Why is my washing machine leaking?

Stop the water and the power. GE's flooding steps say to pause the cycle or turn the washer off at the control panel, or shut off the circuit breaker, and not to unplug it while you are standing in water. With the power off, turn the household water off at the valves behind the washer. Then inspect all three hoses: the two fill hoses and the drain hose. GE says to replace any hose that is damaged.

If you are not sure where the water is coming from, run a short cycle and watch. GE notes that floors can be uneven, so a leak at the back of the washer can show up at the front, or the other way around. Look behind the machine before you decide it is a front leak.

GE says water leaking from the rear of a top load or front load washer is often related to installation, leaking hoses or plumbing issues. Check three things.

The fill hoses. Shut off the water first. GE's guide says black rubber washer inserts come in the installation package, and if they are missing, water will leak from the fill hoses at the faucet. If the connections are hand tight and still leak at either end, look for a missing or damaged rubber washer, or damage to the hose. GE also says the fill hose screens and washers should be changed about every 5 years to prevent leaking. Our page on how often to replace washing machine hoses covers the hose material question.

The drain hose. GE says the drain hose should be secured and fully inserted into the drainpipe. On its models, the hose also has to be fully inserted into the washer's drain hose port before the plastic drain hose clamp goes on. When it is inserted correctly, the retainer clamp will not sit flush with the cabinet until the two clamp screws are installed and tightened, and then the clamp pulls to the cabinet.

The standpipe. GE gives a test: watch the standpipe as the washer spins. If water backs up in the pipe and overflows onto the floor, which it says often happens about three quarters of the way through the spin, this could indicate a household plumbing problem that requires a plumber. This is the leak that is not really the washer's fault.

The machine pumps water out fast, and the house drain has to take it. GE says the pump on a top load washer moves water at 15 to 17 gallons per minute and on a front load washer at about 10 gallons per minute, and that the flow rate drops by about 1 gallon per minute for each extra foot of drain height. A drain that is partly blocked cannot keep up with that.

GE's flooding steps name two causes:

1. 1A clog in the household plumbing. The drain hose must empty into an outlet that is part of the house plumbing, such as a standpipe behind the washer, a floor drain or a sink. GE says a plumber is needed to correct clogs in the household plumbing.
2. 2A hose pushed too far into the standpipe. GE says that depending on the installation, the drain hose should not be pushed too far down into the standpipe. A gap is needed between the hose and the standpipe to let air in, and back-pressure from a hose pushed too far into the opening can cause flooding.

### What does the code say a laundry standpipe should look like?

The IPC gives the plumbing side of the same setup. Section 406.2 says an automatic clothes washer must discharge through an air break into a standpipe, or into a laundry sink. The trap and fixture drain for the standpipe must be not less than 2 inches in diameter, and the fixture drain must connect to a 3 inch or larger fixture branch or stack. Section 802.4.3 adds that standpipes must be individually trapped, must extend not less than 18 inches and not more than 42 inches above the trap weir, and must have access for rodding.

GE's manufacturer requirements sit alongside the code. GE says the standpipe or wall drain must have an inside diameter of at least 1-1/2 inches and be open to the atmosphere, and that the drain hose outlet must be at least 30 inches high for a top load washer or at least 24 inches high for a full-size front load washer, and no more than 8 feet above the base. GE also says check valves are not recommended for use with its washers, since they could restrict flow. Your washer's installation instructions have the numbers for your model. Our page on washing machine drain overflow goes deeper into the standpipe backing up.

Section 406.1 covers the supply side: the water supply to an automatic clothes washer must be protected against backflow by an air gap that is integral with the machine or by a backflow preventer.

The answer depends on the type of washer.

Front load washers. GE says leaks on a front load washer can be caused by soil and soap left on the door seal after a wash, and that wiping the rubber seal, including the edge of the gasket, prevents small leaks. It sorts the leaks by size:

• A few drops. Debris or fabric fibers in the gasket. Open the door, lift the edge of the gasket and clean the underside and the folds, make sure nothing hangs over the edge of the drum when the door closes, and make sure the detergent door is completely closed.
• A substantial leak, not flooding. The dispenser trays fill with water that flushes detergent and softener into the drum through ports. If something blocks the ports, the water has no outlet and backs up and overflows the dispenser. GE says detergent pods will not dissolve in the dispenser and should go in the drum with the clothes, and that the dispenser trays and box should be cleaned at least once a month.
• Flooding. Follow the flooding steps above.

Top load washers. GE says water leaking from the front left corner of a top load washer is usually water from the overflow tube, which catches water if the washer fills too full or water splashes over the inner basket. In most cases the cause is over-sudsing, which pushes water and suds over the edge of the basket.

### What makes a washer over-suds?

GE lists several causes:

• Too much detergent. Towels, sweaters and blankets can hold soap over time. GE suggests washing them now and then without detergent. It also gives a test: drop a wash cloth from a washed but undried load into a bowl of hot water, and if a white film forms on the water, too much detergent is in use.
• Soft water. GE says over-sudsing is especially common in houses with water softeners, and that the softer your water is, the less detergent you need. Our page on whether a softener suits Arizona hard water covers the softener side.
• Detergent type. GE says that, per the manufacturer, Tide detergent with bleach used together with chlorine bleach can cause over-sudsing and overflow, especially in soft water.
• An out-of-balance or unlevel machine. GE says to run the washer through a cycle without soap. If it still leaks, service will be needed. Make sure the washer is level.

Match the person to the part.

• Call a plumber for a standpipe that backs up, a drain that clogs, a fill valve or shutoff that leaks at the wall, or a wall box and standpipe that do not meet the layout above. GE says a plumber is needed to correct clogs in the household plumbing.
• Call an appliance technician if the machine still leaks after the hose, seal, suds and level checks. GE says that if its suggestions do not resolve the issue, service may be needed. It also lists leaking oil on the floor as its own troubleshooting topic, which is a machine problem.

GE also points to a washer floor tray, which can help protect the floor from spills and overflow, and some trays have a PVC drain connector for a floor drain. For water that has already reached the floor, see our pages on what to do first after a flood and signs of a hidden water leak. If your laundry room is being remodeled, laundry room sink and drain options explains what the drain and vent have to do.

HQ Plumbing and Air is licensed and insured, takes emergency calls 24/7, and gives free estimates with an upfront price before work starts. See our plumbing services.