If you notice your washing machine leaking, you need to schedule a service call with an appliance repair professional ASAP.
In the meantime, you can take some simple steps to help prevent a disaster. Even a minor appliance leak can quickly lead to catastrophic water damage. Washers sometimes leak during a wash cycle, but often they can develop a problem hours or even days after their last use.
Take a moment to learn these basic steps so you can tell the technician where the problem is coming from and help prevent the need for expensive water damage cleanup and repair in your home.
Turn Off the Water Supply to the Leaking Washer
Before you do anything else, turn off the water supply to the washer. This will help you minimize the potential damage to your home.
Most washing machine installations have shut-off valves for both the hot and cold supply lines. Shutting these off immediately will ensure that no additional water can leak. If you can’t find or reach the individual shutoff valves — or if they’re corroded or otherwise stuck — go straight to your home’s main water valve and shut it off there.
Once you have the main valve shut off, you can search for whatever tools you need to turn off the supply lines.
Identify the Source of the Washing Machine Leak
First, see if you can you tell where the water is coming from. If it’s coming from the front of the machine, your problem could simply be a bad door seal. More often than not, however, the source is typically in the rear of the machine. It could be a problem with one of the intake hoses — either hot or cold — specifically with the hose itself or with the clamps used to secure them to the machine.
The problem could be related to the wastewater line or the sewer standpipe it feeds into. Again, this could be a bad hose or hose connector, or it could be due to a sewer clog.
If you can’t identify the source of the leak, it could be coming from inside the machine. Leaky pumps, broken seals, and failed sensors can all cause leaking.
How to Prevent Washing Machine Leaks
Preventive maintenance is the best way to avoid having a plumbing or appliance repair emergency, and that’s especially true for your washing machine.
Contact your professional appliance repair service and ask about having your washer serviced regularly. Some problems — a failed level sensor, for example — can literally pump hundreds of gallons of water into your home before you notice. Having an experienced appliance repair technician perform periodic inspections and maintenance will not only help your machine last longer, but it will also minimize unexpected downtime and help you avoid a potential nightmare.
Kimball Appliance Parts & Service provides expert appliance repair for customers in Salt Lake City and throughout northern Utah. Contact us today to schedule maintenance for your appliances or to request service if your washing machine is leaking.