How to Repair a Leaking Washing Car

Fix the most common leaks yourself and avoid a $75 service phone call.

Fourth dimension

A full day

Complexity

Intermediate

Cost

$51–100

Introduction

Don't panic when the washing motorcar starts leaking water all over the flooring! You can usually fix the problem yourself within and hour or two at a fraction of the cost of calling a service technician. And but rarely will y'all have to purchase a new machine.

This article will help yous avoid the expensive service telephone call by showing you how to diagnose and fix the near common washing car leaks.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Repair parts as needed

There are only then many places from which a washing machine tin can leak. In this how-to commodity we cover the most common types of leaks — from the hose, pump and tub — just in that location may exist additional problem areas specific to your brand of machine. There are ii types of washing machine repair: belt drive and direct drive. If you open up the cabinet and don't find whatsoever belts, then you've got a straight-drive machine. Repairs are similar for both machines, but generally easier on the directly-bulldoze unit. The following photos are from a chugalug-drive washing auto. If y'all have a direct drive, refer to your owner's manual or diagrams (see "Buying Parts") for make-specific details.

But before you do anything else, make certain the h2o on the floor isn't the effect of a plugged floor drain. It happens!

Project footstep-by-step (19)

Pace 1

Locate the Source of the Leak

  • Empty the washing machine, move it away from the wall and first the fill bike.
  • Look for drips around the water supply hose connection at the back of the machine while information technology fills with water.
  • Shut off the water and supplant any old, heavily corroded or rusted hoses with new ones.
  • If the hoses are in good shape, replace the internal washers only.
    • Note: Special no-burst hoses, regular hoses and new hose washers are available at home centers and hardware stores.

front load washer leaking

CAUTION!Unplug the machine before performing any repairs.

Pace ii

Unscrew the H2o Supply Hoses

  • Turn off the h2o main or shutoff valve.
  • Unscrew the supply hoses from the back of the machine with adaptable pliers.
  • Pry out the old hose washers with a apartment-blade screwdriver.
  • Install new gaskets in both hoses and reconnect the supply lines.

Stride 3

Look Inside the Machine

  • If the supply hoses aren't leaking, reconnect power and water supply to the washing auto.
  • Unscrew the access panel from the back of the machine or open up the chiffonier.
  • Look for leaks while the machine fills with water.
  • If you don't run into any, advance the auto to the agitate cycle and check over again.
    • Notation: Belt-drive machines typically take a rear admission panel that unscrews. Access direct drive machines by removing the two screws on the outside of the control console and flipping up the lid. And then pry upwardly the cabinet clips and pull off the entire cabinet.

Step 4

Remove the Old Hose

  • If you lot've found a leaking hose within the washer, squeeze the hose clench together, slide it down the hose and pull off the hose.
    • Note: Hoses tend to leak around a worn-out spring clamp.
    • Pro tip: Go along a saucepan or pan handy so y'all tin catch any balance water left in the hoses.
  • Replace the hose with an identical role and new worm-drive clamps.

Step v

Replace a Leaky Pump

    • Note: The pump usually leaks around the pulley seal. If you lot spot water leaking from this spot, the pump is shot and will have to be replaced.
  • If a leaky pump is your problem, disconnect the power and water supply once again.
  • Tip the machine up against the wall.
  • Cake upward the forepart with a motorcar jack or 2x4s then information technology can't tip over while you accomplish underneath.
  • If the belt is darkened from burning or is worn down to the threads, supersede information technology, too.L

Stride half-dozen

Loosen the Bolts

  • Loosen the two motor mounting bolts to relieve tension on the belt.
    • Note: I will be at the rear of the cabinet and the other is nearby.

Pace vii

Remove the Erstwhile Pump

  • Disconnect the pump hoses.
  • Unscrew the pump mounting bolts.
  • Tip the pump pulley away from the belt and jerk the pump loose.
    • Note: Direct-drive pumps volition simply unscrew or unclip.

