Washing machine leaking: causes and solutions
A puddle under your washing machine is a nuisance, and you want to avoid water damage to the floor. Fortunately, where the water appears often points straight to the cause.
Safety first, then check
Why is my washing machine leaking?
First unplug the machine and turn off the water tap, before you mop up. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination.
The cause is often simple: a dirty filter, a loose hose or a clogged detergent drawer. Below you can read where the leak comes from, what you can check yourself and when you are better off booking a technician.
How it works, in 3 steps
Prices
How much does washing machine repair cost?
Whether your washing machine won't drain, leaks or shows an error code: you pay the same fixed price, whatever the brand.
A technician finds out at your home why your washing machine isn't working properly. If you don't go ahead with the repair, you only pay for the diagnosis.
If the technician can repair your washing machine, you pay €110. No time limit: even if it takes long or a second visit is needed.
Spare parts are not included. The technician tells you in advance if a part is needed and what it costs.
Chrono surcharge for a visit in the evening, at the weekend or just a few hours after your request.
Second appliance during the same visit? The technician can check and repair it too for €80.
Maintenance as well? The technician can also clean and check your appliance thoroughly, for €50 per appliance on top of the diagnosis and repair.
Prefer remote help first? A video repair costs €49. See all our prices →
Where is your washing machine leaking? What to check yourself first
The place where the puddle appears is a good clue. Check these points before you book a repair.
Water at the front, under the door
Look at the thick rubber rim around the drum opening, the door seal. Is there a crack, or is there hair, a sock or dirt trapped between the door and the rubber? Clean the rim thoroughly. If the rubber is really torn, a technician has to replace it.
Did you clean the lint filter at the bottom right recently? Then it may not be tightened enough. Unscrew it, check that the rubber ring is still seated properly and screw it back in firmly.
Water at the back
Carefully slide the machine forward. If it leaks at the tap, the rubber washer in the inlet hose is probably worn or the hose has come loose. Also check that the ribbed drain hose still sits deep enough in the drain pipe and is not cracked.
Water from the detergent drawer, at the top front
If you use a lot of fabric softener, or a very thick one, the channel from the drawer fills up with residue. The water cannot get away fast enough and runs out along the drawer. Take the drawer out and clean everything thoroughly with warm water.
When do you need a technician?
Have you checked the hoses, the filter and the door seal, and is water still coming out from under the machine? Then the leak is inside the appliance. The casing has to be opened, which is best left to a technician. These are the four usual causes.
Torn door seal
Replacing this stiff rubber is tricky, because the whole front panel often has to come off. Our technicians do this regularly.
Leaking drain pump
The pump that pushes the water out can start to leak through wear or a sharp object, for example a screw left in a trouser pocket.
Cracked internal hoses
Inside the machine run thick rubber hoses, for example from the detergent drawer to the tub. Because of constant vibration they come loose or crack after years of use.
Leak in the tub
In rare cases there is a hairline crack in the plastic outer tub, often caused by something too heavy or a stray piece of metal, such as the wire from a bra.
What does the error code on your washing machine display mean?
Modern washing machines protect themselves against leaks. If the machine detects water where it should not be, it stops washing, pumps the drum empty and shows an error code.
| Brand | Error code or message for a leak |
|---|---|
| Bosch and Siemens | E23 or F23: the AquaStop has been triggered and there is water in the base tray |
| AEG, Electrolux and Zanussi | E30 or EF0: the anti-flood system has stepped in |
| Samsung | LE or LC (Leakage Error): check the hoses and the filter |
| Miele | "Waterproof" message: water has been detected in the tray under the drum |
Is your code not listed? Check the manual for your brand or book a diagnosis, and the technician reads the fault on site.
How does a washing machine know it is leaking?
Almost all modern washing machines have a closed plastic tray at the very bottom, just above the floor. In that tray is a piece of polystyrene with a small switch above it.
If a hose or pump leaks inside the machine, the water drips into that tray. The polystyrene floats up and trips the switch, and the machine shuts off the water supply at once and pumps the drum empty to prevent worse.
That also explains why a machine can show a leak error code while you see no water on the floor: the protection has caught the water.
Repair or replace: what does a technician advise?
A puddle in the laundry room makes many people think of a new machine. That is usually not necessary, because the cause is often a small part.
When is repairing the smartest choice?
A torn door seal, a porous hose or a faulty drain pump are typical wear parts. The parts are relatively cheap and a technician often replaces them during the same visit. If your machine is under ten years old, repairing is usually the logical choice, for your wallet and for the environment.
When is replacing better?
There are two exceptions. A cracked outer tub means the whole machine has to be taken apart for one expensive part, which rarely pays off on an older machine. And if the leaked water has reached the control module and burnt it out, the costs climb quickly.
How do you find out which it is?
After the diagnosis at your home you know the cause and whether repairing pays off. You then pay a maximum of €179 for diagnosis and repair together, parts extra. A new washing machine costs €400 to €800.
How do you stop your washing machine from leaking?
Rubber dries out and hoses wear, but four habits greatly reduce the risk of a leak.
Close zips and empty pockets
A sharp zip, a forgotten screw or a loose bra wire damages the door seal or the tub. Close zips before washing and use a laundry bag for clothes with hard parts.
Leave the door ajar
Do not close the door completely when the machine is not running. In a damp, closed drum the rubber grows mould, becomes porous and tears sooner.
Do not use too much detergent
Too much detergent creates a mountain of foam. The foam looks for a way out along the seals, the detergent drawer or the vent hose. It looks like a serious leak, but it is just too much soap.
Replace the inlet hose every 5 to 10 years
The hose between the tap and the machine is under constant pressure. Even if it still looks fine, the material weakens over the years. Preferably choose a hose with a built-in AquaStop valve.
Where do we repair washing machines at home?
Our technicians work in Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region, East Flanders, West Flanders, Flemish Brabant, Limburg, Liège, Namur, Hainaut and Walloon Brabant.
Do your technicians have to travel from Vilvoorde every morning?
No. Our technicians live all over Belgium and set off every morning from their own municipality. The parts they need are delivered straight to their homes. That way we get to you quickly, without long drives and often as soon as the next working day.
Is your washing machine broken?
Our washing machine repair page covers all symptoms, error codes and brands. Machine not draining? Read washing machine not draining. The diagnosis at your home costs €69, a repair €179 in total at most, parts extra. See also all our prices.
Frequently asked questions about a leaking washing machine
No. Tape or waterproof sealant may hold for one wash, but the hot water, the detergent and the constant vibration soon loosen it again. Always replace the part.
The machine shakes the hardest while spinning. If there is a small hairline crack in an internal hose or in the door seal, the movement pulls it further open and pushes the water out.
That happens often. The water is then caught in the tray under the machine and the protection has saved your floor. Unplug the machine and book a diagnosis, because something really is leaking inside.
Better not. Unplug it and turn off the tap. If you keep washing, water damage to the floor can quickly cost more than the repair itself.
The diagnosis at your home costs €69. If the technician can repair it, you pay €179 in total at most, parts extra, with a 3-month warranty on the repair.
No. If your washing machine is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, contact the manufacturer or the shop where you bought it.
Use the button on this page to choose a day and a time slot yourself. You can also call 02 615 45 20. Give the brand, the model number and where the water comes from.