Washer Leaking or Not Filling

What usually causes it

• Supply hoses. Rubber hoses crack and bulge with age. Fittings loosen when the washer moves.
• Inlet valve and screens. Small screens in the valve catch sediment. When they clog, the washer fills slowly or not at all. A failed valve also stops filling or keeps filling.
• Door boot seal (front-loaders). Tears or debris caught in the rubber boot leak at the bottom of the door during washing.
• Drain pump and hoses. Leaks during the drain often come from the pump, its filter cap or a loose hose clamp.
• Tub seal or bearing. Water dripping from under the tub, often with a rumble during spin, can mean a failed tub seal.
• Oversudsing. Too much detergent, or non-HE detergent in an HE washer, pushes suds out of vents and seals.
• Household valves. Partly closed shutoffs or low pressure keep the washer from filling in time, which can set an error code.

Washer leaking

Leaks come from fill hoses, the door boot on front-loaders, the pump, or the tub seal.

Check first: Check the hose connections at the wall and look for tears in the door boot.

Washer not filling

No water usually means closed valves, kinked hoses, clogged inlet screens, or a failed inlet valve.

Check first: Open both supply valves fully and check the hoses for kinks.

Safe checks you can do

• Look at the supply hoses for bulges or cracks. Braided stainless hoses are a good upgrade.
• Turn the water off, remove the hoses at the washer, and rinse the inlet screens.
• Check the door boot for tears and hair pins or coins caught in its folds.
• Note whether the leak happens during fill, wash or drain.
• Use the right amount of HE detergent.
• Make sure both hot and cold supply valves are fully open.

Parts that fail most often

• Rubber supply hoses fail more often than any other washer part on the water side.
• Door boots on front-loaders tear and grow mildew.
• Inlet valve screens clog in areas with sediment in the water.

How your home affects it

In older homes

Older homes in the Houston area often have smaller kitchens and laundry closets built for smaller appliances, older wiring, and shut-off valves that have not been turned in years. Old vent hoses and short standpipe drains are common, and both can make a good machine look broken.

In new construction

Newer homes in the Houston area usually come with builder-grade appliances, and many early problems are installation issues rather than failed parts. Upstairs laundry and long dryer vents through the attic are the norm, and both need attention early.

In apartments and condos

In apartments, condos and townhomes around the Houston area, space is tight and the building often has its own rules for access, parking and shut-off valves. Stacked washer-dryer pairs in closets are common and take extra care to pull out and service.

In garages

Plenty of homes in the Houston area keep a second fridge, a freezer or the laundry in the garage, where summer heat regularly passes 100°F. Garage laundry usually has a short vent, which makes it easier to tell an airflow problem from a dryer problem.

During storm season

Storm season around the Houston area brings power outages, surges and sometimes flooding, and appliances often show problems right after the lights come back on. Do not run a washer or dryer that sat in floodwater. Have it checked first.

When to call for repair

• Water reaches the floor each cycle.
• The washer will not fill with good household pressure and clean screens.
• Water comes from under the tub.

If water is on the floor near an outlet, turn off the breaker before touching the machine. Do not bypass a door lock to keep a cycle running.

Need help? We do washer repair across Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. Call (832) 345-9300, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Every repair comes with a 1-year warranty on labor.

Common questions