Leaking Washing Machine

[broonsparrow]

Hi,

I've a hot point washing machine that had a damaged paddle - it came off and some clothes got jammed between the drum and the outer casing when pulling the clothes out I think I damaged something at he bottom of the drum because when I ran the machine it leaked! I've removed the paddle and I can feel a loose piece of metel and can stick my finger into a whole that feels like it has a ball in it? Any idea what I have damaged and if it's repairable?

TIA

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

That shouldn't normally cause a leak as laundry is too soft. The metal thing is likely to be the heating element or bracket protecting it. The hole with a ball in it is the sump hose. Maybe some of the laundry unseated the sump hose a little? Check the sump hose from underneath. Also it's possible something else has got inside and damaged the plastic outer tub (drum). Again check underneath for holes or cracks in the plastic outer tub.

[edhorwood]

If you can, I would fill the machine then switch off at the mains. I would then check as Andy says, but also the front of the heater element where it fits into the drum to see if it's seeping from there. It could be that the laundry snagged on the heater element bracket and tugged it. Most heater elements had a thin sharp metal plate over the top in the middle, easy to snag on laundry.

[broonsparrow]

Thanks. I took the inspection plate off and the heating element was loose - it just popped out so I guess that's where the water was leaking from. And yeah edd the piece of metal was the heating element plate. It looks like the element seal has been damaged, should I just order a new heating element, I guess you can't just get a new seal?

Thanks again.

[edhorwood]

I don't think you can get just a new seal. Are you sure it's damaged? You have to loosen the bolt in the middle of the seal and push it backwards, away from the front of the machine, then reinsert the element. Re-tightening the bolt pushes the seal tight against the housing. If the seal is torn then I think it's a new element which has the seal on it. I wouldn't attempt any sealants around it either, I've never seen one that lasts long.

[broonsparrow]

Yeah a part of the seal is broken, and the element just came out without undoing the seal bolt - it must have been pulled out of place when I was getting the washing out from under the drum. I was considering resealing it some how but it looks like I can get a new heating element for £15 so I'll just do that.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Glad you found the fault, good call on the element taking a knock edd. Please remember you can buy spares on Ransom Spares and prices should be exactly the same as all the major spares sites which are run by the same massive spares company from Birmingham. You can buy various Hotpoint elements here.

Also I have advice about removing and fitting a heating element on this article - washing machine heating element fitting and troubleshooting