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.
Then carefully refit the filter back in place. If it is one with a screw thread make sure you have tightened it up properly and firmly. There’s no reason why it should leak now.
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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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Catherine McCargar says
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.
Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp) says
Thanks Catherine that’s great.