Internal leak from detergent tray clips

[Nickm926]

My washing machine has been tempremental for a while now. We were getting an E07 code (it's a Beko), I therefore removed the hose to the water level sensor and it didn't seem blocked so I got a new sensor as it was cheap. The machine worked perfectly for one cycle with the new sensor, the following cycle the clothes came out soaking wet and then finally it refused to do anything. 

On removing the back panel of the machine I found a small amount of water pooled around the flood sensor. I dried out the machine and did a cycle. It worked fine however again a small amount of water had returned to the base of the machine.

I think I have located the leak to be eminating from the clips of the detergent tray, they're all crusty on one side. One of the shock absorbers on that side has signs of rust on the exposed metal. Hopefully you can see the clips in the image attached. I think I did scratch off a fair amount of the crust prior to the photo.

What's the best course of action here, replace the tray? What would cause this to happen as well? I have been on Google all evening and haven't come across a similar issue!

Many thanks for any advice!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hi there. My first thoughts are, have you inadvertently introduced a leak whilst you carried out the repairs? It seems strange that this leak problem only started directly after. Normally, when you see crusted detergent around a part, it's usually a sign of a very small leak, where small droplets of detergent-laden water seeps out and then dries up leaving the detergent residue.

 

[andyr12345]

@Nickm926 could it also be that the water pressure going into the soap drawer is too powerful and splashing up to the top of the drawer housing and then getting past the seal at the top of the soap drawer housing and then leaking? 

possibly Solve by fitting restrictor in the cold water inlet on the washing machine, or turn cold washing machine tap a little.

And if its an issue that the pressure is very poor the water could be 'dribbling' out of the jets at the top of the soap dispenser drawer housing and travelling to the seal on the top of the drawer housing and then leaking out there .

Possibly solve by removing restrictor from cold water inlet , making sure the cold tap for the washing machine is open fully and cleaning the little filter in the cold water inlet of the washing machine.

Hope this helps in some way

[Nickm926]

10 hours ago, Whitegoodshelp (Andy) said:

Hi there. My first thoughts are, have you inadvertently introduced a leak whilst you carried out the repairs? It seems strange that this leak problem only started directly after. Normally, when you see crusted detergent around a part, it's usually a sign of a very small leak, where small droplets of detergent-laden water seeps out and then dries up leaving the detergent residue.

 

Hi Andy, I appreciate the feedback. I don't *think* this leak was caused by myself, just due to the fact the sensor I replaced is on the opposite side of the machine to the detergeent tray and it wouldn't have been disturbed. There are water marks and small rust stains on one of the struts supporting the drum underneath the tray so I think that's enough evidence to say this leak has been ongoing for a while.. the build up of crust was fairly substantial as well.

 

Could it be possible that the E07 fault and this leak were both present simultaneously?

 

I really appreciate your feedback and experience on my question!

7 hours ago, andyr12345 said:

@Nickm926 could it also be that the water pressure going into the soap drawer is too powerful and splashing up to the top of the drawer housing and then getting past the seal at the top of the soap drawer housing and then leaking? 

possibly Solve by fitting restrictor in the cold water inlet on the washing machine, or turn cold washing machine tap a little.

And if its an issue that the pressure is very poor the water could be 'dribbling' out of the jets at the top of the soap dispenser drawer housing and travelling to the seal on the top of the drawer housing and then leaking out there .

Possibly solve by removing restrictor from cold water inlet , making sure the cold tap for the washing machine is open fully and cleaning the little filter in the cold water inlet of the washing machine.

Hope this helps in some way

I shall have a look,  the cold water  supply connections to the tray all felt dry immediately after the cycle. I was wondering if the detergent tray has some sort of rubber seal that may be defective?

Is it worth semi closing the cold water isolation valve to the machine and testing for further leaks? Apologies if I've misunderstood what you were saying!

 

Many thanks and appreciate the response!

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

13 hours ago, Nickm926 said:

Could it be possible that the E07 fault and this leak were both present simultaneously?

Definitely yes. It's just that the most sensible thing when a new fault seems to appear after fixing a washing machine is to double check that you haven't actually disturbed something or inadvertently caused it. It's the very first thing a good engineer should do.

The best way an engineer can troubleshoot a leak is to observe the washing machine in operation and observe the leak directly to track where it is coming from. It's always worth having a look physically first in case there is something quite obvious like a hole in a hose, or direct evidence from tracks.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

I would also reiterate that detergent crust and rust indicate a quite small leak that has gone unnoticed, and without symptoms for quite a long time. So there's always the possibility that the evidence of leaks that you are observing are not necessarily the same leak that is causing the current symptoms.