What Causes a Leaky Washing Machine?

Summer is upon us, which means your children will be spending more time playing outdoors. From running around on the playground to kicking a soccer ball in the yard, it’s inevitable that their clothes will get dirty, which means more loads of laundry!

The more dirty clothes you wash, the more damage you can cause to your washing machine. If you start to notice a leak, there could be several reasons why. Here are four common causes:

Hoses. Start by looking at the large drain hoses, which connect the tub to the pump, and the pump to the external drain. Over time, these hoses weaken and have the tendency to split open. It could also be that the clamps have loosened. The way to tell if your hoses are the problem is by looking for water puddles beneath the hoses or rust around them.

Pump. It’s also possible that your pump is the culprit. Your machine’s pump drains water out of the tub and carries it to the drain, but seals, too, can weaken with age and cause leaks. With that being said, check the seals inside the pump. The most problematic pump seal is the pulley seal, located where the drive shaft enters the pump. If you see the pulley seal is withering, you’ll likely need a replacement. Call the professionals at Nassau Plumbing & Sewer Rooter for assistance! 

Seals. The round piece around your washing machine also gets damaged over time, which can cause unwanted leaking. The worst part about seals suffering from damage is that the washer will likely drip several times during a cycle. Luckily, your air dome seal on the side of the outer tub helps to regular water levels throughout each cycle. However, if this fails, you’re likely looking at a leak.

Oversudsing. Ever fill the tub with too much detergent? This is called oversudsing, which means you could be looking at a serious overflow. Oversudsing is common during the wash cycle, but also during the draining cycle. To combat the issue, use a water-vinegar mix before you switch up detergents.

Having trouble with your washing machine this season? Nassau County Plumbing & Sewer Rooter can provide leak detection and repair services across Long Island. Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit our website for more information.