Footstep 8

Install the New Pump

  • Slide the pump lever into the agitator slot and marshal the belt with the pump pulley.
  • Line upwards the bolt holes and firmly tighten the mounting bolts.
  • Reconnect all hoses and clamps.

Footstep nine

Retighten the Bolts

  • Pull against the motor to tension the belt and then tighten the rear motor mounting bolt.
    • Note: The chugalug should deflect almost 1/2 inch when you button against it.
  • Tighten the mounting bolt located on the opposite side of the motor.

Step x

Replace Worn-Out Tub Fittings

    • Annotation: The most challenging repair is fixing a leaking tub fitting, whether it'south the air dome seal, the center post gasket or the tub seals.
  • Before proceeding, brand certain that telltale drips are coming from around the tub.
    • Notation: The details of this repair vary by brand and model. The details we show are for almost Whirlpool and Kenmore belt drives. Study a schematic cartoon or consult a parts specialist if your machine is different from what we evidence.
    • Note: You lot'll need a special spanner wrench to remove the tub and supersede the tub fittings on this blazon of car. It'due south available at your local appliance parts supplier.

Pace 11

Lift the Lid

  • Slide a small putty knife between the washer lid and the cabinet.
  • Push the putty knife against the spring catch while lifting up on the lid.
  • Release both catches and fold the lid dorsum.

washing machine dripping water into tub

Step 12

Elevator Out the Tub

  • Pop off the tub ring clips.
  • Lift the tub ring out of the cabinet and ready information technology bated.

Footstep thirteen

Remove the Agitator

  • Twist or pry the cap off the anarchist.
  • Unscrew the attachment nut and pull the agitator upwards and off the drive shaft.

Stride fourteen

Loosen the Spanner Nut

  • Concur the inner tub tight to the outer tub.
  • Rap the special spanner wrench to break the spanner nut free.
  • Remove the spanner nut.

Step 15

Lift Out the Inner Tub

  • Elevator the inner tub up and off the drive shaft.
    • Pro tip: Y'all might accept to wiggle it back and forth to help work it loose.

Step sixteen

Remove the Old Tub Seals

  • Unscrew the former leaky tub seals from the outer tub.
    • Pro tip: Later, when yous install the new tub seals, make sure the metal washer is on acme of the rubber washer.
    • Note: There are four tub seals that secure the outer tub to the chiffonier, each consisting of a bolt with a rubber and metallic washer. Rust oft develops around one of the tub seals, causing a tub leak. A new tub seal kit will come with four new bolts and oversized rubber and metal washers that will seal small-scale leaks. But if the tub is completely rusted through around the commodities, information technology'south time to buy a new washing motorcar.

Step 17

Loosen the Drive Block

  • Tap upward on the drive block with a hammer to break it loose from the drive shaft.
  • Pull off the drive block and fix it aside.
  • Lift the outer tub from the cabinet, twisting it back and forth to piece of work it loose.

Pace 18

Remove the Air Dome

  • Twist the air dome a quarter plow and pull it free from the outer tub.
  • Pry off the erstwhile air dome seal and replace it with a new one.

Stride 19

Remove the Post Gasket

    • Notation: If the leaking occurs only when the machine is agitating, a bad middle post gasket ("doughnut") is the culprit. Remove the outer tub to replace the eye mail gasket. While you're at it, supercede the air dome seal equally well.
  • Squeeze the center post gasket together and pull information technology from the bottom of the outer tub.
  • Install a new center post gasket.
  • Reassemble the washing automobile and run a exam bicycle.

Ownership Appliance Parts

Washing machine parts are bachelor at appliance parts distributors. Try to find a parts supplier with well-informed staff, ideally ex–repair technicians, who can provide diagrams and help diagnose any bug specific to your make of machine. A dandy Cyberspace source is www.searspartsdirect.com. Enter your model number to access exploded-view diagrams and a thorough parts list for like shooting fish in a barrel on-line ordering.

You'll need the brand and model number for proper office identification. Model numbers are normally stamped on a small metallic plate located nether the tub chapeau or on the side or back of the auto. Re-create downwards all the plate information and take it along to the parts benefactor.