Sadly:

Washing machines tend to leak. This is especially true because they work with liquids and GE washers are no exception.

Fact:

Leakage from a washer could damage the machine and any other electronics in the vicinity.

As such, taking care of a leak is important as soon as you notice it. You may be wondering how exactly to go about it.

Look no further!

We have taken the liberty of collating a list of possible causes for this problem. We also went the extra mile and included useful solutions.

So:

Get comfortable and take notes as we work through five common issues that could cause a GE washer to leak.

Why Your GE Washer Is Leaking From the Bottom

Water should flow through your GE washer and not out of the bottom during a wash cycle. In the event of a leak, you should pay attention to certain washer components. These include the drain hose, tub seal, water inlet valve, and drain pump, as they could lead to leakage when compromised.

1. Faulty External Drain Hose

Get this:

A standard GE washer drains after a wash cycle. It may vary depending on your cycle selection, as some people opt for a soak.

Either way:

The external hose is vital in this process because your washer must empty the used water and refill the tub. However, this process can get messy.

Note:

This may not necessarily be true, depending on how you set up your washer. You could plug the drain hose directly into an outlet or drain it into your tub.

However:

It doesn’t matter where the drain hose goes. If it is damaged or has been set up incorrectly, it will leak onto the bathroom floor.

Now:

It isn’t uncommon for a washer to leak from the bottom and the external hose is the easiest part to troubleshoot. Let’s get right to it.

You may wonder:

How exactly could the external hose get damaged?

This could happen if you place your GE washer too close to the wall. Vibrations during a wash cycle would cause the hose to split open.

Thankfully:

You can troubleshoot this problem by following a few easy steps.

• Step 1: Carefully pull the washer forward, so you have easy access to the drain hose.
• Step 2: Run a wash cycle and check if the hose leaks while draining.
• Step 3: Gently hold up the hose and check for breaks or holes.
• Step 4: Double-check the connection to the washing machine.
• Step 5: Replace the hose if necessary.

Keep in mind:

Different GE washer models have different safety mechanisms keeping the hose in place. Try to be gentle and avoid yanking it free.

Hopefully:

Replacing the hose or tightening its connection to your GE washer should take care of your leaking problem.

2. Faulty Tub-to-Pump Drain Hose

Keep in mind:

The external drain hose isn’t the only hose you need to worry about. The pump is responsible for moving water in and out of the tub.

Intuitively:

The tub is connected to the pump via a smaller drain hose before the water is passed out via the larger drain hose.

Sadly:

The tub-to-pump drain hose could also develop a leak.

It is usually made of the same material as the external drain hose and wears faster due to proximity to the vibrating tub.

Unfortunately:

The internal drain hose isn’t as easy to troubleshoot as its chunkier counterpart. You will have to take your GE washer apart to reveal the pump.

Also:

A damaged internal drain hose could also lead to problems like the washer not filling properly during a wash sequence.

Note:

You may void your warranty if you pry open your GE washer yourself. You could also irreparably damage some parts if handled incorrectly.

Ultimately:

It may cost less in the long run to contact GE customer service for all your troubleshooting and repair needs.

However:

If you decide to tackle this problem yourself, here’s how.

• Step 1: Unplug your GE washer from the wall and move it forward. Be sure to undo any other connections keeping it tethered to your bathroom wall.
• Step 2: Take a putty knife and slide it into the recess between the top and front panel.
• Step 3: Use the putty knife to undo the spring clips holding up the front panel.
• Step 4: Pull the front panel forward and lift it out of place. Keep it somewhere safe.
• Step 5: The hose connecting the tub to the drain pump should be visible. Use the appropriate screwdriver and a pair of pliers to undo the safety clips.
• Step 6: Remove the old hose and check for leaks or cuts.
• Step 7: Replace the hose if you notice any damage, and reassemble your GE washer.

Note:

This troubleshooting method may not be easy if you aren’t mechanically savvy. You could always call an engineer to help you with the necessary repairs.

3. Leaky Drain Pump

Naturally:

A drain pump is responsible for discharging water from your washer.

So:

If you have a leak, the drain pump is a likely culprit. It is connected to the washer tub by a hose and kept safe by a drain filter.

However:

All it takes is one small item escaping through the filter to cause internal issues. Your drain pump could crack, or its connections may loosen.

If this happens, water will leak from the bottom of your GE washer.

Now:

Accessing the pump in some washer models is as easy as removing the front panel.

But:

It may be more complex in other models. You will need to access the pump to troubleshoot this problem.

Well:

You could ask for an expert’s help.

However, if you decide to tackle this task yourself, here is how you can check the pump for issues.

• Step 1: Refer to the previous section’s steps on opening your washer’s front panel.
• Step 2: After removing the hose, disconnect the wire harness from the drain pump.
• Step 3: Using a pair of pliers, release the clamp holding the outlet hose and disconnect it. Have a small bowl ready in case water spills out of the hoses.
• Step 4: Use a hex head screwdriver to uninstall the mounting screws holding the pump down.

Then:

Hold the pump under sufficient light and check for any physical damage. Also, check for breakage around the inlet and outlet hose connectors.

Now:

With the old pump detached, you can easily install a replacement.

