Top Load Washer - Leaking Water in Front

If you find water leaking from the front, left corner of a Top Load Washer, it is usually water from the overflow tube. In the rare event that a Washer fills too full or excessive water splashes over the inner basket, there is an overflow tube that catches the water and directs it away from electric or mechanical parts.

 

During agitation, detergent mixes with water and air to form suds. The Washer agitator or infusor is designed to reduce excessive splashing. However, if too much detergent is in the water, an excessive amount of suds can form. In most cases, leaking is caused by oversudsing, which can push water and/or suds over the edge of the inner basket.

 

Should you experience leaking, provided below are some causes for oversudsing that you can check.

 

Diagnosing a Washer That Is Leaking From the Front

Too Much Detergent

  • Detergent Build-Up In Clothes: Some items, such as towels, sweaters, or blankets, can retain soap over time; this can eventually lead to over-sudsing. These items can be washed occasionally without detergent to reduce build up.

    • Tip: A helpful test to determine if you are using too much detergent is to place a small item, like a wash cloth from a load that has been washed but not yet dried, in a bowl of hot water. If a white film develops on the top of the water in the bowl, too much detergent is being used.

  • Soft Water: Over-sudsing is especially common in houses that have water softeners.

  • The following video demonstrates the effects of overuse of detergent in a Washer:

Video - Poor Wash - Too Much Detergent in Washer

 

 

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Detergent Type

  • Per the manufacturer, when Tide Laundry Detergent with Bleach is used in combination with chlorine bleach, over-sudsing, and in turn overflow, can occur. This is especially a concern in soft water conditions.

Washer Out of Balance or Not Level

  • The Washer may be overloaded or out of balance. This can be tested by running the Washer through a cycle without soap. If it still leaks, service will be needed.

  • Make sure the Washer is leveled properly. Check out our Washer - Leveling the Legs article for leveling information.

Leaking in Rear

  • Floors can sometimes be uneven, so a leak in the rear of the Washer may show up in the front or vice versa. If water is leaking behind the Washer, please take a look at our Washer - Leaking in Rear article.

Additional Appliance Support

A Washer floor tray can help protect your floor from scuffs, spills, leaks, and overflow. Trays also come with a PVC drain connector that can easily attach to a floor drain for added protection. For more information, see our Washer - Universal Floor Tray article.

 

If the above suggestions do not resolve the issue, service may be needed. For service, please schedule a repair appointment with Bodewell.