If you are like the typical household, you cannot do without the services of your washing machine. You may make use of this appliance two or three times a week if you have an active family and you want to make sure that it is always fit for purpose when you are ready to go. However, things can go wrong, and you may have noticed that your machine is leaking during the wash cycle. What can you do to stave off potential catastrophe and get back to your normal routine?

1. Finding the Issue

A washing machine is a relatively straightforward appliance, and in the majority of situations, a broken seal will likely cause this. The drum itself is self-contained and will typically last for many years, but it does need to be connected to a source of water, a drain and your access point.

2. Damaged Seal

The access point is usually through the door at the front of the machine. You open and close this a lot as the months go by and this can put a strain on the front-facing seal. In most cases, this will be the source of your problem, and you will need to replace that seal before you can proceed.

3. Getting Down to Work

If you open the door and take a closer look, you will see that the drum is connected to the outer panel by a flexible rubber seal that runs all the way around the circumference. If you can, you need to remove the entire front panel once the door is ajar, as this will make it a lot easier for you to remove the seal itself.

Each individual model will vary, but the seal is normally held in place against the panel by a series of retaining springs. You will need to locate those and then prise them out of their recess. You may have to remove the counterweight that helps to balance the machine once the tub is in motion. You should then be able to remove the other side of the seal from the outer tub by locating and removing the springs.

4. Fitting the Right Part

Always make sure that you fit the correct replacement part and that the new door seal is properly reattached. You may need to clean the entire area first to get rid of any built-up residue before attaching the seal, springs, counterweight and front panel.

5. Getting Help

If you need any help, reach out to an appliance repair specialist for their guidance. They could help you determine which appliance parts you need to get your machine working again.