Washing machine leaking water
easy 30–90 min
Tools: flashlight, towels, screwdriver, pliers, bucket · Materials: replacement inlet hoses (braided stainless), door gasket if torn, hose clamps
Steps
- Run a cycle and watch with a flashlight: note whether the puddle appears during fill, wash, or spin — each points at a different part.
- During fill: tighten or replace the inlet hoses and their rubber washers at both ends; rubber hoses older than five years should be replaced with braided ones regardless.
- During wash on a front-loader: pull back the door gasket fold and clean out the hair and sludge; look for a tear or a nick where a bra wire or coin sat.
- During drain or spin: check the drain hose connection and the pump filter cap, which leaks if it is not screwed home after a clean.
- Overfilled detergent makes foam that pushes past the door seal — halve the dose for a few washes and see if the leak stops.
- Dry the floor, run another cycle, and mark any new drip with a paper towel to trace it up to its source.
Stop and call a pro if
- the water comes from underneath the tub during wash — the tub seal or an internal hose has failed
- the floor is soft or swollen around the machine
- the leak continues with new hoses and a clean gasket
What a pro does that you can't
An appliance technician replaces the door gasket or an internal hose, tests the inlet valve, and checks the tub-to-pump seal, which means pulling the machine apart.
DIY cost: $15–40 for hoses; $30–80 for a door gasket