Quick answer
For a leaking washing machine, unplug it and close both supply valves behind it, then decide by where the water shows. Leaks only while the machine runs (door seal, drain pump, inlet valve, internal hoses) are an appliance repair technician's job. Drips at the hoses or valves at the wall with the machine off, or water overflowing the drain standpipe, are a plumber's job. If the water soaked a finished floor, the wall behind the machine or the ceiling below, you also need a water damage restoration company to dry it. Call (888) 217-0236 to reach an appliance repair company taking calls in your ZIP; the line is answered 24/7.
Follow the short menu, then your 5-digit ZIP. The line goes quiet for a few seconds while it connects; stay on. If it does not connect, call once more: companies taking calls change minute to minute.
Written & reviewed by Marcus ReedIICRC WRT
Reviewed October 20, 2026· Next review Apr 2027
For a washing machine that is leaking or broken, the first call is usually an appliance repair technician, because most leaks come from the machine: a door seal, the drain pump, a hose clamp inside the cabinet. A plumber owns the hoses' connections at the wall, the shutoff valves and the standpipe the drain hose goes into. And if the water reached a finished floor, a ceiling below or the wall behind the machine, the drying is a third job that neither of them does.
First, Make It Safe
- 1Stop the cycle and cut the power. Unplug the washer or switch off its breaker before you step into water near it.
- 2Close both supply valves behind the machine. Turn the hot and cold valves clockwise until they stop. If they are seized, close the main.
- 3Watch where the water comes from on a short test. With the valves open again for a minute and the machine on a rinse cycle, look at the hoses at the wall, under the front of the machine, and at the drain standpipe.
- 4Match the call to what you saw. Then check the floor around and under the machine before you decide whether you need anyone beyond the repair.
Appliance Technician or Plumber
| Where the water shows | Most likely cause | Who to call |
|---|---|---|
| At the front door, front-loader | Door boot seal torn or dirty | Appliance technician |
| Under the machine during drain | Drain pump, internal hose or clamp | Appliance technician |
| Under the machine during fill | Inlet valve, internal fill hose | Appliance technician |
| At the wall connections, machine off | Supply hose or shutoff valve | Plumber (or replace the hoses yourself) |
| Overflowing the standpipe or floor drain | Clogged drain line in the wall | Plumber |
Rubber supply hoses are a known failure point, and the common advice from manufacturers and insurers is to replace them with braided stainless lines every five years or so. Our washing machine leaking from the bottom guide goes through the machine-side causes in detail, with brand pages for LG, Samsung and Whirlpool.
Talk to an appliance repair technician
One call reaches an appliance repair company taking calls in your ZIP, answered 24/7.
When You Also Need Water Damage Help
Laundry rooms are often on finished floors now, and upstairs. A washer leak that ran for a cycle or more can soak the subfloor under the machine, the bottom of the drywall behind it and the ceiling of the room below. Those need moisture readings and drying with equipment; painted-over damp drywall is where mold grows. Our washing machine overflow guide covers the cleanup.
(888) 217-0236 is answered 24/7 and connects you to an appliance repair company taking calls in your ZIP. Follow the short menu, enter your 5-digit ZIP, and stay on through about half a minute of quiet while it connects. If it does not connect, call once more: the companies taking calls change minute to minute.
Washer Leak FAQ
Should I call a plumber or an appliance repair person for a leaking washer? If the leak only happens while the machine runs, it is the machine, so an appliance technician. If it drips at the wall with the machine off, or the standpipe overflows, it is plumbing.
Can I keep using my washer if it leaks a little? No. Small leaks under a washer are rarely visible until the floor is already wet underneath. Close the valves until it is repaired.
Is a washer leak covered by insurance? Sudden water damage from an appliance is commonly covered; the repair of the washer itself and damage from a long, slow leak commonly are not.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I call a plumber or an appliance repair technician for a leaking washer?
If the leak only happens while the machine runs, it is the machine, so an appliance repair technician. If it drips at the wall with the machine off, or the standpipe overflows, it is plumbing.
Who do I call for washing machine repair?
An appliance repair technician repairs the machine itself: door seals, pumps, inlet valves, motors and control boards. Plumbers handle the water connections and the drain line in the wall.
Can I keep using a washer that leaks a little?
NoSmall leaks under a washer are rarely visible until the floor under it is already wet. Close the valves until it is repaired.
Is a washing machine leak covered by insurance?
Sudden water damage from an appliance is commonly covered; the washer repair itself and damage from long, slow leaks commonly are not.
Sources
- ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration
- EPA — A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
Methodology: How we source and verify data · Report an error
Disclaimer: HearthDry is an independent educational resource. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or insurance advice. Consult licensed professionals before making decisions about your property or insurance claims.