Most of us have had to use a laundromat or community laundry room at some point in our lives. Think college days or your first apartment. Having a washer/dryer unit in your own home is quite a convenience, and helps you keep your household running smoothly.
One day when going into your laundry room to start a load, you notice water puddling near the washer or laundry tubs. It seems there is a leak. Your first reaction is one of anxiety and feeling stressed, as you imagine your day’s to-do list is about to dramatically change. Yet, being a responsible homeowner, you understand water accumulating anywhere in the house is a problem that cannot be ignored.
A washing machine uses an average of 15 gallons each cycle—with older models using between 30 to 45 gallons a cycle. It’s important to act quickly to prevent potential harm to your home and family. Even a minor pinhole leak can lead to lots of water pouring out during the wash cycle. This is likely to cause significant water damage to the home’s structure and flooring.
And, standing water in the laundry room also provides an ideal breeding ground for dreaded mold that poses health risks.
Prevent Your Washer from Leaking
Avoid Overloading the Washer
During the spin cycle, the washing machine drum rotates rapidly and generates vibrations. If these vibrations are excessive, they can cause the machine to shift or become unbalanced. As a result, seals and connections may loosen. This can be avoided by ensuring the machine is properly leveled, and the load inside is evenly distributed.
Use an Appropriate Amount of Detergent
Too much detergent is a culprit behind washing machine leaks, regardless of whether you have a front-load washer or a top-load model. Unnecessary amounts of laundry detergent create excessive suds overwhelming the machine’s drainage system.
Yet, using too little detergent may result in inadequate cleaning. This has you running additional cycles to get your whites whiter and colors brighter, causing more wear and tear on your machine. And, yes, more probability of leaks.
Common Causes of Washer Leaking
Here are common causes of a leaky washer, some of which can be handled by you and others best left to your professional plumbing technician:
Plugged Drain Pipe or Floor Drain
Lint and other debris escape clothing during the wash cycle, and are drained from the unit alongside the dirty water. This potentially leads to clogs that can wreak havoc on your drainage system.
Compromised Seals
There are technically two tubs in your washer. The first one is a movable, perforated tub where the clothes are placed. The perforated surface allows for water to come in and out during the cycle. The outer tub supports the inner tub, and also holds water during the washing cycle.
On frontload washers, door boot seals are used to seal the area between the door and outer tub. For toploaders, tub seals are used to keep water from leaking where the basket shaft enters the tub. Normal wear and tear can cause these rubber seals to crack or tear.
Worn or Damaged Hoses
These hoses—including supply hoses, inlet water hoses, and drain hoses—link the machine to the water supply and drainage system, and can develop cracks, tears, or weak spots due to regular usage and exposure to water and detergents. Over time, rubber washers within these connections may also deteriorate.
Faulty Water Pump
This pump circulates water during the wash cycle as well as drains the water once the cycle is complete. Some machines may have two different pumps: one that just pumps water, and one that drains. This will vary by model of the washer.
A leaking washing machine may not necessarily mean you have to postpone doing laundry or completely reorganize your day. There can be various reasons why your washing machine is leaking. A call to your trusted plumbing expert will identify the problem and get you back on track.
We Help Homeowners
Flader Plumbing and Heating is uniquely suited to assist you in determining the solution that best fits your home and family’s needs. We’ve been serving your neighbors and our community for over 100 years and 4 generations.
The Flader Difference
Only Flader Plumbing and Heating delivers:
- The most responsive service. We’re here for you 24/7.
- Personal attention from certified and licensed technicians.
- The most dependable equipment and parts.
- Money-saving maintenance agreements.
- 100% satisfaction guaranteed.
Reliability
Flader Plumbing and Heating recommends equipment, models, and brands proven to have the fewest problems and service calls. We specialize in:
Comprehensive Services
Whether you need help with your laundry tubs, your A/C replaced, or your sump pump serviced, we are knowledgeable and provide expert service. Our professional technicians arrive on time, listen to your concerns, and answer your questions. They will recommend the right solution and deliver as promised.
Flader technicians average 15 years of experience and are EPA certified.
Expert service, quality parts, and satisfaction guaranteed. There is no reason to compromise. Call us at 847-491-6980.
