This article looks at how a washing machine can fill with water when switched off. Sometimes overnight. When a washing machine is not in use, water may slowly seep inside, so that when you come to use it, you notice water in the bottom of the drum.
It could be clean water, or dirty water. It’s important to work out which type of water it is, because they have different sources.
There are only 2 places where water can get into a washing machine’s drum. Either seeping through a faulty water valve, or coming in through the drain hose. It’s impossible for water to get in any other way.
If the water is very clean, it might be coming in through a water valve. If it is dirty, it may be coming in through the drain hose. Both possibilities are described in detail below.
Water coming in through a water valve
If this is the problem, the water in the drum should be clean. When a water valve isn’t being used, it obviously shouldn’t let any water through – even if the water supply is still turned on.
It’s possible for a fault inside the valve to prevent it from shutting off properly. Or a small bit of grit or debris could get past the filter, and stop it from closing off properly.
The latter is unlikely though, unless it’s an old washing machine, or maybe there is some damage to the filter. Either of these issues can result in water slowly seeping into the machine.
Water rising inside the drum may only be noticed if the washing machine is left unused (with the water tap left on) overnight, or over a several day period. This is why, ideally, you should always turn off the taps after using the washing machine.
Water Pressure Too Low
A third possible valve related cause is if the water pressure is very low. Bizarrely, the valves rely on a minimum amount of water pressure to push against a rubber flange and shut water off. You can get water seeping past the seal inside if the water pressure is extremely low.
The first thing to try is to turn off the taps
If the water inside the drum is clean, then water could be getting past the water valve. Turn off the water tap(s) to the washing machine. Does this stop the water coming in?
If it doesn’t, move onto the drain hose possibility below. However, you must ensure the tap is not faulty by removing the fill hose from the machine and ensuring no water comes through with the tap turned off.
This is the only way to be 100% sure water is being properly turned off. This is because a tap can be faulty inside and not turn off properly.
Is water dripping in through the soap dispenser?
Sometimes, by removing the soap dispenser drawer and carefully observing inside the soap dispenser, you can see water slowly dripping in at regular intervals from the nozzles at the top. Don’t check this if the washing machine has just been filling though. You may get some dripping of water into the soap dispenser for a while after.
If there is a slow drip, you might also (but not necessarily) see a black jelly-like gunge around where the water comes in
Check the Water Valve Filter
Water pressure to the valve might be reduced enough to prevent the valve shutting off properly if the filter is severely blocked. Turn off the tap(s), remove the fill hose(s) and the water valve filter is easily seen at the back of the valve.
Usually it will be quite clean – with no need to remove it. If it is definitely blocked though, carefully pull it out with some flat pliers. Clean it out under a running tap.
Be very careful not to damage it! Even a very small hole will compromise its filtering abilities and let debris inside the valve.
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Does the water valve need replacing?
If the filter in the valve is not damaged, the water pressure is OK, and turning off the tap stops water entering the drum overnight, you need to get the water valve replaced as soon as possible.
Is water getting in through the drain hose?
The only other place water could possibly get into the drum is by siphoning up the drain hose. This is actually the most common cause of water getting into a washing machine. It shouldn’t be possible if the drain hose is plumbed in properly.
However, incorrect fitting can create circumstances where water runs down the drain hose, or is siphoned up through it.
If the drain hose is connected to the U-bend under the sink
If the drain hose is connected directly to the U-bend under the sink, and it does not rise up before running down to the washing machine, then water running down the sink can get into the washing machine.
The following photo shows drain hoses from a washing machine and a dishwasher. Both are poorly fitted. See how there is a direct run for water poured down the sink to continue down the drain hose into the appliance.
The following picture shows another two appliances plumbed into a U-bend under a sink.
The bottom one is another direct run for water poured into the sink to run down the drain hose into the washing machine.
The drain hose on the top is correctly fitted. A drain hose needs to rise up 4 or 5 inches before bending down into the washing machine. You may need to use a cable tie to fix it into the correct position.
If the drain hose pumps into a stand pipe
If your washing machine does not pump out into the U-bend, it may be pushed into a larger stand pipe. So you shouldn’t get this fault. There are rare circumstances where water could be sucked back into the machine, though.
For example, if the stand pipe outside is submerged in water through a blocked grate, and the drain hose is sealed into the standpipe with tape, instead of sitting in it with an air gap around it. (Check the drain hose is installed properly).
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Only happens when we are away and have turned off the water for the house. Our pipes are overhead in our attic. Washer is at ground level. No basement. Pipe valves to the washer hose are turned off as well and the electric plug is pulled.
Never happens with house water turned on.
Hello Frank. All the possible ways that water could get inside the washing machine when it is not functioning are listed in the article. So it has to be one of them. The first thing I would do is turn off the water taps to the washing machine and then unscrew them to make sure that the water has indeed been stopped. It is quite possible for attack to be faulty in that it appears to turn off but it doesn’t shut the water off. If water is still going to the washing machine but at greatly reduced pressure, i.e. only partially turned off, then the very low water pressure created could allow water to seep in through the valve as described in the article.
If the taps definitely cut the water supply to the washing machine then I’m pretty sure you’d agree it can’t possibly be coming from the water supply. So if you still get water going into the washing machine it must be somehow siphoning in through the drain hose. There literally is no other possible way that water could get into the washing machine.
Hello Andy,
I saw dirty water filled in my empty washer overnight. This washer is connected to Stand-Pipe (not under sink). Drain pipe is sealed with stand pipe ( reason for seal is because some times foam from drain water over flows). Washer is on 1st floor (ground level). On the other side of the wall is half bath (both sink and toilet at bellow the Stand Pipe opening). Floor above has kitchen and sink. Any how, reading to your write ups, it seems water must be from drain. Running washer in spin mode, drained the water without any problem. Still scratching my head, how this could have happened after 22+yrs. If this is drainage blockage, then I think it could have caused back up in sink/toilet in half-bath behind the wall, but did not see any.
Hi there. My washing machine is new and fitted with new kitchen. It has this problem of filling with clean water in the drum regardless of water supply being on or off. I can see clean water dripping from above the soap dispenser. My question is….. Is this a job for the installation plumber or do I go to manufacturers warranty? Anxious lady
Hello Eileen. If water is coming into the washing machine through the water valve when the washer is turned off it can only be that the water pressure is too low or the valve needs replacing. If you can it would make sense to turn off the water tap and remove the fill hose, then turn it back on pointing into a bucket to see if the water pressure is reasonably ok. If it only trickles in then either the hose is kinked, the tap isn’t on fully or is faulty or there’s not enough water pressure for some reason related to the plumbing. If water pressure seems ok then check the filter in the water valve isn’t clogged and if not you would need an appliance repair engineer to sort it.
Hi, I have an 18m washer which became smelly approx 9m ago and have been using dettol washer cleaner regularly. Twice recently after leaving teatowels in the drum overnight I’ve found them badly stained the following morning. The drum isn’t smelly but the stains are disgusting and i’m worried. please advise.
Hello Polly. If the tea towels are wet and water must be entering the drum overnight. All the possible causes for that are described in this article.
Hi My washing machine works perfectly well and I use it 2-3 times a week. When the weather is dry no problem. However when it rains water comes back into the drum … its slightly brown and smells. I put on a rinse and spin to drain it. What’s going on? Thanks
Hello Liz. One possible cause is water getting sucked up through the standpipe if the drain hose pushes into one? This is mentioned last in my article above.
So we had a rare snow storm wen I went into laundry room washer sounded like it was on but the powers off water pouring into machine turned water valve stopped fine but the washer now won’t turn on turned water back on the water continues to pour into machine