Be careful when reconnecting the hoses, and make sure all the parts are sufficiently bolted down.

4. Worn Tub Seal

Look:

The tub is a marvel of modern engineering. All its parts are held together securely, while features like the tub seal prevent leakage.

Sadly:

The tub seal can get worn over time, and a damaged seal could lead to leakage during washing.

Keep in mind:

The tub seal is a complicated and technical part to replace.

Why?

It requires you to take the machine apart at a level that could be daunting for a beginner.

As such:

You could always ask a service engineer for help replacing the part.

Now:

If you are feeling adventurous, here’s how to take your GE top loader apart to replace the tub seal.

• Step 1: Turn off the hot and cold water faucets and disconnect the water supply hoses from the back of your washer.
• Step 2: Using the right driver, remove the screws from the back of the control panel.
• Step 3: Slide the panel to the side and disconnect the wires to detach it from the washer.
• Step 4: Take a putty knife and undo the front panel’s spring clips.
• Step 5: Tilt the panel forward and lift it to remove it. Set both the front panel and the control panel somewhere safe.
• Step 6: Remove the two screws holding down the main top. Lift it gently and use a pair of pliers to squeeze and release the lid switch wire retainer.
• Step 7: Lift the lid so you can easily access the lid switch, and squeeze the tab to release it. Push it through the opening.
• Step 8: Lift the main top and set it aside.
• Step 9: Loosen the screws securing the rear and control panels. Remove the rear panel and set it aside.
• Step 10: Use a plier to disconnect the pressure tube from the switch. Now, you can remove the control panel and gently set it somewhere safe and dry.

With the top and front panels out of the way, we can focus on getting the tub open and gaining access to the tub seal.

• Step 11: Loosen the screws securing the shock-dampening straps to the tub. Remove the straps.
• Step 12: Undo the safety clips securing the tub cover and gently lift it out of place.
• Step 13: Lift the dispenser cover and rotate it counterclockwise to remove it.
• Step 14: Use a 7/16th-inch socket to remove the agitator bolt and lift it out of the tub.
• Step 15: Remove the drive block and the washer.
• Step 16: Use a 1/11th-inch tub nut wrench to remove the tub nut. You may need a hammer to loosen it.

You should be able to lift out the tub after loosening the tub nut and setting it aside.

• Step 17: Use a flathead screwdriver to loosen the split ring and remove the washer underneath.

Now:

You should see the black tub seal. If intact, it should slide right off.

However:

It could be worn with old age and may fall apart while you remove it. If this is the case, be sure to clear all the debris.

Note:

Use some washing liquid on the new tub seal before slipping it in. Take note of the order of items you need to reassemble and put your machine back together.

Final Disclaimer:

Do not attempt this procedure if you aren’t confident in your technical skills.

5. Damaged Water Inlet Valve

Note:

The water inlet valve controls the flow of hot and cold water into your GE washer.

Unfortunately:

Your GE washer may leak onto the floor if one or two solenoids fail.

It could also leak if the washer tub is cracked or water isn’t flowing properly into your washer.

Luckily:

Installing a new water inlet isn’t a complicated process. It will require you to take the top panel off your GE washer.

With that covered:

Here is how you can replace a faulty inlet valve in a GE front loader washer.

• Step 1: Unplug your machine.
• Step 2: Turn off the hot and cold water taps. Use a wrench to disconnect the hoses from your washer.
• Step 3: Using a Phillips screwdriver, undo the screws securing the top of your washer to the machine.
• Step 4: Slide the top back slightly and remove the plastic trim before setting the lid aside.
• Step 5: Disconnect the old water inlet valve from the washer.
• Step 6: Use a pair of pliers to disconnect the inlet hose from the valve.
• Step 7: Use a Phillips screwdriver to undo the screws securing the water inlet valve to the washer.
• Step 8: Remove the old valve and check for breaks or obstructions before replacing it.

Finally:

Try running a normal wash cycle after reassembling your washer. Changing the valve should take care of the leak.

Models Most Affected

Sadly:

Leaking is a common problem associated with washers of all types. You could run into this issue with any GE washer model.

However:

Here are specific models known to develop this problem over time.

1. GE Top Load Washer

Now:

The top load washer’s tub seal sits at the bottom of the machine.

Agitation over time could wear it out, causing your GE washer to leak from the bottom.

Optimistically:

You can deal with the leak by checking on and replacing your tub seal at least once a year.

2. GE Front Load Washer

The water inlet valve in your GE front loader could crack and leak if you move the machine around a lot.

As such:

Be sure to disconnect the inlet water hoses before you move your washer to avoid unnecessary problems.

Conclusion

Remember:

The key is to remain calm when you notice your GE washer is leaking from the bottom. Your machine works with water, so such a problem is bound to happen.

Now:

Take a deep breath and work through the troubleshooting list we have provided. Your washer may be suffering from one of these issues.

• Faulty external drain hose
• Faulty internal drain hose
• Leaky drain pump
• Worn tub seal
• Damaged water inlet valve

Be careful when performing these repairs, and your washer should work without leaking once you are done.

Finally:

Did this guide come in handy? Did you notice a possible fault or fix that we may have missed?

Well:

Let us know in the comment section below!

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Frequently Asked Questions