If your laundry room is starting to smell like a sewer or you notice mysterious water pooling on the floor, it’s highly likely your washing machine plumbing is acting up.
Problems with your washing machine should not be taken lightly. Faulty plumbing can lead to serious damage. In fact, malfunctions with washing machines land in the top 10 leading causes of residential water damage, according to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. After the insurance deductible is paid, the homeowner ends up paying about $5,300 per incident, according to the IBHS.
It’s important to stay on top of basic homeowner plumbing maintenance. When it comes to your washing machine, some of the specific sources of malfunctions stem from:
- Bad hoses. About half the time there’s a flood involving the washing machine, a bad or aging hose is involved. You should replace your hose every three to five years. Inspect them every month or so. If you still have rubber hoses, you should replace them with the more reliable braided-steel variety. You have to spend more than $20 or so and it’s an easy thing to do, like unscrewing and screwing a garden hose.
- U-Band isn’t fitted. If you notice a foul smell in the morning and it reminds you of an outdoor drain odor, it might be that your U-Band isn’t fitted into the plumbing. The U-Band always holds some water at its base, acting as a barrier to prevent water from draining back into the house. Every time you wash a load of laundry, the water in the U-band is replaced.
- Leaks in the pump. The pump’s job is to get the water from the tub to the drain once your clothes are done washing. These pumps have seals so water won’t leak. But, like everything else, they wear out as they get older and they eventually won’t seal effectively. In most cases, you’ll need to simply replace the pump.
- Malfunctioning water inlet valve. If your tub isn’t filling up, or it’s overflowing, you might be having a problem with your water inlet valve. You might have a case of clogged filter screens in the supply hoses. Cleaning them might resolve the problem. You can also examine the screens in the valves, but be careful; they’re not easy to replace.
For answers to your questions about your washing machine plumbing or any other plumbing issues, contact the Pink Plumber today.
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