If you wake up in the morning to find a pool of water under your laundry machine, then it is time to start investigating your machine and find out where it is coming from. Here is a look at the most common culprits.
A Loose or Missing Drain Hose
In a normal laundry machine installation, you will have a drainage pipe that extends from the drain outlet to the outside or a sink where you can drain the water. A clamp holds the hose over the drain outlet, making them as waterproof as possible. You will get a pool of water if:
The hose isn’t making a firm connection with the drain outlet, and there is a slow leak below the twoThe hose is the wrong size and doesn’t fit the drain outlet wellThe hose has worked itself loose
Check the connection between the two and ensure it is not wet or leaky. If anything is cracked or the hose is missing, this is the main source of your water leaks.
A Cracked or Punctured Drain Hose
Rubber pipes get brittle and easy to break over time. If something kinks the drain hose or punctures it, there will be leakage. These leaks will be slow, but they will add up to a pool of water. The water will mostly collect when you are running the laundry machine, and it is actively trying to evacuate the water.
A Broke or Faulty Tub Seal
If your washing machine leaks during the rinse cycle and the water is often under the washer, chances are you have a broken or faulty tub seal. The tub seal sits at the top of the laundry machine’s transmission. If it forms a seal preventing water from escaping the laundry basket out into the open. Replacing the seal is a bit involving. You have to disassemble the laundry machine, open the tub, the spin basket, and even the laundry machine’s transmission. Consider setting aside some hours to do it yourself or hire a handyman to fix the problem.
Your Catch Basket or Filter is Clogged
The catch basket traps lint, fabric bits, and other solid dat from the items you are washing. You are meant to empty it after using your laundry machine. However, very few people remember to clean it up. You’ll find the basket along the top edge of the laundry machine’s drum or the agitator of the drum. It can also sit at the end of the drain hose. If the catch basket is full, it will back up the water flow, increasing the chances of leakage.
Your Water Pump is Faulty
Your laundry machine has a drain pump that forces water from the bottom of the tub through the drain hose. This pump has to run every time your machine finishes a cycle and needs to drain the dirty water and introduce a fresh batch. If the pump doesn’t work, the laundry machine will introduce fresh water leading to an overflow situation that could cause a leak. If any of the plumbing connected to the pump is loose, cracked, or punctured, the laundry machine will leak some of the dirty water as soon as the pump kicks on.
