intermittent washing machine leak. any ideas?

Stuart_P

good evening all

i've noticed recently a small amount of water under the front of the washing machine. just under the very front in the middle of the front side. it's maybe only 2/3 teaspoons worth. weird thing is it doesn't even appear with every wash and it appears with various programmes that have differing water volumes, not just the same programme.

anyone else seen this type of random leak? it's a hotpoint i've had from new for 10 years

ThisIsWeird

First thing to check is the filter. 

I've still no idea where the actual water came from - I used a torch to search for signs of 'glisten' everywhere inside the casing - but when our Bosch left a small puddle under its front-left corner (as you look at it, and under where the det drawer is), I checked the filter and found some wee bits in there, including a scrunched scrunchie. I then stuck my finger up the side pipe and felt a swivelling metallic barrier which turned out to be a 50p coin. That was a bottom-off job to get access to the hose.

I still don't know how a blockage on the inlet to the pump could have caused a spill, where the spill water actually came out, or even how a scrunchie and a 50p piece could of got through perforations barely 3mm wide. I think they must of been there from the factory...

HHarry

Ours did something similar the other week.  The door wasn’t closing tightly enough against the seal, allowing a small, occasionally, dribble of water to run down the front in use.  Not sure how long it had been going on for before we spotted it.

I managed to tak3 the door off and adjust (bend!) the hinge to make it fit more tightly against the seal.

Alanp

Could be a small tear in the door seal, check all around including the top this may account for it being intermittent and a slight leak as it spins water can be thrown up into the hole but not every time, could also be pump or a hose, 

Stuart_P

Alanp said:

Could be a small tear in the door seal, check all around including the top this may account for it being intermittent and a slight leak as it spins water can be thrown up into the hole but not every time, could also be pump or a hose, 

thanks alan. last time it happened i looked to see if any water was coming from the bottom of the door trickling outside and down the front of the machine to the floor and couldn't see anything

i assume if it is a tear in the door seal water would leak out from where the door closes? or does the door seal prevent water leaking from other areas within the door?

EssexExile

A tear in the door seal would show up as a puddle under the centre front. It only runs down the front of the machine if the lip of the seal that meets the glass is damaged. As Stuart says a small amount like that is usually caused by hole higher up, sometimes water is thrown in that direction, sometimes it isn't.

A hole in the door seal is easily fixed, if there's a hole in the drum - not so easy.

J63320

I had this problem once. My machine was cold fill only, but behind it there was a redundant hot water feed with a tap that had a tiny leak. Sometimes, the leaked water would just evaporate but at other times the vibration of the machine would cause it to run down and trickle out at the front. The problem was solved by fitting a blanking cap.

Fruitcake

Do you have any other appliances nearby that could be the cause? We were convinced that we had a leak from our washing machine but eventually traced it to the condensing tumble drier next to it. Fluff had built up in the internal ducting of the dryer that became sodden when in use, and the condensate that then dribbled out of a screw hole at the back then ran forward due to a very slightly uneven floor.

Fridges and freezers also produce condensate, so it is always worth checking all appliances just to ensure you are not going down the wrong route.

jonnydeppiwish!

I had this with a Samsung washing machine last month, a year old. Turns out there was some debris between the door and the seal (hair) that prevented the steel from forming properly. Now I just wipe it every time to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Stuart_P

thanks for all the replies so far. the washing machine stands alone with no other appliances nearby

just to add some context i took a photo when it happened the other day. it's never any soap sud water that appears just clear water as you can see. this was after a cold wash with water only filing a quarter (approx) of the drum during the cycle.



following that wash today i did a warm water wash (different cycle) that filled half the drum and didn't get any leak. random

Eldi_Dos

With the cold temperatures we have been having recently could it be condensation.
What sort of conditions does machine sit in overnight and any draughts to rear where pipework is.