appliance in great shape (including the detergent dispenser), check out our guide on how to clean a washing machine.

Your washing machine's door seal, also known as the gasket, is another part of your washing machine that can become faulty and start leaking over time. This usually happens when the door seal gets ripped or damaged, whether due to gradual wear or tear or because of sharp clothing items such as zips catching on the plastic. To check for damage like this, pull back the gasket's lip and inspect the entire seal thoroughly (both inside and out) for any rips or tears.

If you find that the door seal is faulty and responsible for the leak, you'll need to replace it. Head over to our article on how to change a washing machine door seal for guidance on safely replacing a washing machine gasket step-by-step.

Next up we have the pump filter. This can be found at the bottom of the washing machine and is usually covered by a small panel. If this is where water is leaking from, you'll need to check the filter to determine the cause of the leak. Remove the panel, and you'll be able to see the filter which you can also unscrew and remove for inspection. There may be water inside the filter housing, so it's a good idea to place a small container or towel beneath the filter before you remove it to catch any spillages.

With the filter removed, give it a good clean and make sure it isn't covered in debris, mould or filth.

You'll also want to make sure you check and clean the seal, which is the small black ring around the front of the filter. If any grit or small pieces of debris get stuck in this seal, it can cause the filter to leak.

It's also a good idea to clean inside the filter housing, as any excess filth or grime could also hinder the filter from inside and cause a leak. Once you've made sure the filter and its housing are thoroughly clean, you can screw the filter back into the bottom of the washing machine and refit the cover panel.

If water is leaking from the back of your washing machine, you'll need to check the hoses. These are the drain hose and the water inlet hose. You can test them by wrapping a piece of tissue around both hoses and running a cycle on your washing machine. If one of the pieces of tissue is wet after the cycle, it will mean that the hose the tissue is wrapped around is leaking.

If you determine that the leak is coming from one of the hoses, this could be due to rips and tears in the hose. Inspect the leaking hose in question, and if you find any damage like this, you'll need to replace the damaged hose. Fortunately, we have a guide on how to replace your washing machine's drain hose right here.

If you check the hoses and find that neither are ripped or torn but are still leaking, unscrew the drain hose from the back of the machine and check the seal.

If the seal (pictured above) is in good condition and working fine, you can screw the hose back into the back of the washing machine. Make sure you screw it nice and tight to prevent future leaks. If the seal is brittle or has perished in any way, however, you'll need to replace the drain hose. Again, you can learn how to do this with our drain hose replacement guide linked to in the paragraph above.

If there is still a leak coming from the back of your washing machine after checking the above, you'll need to access the inside of your machine to determine the cause of the leak. Again, make sure your appliance is disconnected from the mains before doing this. You can remove the back panel by simply unscrewing the screws that hold it in place with a screwdriver.

With the back panel removed, there are a few areas to check for leaks inside the washing machine. If the machine continues to leak not just as it's filling with water but once it's filled with water too, this could be due to damage to one of the hoses (such as the sump hose) inside the machine. You can use a torch to inspect them for any rips, tears or other damage, and you can learn how to replace a washing machine sump hose with our step-by-step guide.

Finally, items such as coins, hair pins and zips can damage the drum, causing it to leak. You can also check if the leak is coming from the drum itself by pouring a kettle's worth of water into the drum and seeing if water leaks out. If this is the case, you'll need to replace the drum itself (if possible with your make and model of washing machine). Steps on how to remove the drum are included in our guide on replacing washing machine drum bearings, but please bear in mind that this is quite a difficult and lengthy task if you aren't already experienced or savvy with appliance care and repair.

And there you have it! How to check where your washing machine is leaking from. Hopefully, this guide has provided you with enough guidance to identify the leak and get to work on repairing it.

Once your appliance is working properly and leak-free again, it's always a good idea to make sure you're using it as efficiently as possible for the best results. Our guide on energy-saving tips for your washing machine will teach you everything you need to know about using your appliance in a cost-effective, energy-efficient and eco-friendly manner to keep your energy bills low.

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