Help! Washing machine leaking

[Little Miss Trouble]

My washing machine has shat itself! well, not entirely, it still runs but its leaking out the bottom :blink:
Can anyone tell me how to fix the bloody thing? (a new one isn't an option right now)

[Maki]

Is it a front loader?

[klingon]

are all the taps & hoses done up securely?

[icekiwi]

My washing machine has shat itself! well, not entirely, it still runs but its leaking out the bottom :blink:
Can anyone tell me how to fix the bloody thing? (a new one isn't an option right now)

Whats leaking out it's bottom??....

[Little Miss Trouble]

Top loader.

All done up, had been working fine up until now

[Motu]

Bars Leak - fixes everything.

[Little Miss Trouble]

Bars Leak - fixes everything.

What is it & where do i get it from?

[Shadows]

What is it & where do i get it from?

LOL. Good for shagged car radiators but probably not leaking washing machines.

After the wash is complete, does it seem like there is a lot of water sloshing around out of sight if you tip the machine up? And are your clothes not as dry after spinning as they used to be?

If so then I bet you have lint and shit stuck either in the drain pump or drain pipe, the "leak" you have is actually the result of it overfilling, and your clothes aren't as dry as they used to be because drum is fighting water resistance when it is trying to spin.

If you don't want to look at it yourself an appliance repair guy shouldn't charge more than about $70 to clear it without ripping you off if that is the cause of the problem.

[wilber]

Could be a split hose or pump seal ,you'll really need to take the back off the machine to check where waters leaking from.

[sefer]

I'll be nice since this used to be my job :)

What type of machine is it?

If it's a ECS/Gentle Annie type stop using it as water leaking from the bottom can fry the power board/pump or both.

Is it noisy?

Do as already suggested, check for holes or splits in the (inlet) hoses and check they are done up tight.

Take the back of the machine off and then check the hoses going to and from the pump. If it's leaking here it'll most likely be the hose going from the bowl to the pump (assuming there is one), but check the other one too. Pump hoses do just wear out, but the number one cause of split hoses (and blocked pumps) is Bra underwire (useless fact for you :) )

If it's not leaking there you'll want to run it with a little water on the wash then spin cycle while watching the centre of the bowl (underneath). If it appears to be leaking from the middle then you've got a big problem that depending on the machine probably won't be worth fixing. (this is where whether or not it's noisy or not will factor in, if it's been leaking even slightly for a while the bearings will be stuffed and sound like crap).

Good luck checking it out.

[ynot slow]

As an aside does it leak on filling up?My simpson did that and the sight glass tube(about 5mm wide or so)on the back near the top can off the top pipe,clipped it back on and was fine,long shot but if it doesn't shut off (water filling)this could be it.

[sinfull]

do like Sefer says and take the back off (girls can do anything) and run it while sitting with a torch (keep ya hands out) good chance you will see it leaking and where !

[Ixion]

Is it a F&P Gentle Annie thing ?

Our old one spouted leaks about half a dozen times.

The first five or so were pretty simple to fix. Pull the back cover off (just a bunch of self tapping screws). Set it running at whatever stage it leaks at, and look to see where it's leaking. Odds are it'll be a hose. Buy new hose (or wrap it in duct tape!). Sorted.

The last time unfortunatly was terminal. The leakage only occured on the spin cycle. Investigation showed that it was leaking around the central shaft that the spinning bowl thing runs on. And the bearing/seal design on the machines is total crap. The work of a brain dead gibbering hippopotamus.

So I was reluctantly fain to report to Mrs Ixion that it was not economically possible to repair it (I *could* have, but it would have cost more than the old thing was worth). Sigh. That meant she got to run amok in the whiteware showroom. Never a good thing.

So if yours is that model and leaking on the spin cycle, it may be bad news. Otherwise, pokey, proddy, and you should be able to seal it up for a few bucks. They're pretty simple. A couple of widgets, a gizmo, a doo-hickey or two and some hoses connecting said widgets and some sheet metal.

[Devil]

Why are you having to fix this? Make Gareth do it, it's probably his leather G string collection stuck in the drain pump.

[Little Miss Trouble]

ok, I have the back off of the f'n thing & yes it does sound like theres still alot of water hidden in there somewhere, so how do i check the drain pipe/pump thingy?

ok, never mind, I found the plug to the pump... and now I've re-mopped the floor I'm still not sure I've cleared whatever is blocking it, I've poured hot water down the pipe and it seems to flow ok, is there anything else I should be checking before I try it out again?

[Shadows]

Check the plug is back in? :msn-wink:

[pete376403]

Pumps in those things are prone to getting jammed with hairclips etc. The outlet pipe from the pump goes up to the tub drain, so there's always at least a pipe full of water remaining in the system. Check also the pipe that goes from the bottom of the bowl to the pump inlet - could be leaking there.
As previously mentioned, run a cold rinse through the machine while watching with a torch from behind and see if you can spot the leak. Keep your fingers away from the motor belt...
If the pump seal is stuffed you can replace the whole pump/motor assembly.

If it's coming down the main shaft budget for a repacement w/machine

[sefer]

So what sort of machine is it? (even brand will do)


Basically if it's a F&P ECS or newer it's probably worth fixing no matter what (assuming it's just leaking). Even seals and bearings (which are done at the same time) is typically worth it, even though you'll be looking at $200+ . There's nothing wrong with ECS seals, in fact the smartdrive and current machines have almost the exact set-up.

If it's a simpson (any type) and needs seals or bearings sadly you might as well use it till it dies (or leaks so much you can't), since you typically not only have to replace the seals, bearings, and shaft (at well over $100 for just the shaft). They simply aren't worth fixing for most things that go wrong with them.

[R6_kid]

It's an old F&P model. Her flatmate is supposed to be putting through a load of washing today, so we'll know later on this afternoon whether or not Lisa's tootooing last night has fixed the problem

[Little Miss Trouble]

Its ALIVE! Feeling pretty damn pleased with myself right now:first:

[Shadows]

Its ALIVE! Feeling pretty damn pleased with myself right now:first:

Pump cloggage then?

[Little Miss Trouble]

Pump cloggage then?

Yup, should have known it was something like that really, all female household - all the drains seem to get clogged easily

[Shadows]

That'll be $50 thanks :msn-wink: