Question about washers leaking

[imimahoney]

Hi! Wondering if anyone can answer a washing machine question for me.

We have a Kenmore washing machine that's 6 years old (stayed with the house when we bought it over the winter).

We do laundry all.the.time since I have a 3 year old and a 5 month old.

Two days ago our washing machine leaked liked crazy all over the utility room and into the newly renovated basement floor

Last night Dh and I tried to see where the leak was coming from. We took off the panel and ran the machine without clothes just like it was when it leaked. It never leaked... ran like normal and drained fine.

Thoughts in our next step? We will probably run it again tonight with a few articles of clothing in it to see if it happens when there are clothes in the washer.

We are 95% done with our basement family room reno and are scared to finish because of the machine.

[TBM]

Could it have been overloaded or unbalanced? Since it didn't leak when you ran it empty it seems like it would be more apt to be something like that than a leak somewhere.


You can get something like this to help prevent damage from washer overflow www.diycontrols.com/p-8526-new-floodstop-washing-machine-valve-shutoff-kit-fs34h-v4-lead-free-inline-valves.aspx?gclid=Cj0KEQjwsIWvBRCnzevvor2g4L8BEiQAAN234Zb7Ko6OCAteO0rCavZdP_dAQ4K_m94g1mLlxVjsJfcaAtTW8P8HAQ

[imimahoney]

Aug 29, 2015 8:41:25 GMT -5 TBM said:

Could it have been overloaded or unbalanced? Since it didn't leak when you ran it empty it seems like it would be more apt to be something like that than a leak somewhere.


You can get something like this to help prevent damage from washer overflow www.diycontrols.com/p-8526-new-floodstop-washing-machine-valve-shutoff-kit-fs34h-v4-lead-free-inline-valves.aspx?gclid=Cj0KEQjwsIWvBRCnzevvor2g4L8BEiQAAN234Zb7Ko6OCAteO0rCavZdP_dAQ4K_m94g1mLlxVjsJfcaAtTW8P8HAQ

That's what we are thinking but it was such a small load and it's a pretty big washer. There was a ton of water in it and on thr floor so it clearly had too much water in it. We will experiment tonight.

Thanks!

[mich1]

It might be the seal. When you have clothes in it, it leaks as the clothes press against the seal and displace it, causing leaks. No clothes, it doesnt leak. Does it leak during the spin cycle?

It's a relatively cheap repair, about $100 (including service call) when this happened to me.

ETA:  Mine was not a front loader, it's not a seal around the door but a seal around the agitator (or what replaces the agitator these days).

[magdala]

If it is a front loader, check if there is lint or detergent residue built up along the seal. Remove the lint or detergent residue and wipe down with a cloth drenched with white vinegar to get any remaining residue. My baby's clothes generate a ton of lint and I have to do this monthly on our washer.