Longevity tips for front loader seals: preventing leaks and water damage

Clean Cloth Nappies admin Jes runs through how she fixed her leaking front loader washing machine.

One of the big concerns people have about front loader washing machines is that the seals on the door will eventually fail and you might flood your house.

I’ve had my dear Fisher & Paykel 8.5kg WashSmart machine for 6 years and for the first year of its life, it was tortured with short, cold washes and forced to battle with eco detergents against filthy bushman clothes. A year into front loader life, I discovered Clean Cloth Nappies and everything changed. My laundry game improved drastically, my machine rarely did less than an hour cycle and I switched to an enzyme-powered mainstream detergent. 

I learned how important it was to check the seal and filter, run a drum clean and reap the rewards.

I had six good years before we sprung a leak during a wool cycle where I was testing a new detergent on my son’s sand-laden jumper.

When I saw the Lake Laundry attempting to claim the garage to the right and the kitchen to the left, my heart sank. It had finally happened. The door seal had finally failed, on the main wash day nonetheless.

After mopping up the floor, I opened the door to the machine and inspected the seal. I was surprised to find the seal was fine, albeit holding more sand than our local beach. I cleaned the seal and door, closed it up and ran a 15-minute cycle to see if that was all that was needed.

We started strong but three minutes in, I knew it was too good to be true, as the trickle of water appeared from under the door. 

Removing the leaking front loader door

It was time to bring out the big guns, by guns I meant a millennial with a screwdriver and a degree from YouTube University.

I drained the machine, unplugged it and began my unlicensed operation on Mr WashSmart. 

Thank goodness my washing machine is an inanimate object because the language coming out of my mouth as I fumbled my way through with all the grace of a panda trying to do a handstand would have made it blush.

As I unscrewed the dozen screws holding the door flanges together, water began pouring over the floor. Not at all what I was expecting.

On investigation it appeared that the volume of sand had likely wedged itself in the seal, getting pushed further and further in until it allowed water to flow into the door flanges.

Since the seal is supposed to keep the water from ever touching the flanges of the door, the flanges don’t have gaskets and aren’t actually water tight, the water had carried some sand in-between the flanges and the door frame had filled with water.

Cleaned, reassembled and good to go

After a quick clean and some reassembly, my old friend was back in action and with strict instructions to hose off sand outside first.

I’m still expecting to have to replace the seal at some point, it has been six years after all, but for now Ye Olde Faithful has a new lease of life and I have a timely reminder to check your seals and use your common sense when it comes to washing sandy clothes.