Washing machine leaking from underneath: 6 points to check before the technician comes

• Close the main water valve before opening any water connection.
• Keep water away from sockets and plugs.
• Switch off the MCB and unplug the appliance before checking anything.
• Make sure your hands and the floor are dry.

If the puddle has reached the socket, switch off the MCB before you touch the plug, then dry the floor.

A puddle under a washing machine rarely gives away its source, because water runs along the hoses and the cabinet and drips from the lowest point. LG Indonesia's page on top loaders explains that water from a leaking supply hose connection can run down the hose and look like a leak from underneath. So before you decide that the drum is leaking, look for the highest wet spot.

A practical method: dry the floor and the machine with a cloth, lay newspaper or a dry cloth around its feet, then run one short program and watch. Note when the water appears. A leak while the machine fills usually lies on the water inlet side. A leak while it drains usually lies on the drain side. Water that appears in the middle of the wash is often linked to suds, the laundry or the door.

A little water can also be normal. Modena's manual for its WT top loaders says that some water may come out during installation and first use, left over from factory testing, and that this is normal.

1. Inlet hose and faucet. LG advises reconnecting the supply hose after closing the faucet, because a hose that is not fully seated or is not straight will leak at the connection. The Modena WF VGWH manual says to check the connections at the cabinet and at the faucet. If they are tight, check whether the rubber washer inside the connection is still there or has worn thin.
2. Drain hose and its joints. On LG top loaders, the drain hose is pushed in until its gray spring is no longer visible. If you use an extension hose, water can leak from the extension joint; LG suggests wrapping the leaking spot with electrical tape as a temporary fix.
3. The hose end at the house drain. If the hose has slipped out of the drain opening, a lot of water spills out while the machine drains. LG warns that this is hard to spot when the drain is behind or beside the machine, so make sure the hose end is fully inserted.
4. The pump filter cover. On front loaders, the Modena manual stresses that the filter must be screwed in tightly to prevent leaks. After cleaning the filter, also check the cap on the small drain hose next to it.
5. Detergent and suds. LG explains that using more detergent than recommended, or top-loader detergent in a front loader, creates too many suds, which can leak out at the back of the machine. Use detergent made for your type of machine and do not go over the MAX line.
6. Door, laundry and drawer. The Modena WT manual warns that laundry hanging out of the drum can damage the machine or cause a leak. On front loaders, a clogged detergent drawer, water pressure that is too high, or a machine tilted forward can push water out of the drawer.

In many Indonesian homes, the washing machine drains into a bathroom floor drain or into a pipe shared with the sink. If hair, soap or sand has narrowed that drain, the machine's waste water, which comes out all at once, cannot get away fast enough and overflows onto the floor. LG explains that a blocked drain can cause backflow, so water pools and drains away slowly every time the machine empties.

LG gives a simple test for top loaders: take the drain hose out of the drain, point it somewhere the water can flow freely, then run a rinse-and-spin program. If the puddle no longer appears, the machine is fine and it is the house drain that needs cleaning. If the drain does turn out to be blocked, LG suggests calling a plumber or drain-cleaning service.

Splashing can also look like a leak. LG explains that items that float easily, such as blankets or thick jackets, can be pushed around by the water and splash it out of the machine, especially when the water level is set high. The Modena WT manual suggests a load of 3.5 kg or less for sheets or blankets. Use a suitable program and push the laundry down under the water before you continue.

Most leaks from hoses and filters can be prevented with routine checks. The Modena WT manual says to check the inlet hose again after connecting it to the faucet; if it still seeps, reconnect it until it no longer leaks. The same manual says to tighten the drain hose and make sure the drain opening is not blocked.

• Clean the filter in the water inlet valve every six months, as the Modena WT manual recommends, because a clogged filter puts more pressure on the joints.
• If your machine has a drum-cleaning program, run it at least once a month.
• Place the machine on a firm, level surface away from water spray, and adjust the feet until all four rest on the floor.
• Use detergent in the recommended amount. LG warns that undissolved detergent builds up in the machine and causes odors.

In a bathroom where the floor is often wet, dry the floor around the machine after each wash, and make sure its socket is somewhere it will not get splashed. The Modena WT manual also forbids putting the machine on a table or stand on the floor, because it could fall.

Stop using the machine, switch off the power and contact the authorized service center for your washing machine's brand if:

• water comes out of the machine's cabinet and not from a hose, the filter, the drawer or the door. For a leak inside the machine, the Modena WF manual says to switch off the power and contact after-sales service;
• the door seal of a front loader is torn or out of shape;
• there is a puddle near the control panel, the socket or the power cord;
• the leak continues after you have checked all six points above and confirmed that the house drain is clear;
• you hear grinding or smell burning at the same time as the leak.

Replacing the pump, the hoses inside the cabinet, the drum seal or the door seal is work for an authorized technician. If the house drain is the problem, especially if it has to be opened up or its pipe replaced, that is a job for a plumber.