It’s remarkable how many times someone has contacted me to say that they have cleaned the pump filter on their washing machine and now it is leaking. If it wasn’t leaking before then it should just be something simple to fix.
There is no reason why removing the pump filter to clean it of obstructions and then putting it back in place should cause a leak. This part is designed for customers to remove and refit. It is also difficult to not fit it back correctly. It’s a part that is either back in place correctly or it is obviously not in place properly at all. So if having removed it you are experiencing a leak the chances are it is because of one of 3 things.
- You haven’t tightened it up enough
- Some grit, hardened limescale, or detergent is breaking the seal
- The seal is dislodged, or in rare cases the seal itself is badly worn or damaged
What to do if pump filter is leaking
The first thing to do is take out the pump filter once more. Examine the rubber seal. Make sure it is in good condition. If you can see that this seal is worn it may need replacing (buy new pump seals and filters). You might not be able to buy just the seal, sometimes you have to buy the whole part.
If the seal looks good then make sure that the seal is fitted correctly. If it’s possible to turn it around it might make a better seal if turned around. Thoroughly wash the whole filter and seal and dry it out. Then thoroughly wash and clean the inside of the pump filter housing where the pump filter fits, taking care to ensure there is no grit or dirt anywhere near where the rubber seal fits.
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Leaking from the emergency drain hose
If it is leaking from an emergency drain hose next to the filter it’s unlikely that the hoses has perished. It’s more likely it’s become detached somehow. However, if that is the case there should be a lot of water coming out. These small hoses usually have a bung in the end, or they push fit onto a stopper. They shouldn’t leak if they are fitted correctly or have the stopper pushed inside.
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I just want to thank you for this wonderful information. I had tried to check on my pump filter, and caused a leak after replacing the filter. Your instructions gave me confidence to attack the problem leak in an orderly way. I found that the offending particle causing the leak was actually a small piece of glass that had wedged itself into the threads on the machine where the cap would seal, probably as I pulled out the filter initially.
Thank you, thank you.
Thanks Catherine that’s great.
My daughter picked up a washing machine second hand. When we tested it we discovered a leak (the filter cap had been broken with pliers). We replaced the filter with a brand new one but now no water will enter the machine. Before we swapped the broken filter with the new there was water supply. What might have happened? We have checked the inlet pipes and connections and all seem good…
Hi. Replacing the pump filter can’t possibly stop water from getting into the washing machine. Did you move the washing machine at all? If so a kinked fill hose could be the cause. Another possibility is if the water supply was turned off it might not be turned back on properly.
Can you hear any water running into the machine at all?
Mysterious indeed. It has been moved but there are no kinks. The tap is open but no water running in. Just a buzz and a registration of ‘error 3’. Maybe a blockage in the aquasafe thingy?
Thx. Mysterious indeed. No kinks and no water, though it is turned on. Just a buzz. Maybe the aqua thingy on the inlet hose? Could that suddenly get blocked? Thx for feedback anyway.
Hi. A buzz, or loud hum could be the water valve energised but no water in the hose. You need to turn off the tap to the washing machine and then hold the fill hose over a bucket and turn it back on to see if there is a good flow of water running through the hose. That’s the first and most important thing to check.
Problem solved. As you suggested there was a problem with the inlet hose, maybe the aquaflow (?). Fixed with replacement pipe. Really appreciate having someone ‘in the know’ to think aloud with. Thx.
Thanks Andy
Hi . I have a before wm5102w washing machine. I have cleaned the filter and put it back into place. Know the filter is leaking which it never did before. Can you help please.
Hi Mick. This article is called “cleaned pump filter now it leaks”. It was written to help people who cleaned their pump filter and put it back only to find it now leaks. Everything I could think of to help is in the article.
Thank you so much for posting this. I went through a bunch of videos and articles that didn’t help me out. Turns out there was calcium deposited on the filter gasket. Once I cleaned that off, my washing machine stopped leaking. You saved me hundreds of dollars with this!
I have this problem: bought a used washer that had a tiny drip in the front right (GE front loader). After cleaning out the filter (which was slam full of dirt to the point of going back up the tube) the drip got 4 times as bad (before it was just a tiny bit, now it fills a baking sheet). I assume the problem is with the pump since only the casing on the filter body was wet when I checked inside. I’m thinking a bad pump or pump seal (though they don’t make the pump for this model anymore). Does that make sense?
Hi Jud. It’s important to identify accurately where the water is coming from. If it is leaking from the pump filter, it has to be the rubber seal around the pump filter. Take it out, clean it again. Refit and ensure it’s tight enough. If it’s just leaking from under where the pump filter is you have to make sure it isn’t leaking from elsewhere and running to the front. Try using kitchen towel to hold just below it or around it. The slightest bit of water will soak into it straight away and show you where it is leaking from.
Thanks for your help, Andy! I propped the machine up on some boxes and ran it for a minute where I could see underneath. The casing in the drain filter has a hairline fracture down it with lots of water coming out of it. This explains why it didn’t leak nearly as bad when the drain filter was packed with dirt (likely kept a lot of the water from going up that crack). Now I’m trying to decide if I should replace the entire drain pump and filter or get some sort of marine epoxy that will work on the plastic of the drain filter housing.