How to Repair a Leaking Washing Machine

This article will help you avoid the expensive service call by showing you how to diagnose and fix the most common washing machine leaks.

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

There are only so many places from which a washing machine can leak. In this how-to article we cover the most common types of leaks — from the hose, pump and tub — but there may be additional problem areas specific to your brand of machine. There are two types of washing machine repair: belt drive and direct drive. If you open up the cabinet and don’t find any belts, then you’ve got a direct-drive machine. Repairs are similar for both machines, but generally easier on the direct-drive unit. The following photos are from a belt-drive washing machine. If you have a direct drive, refer to your owner’s manual or diagrams (see “Buying Parts”) for brand-specific details.

But before you do anything else, make sure the water on the floor isn’t the result of a plugged floor drain. It happens!