Speed Queen Washer Intermittent Water Leak

[wildmanwill]

Hello!

I'm new here, after much research including reading here on this forum, I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase an open box Speed Queen AWNE82SP Top Load Washer in late February.

We are having an issue though and I was wondering if someone here may be able to help us troubleshoot it or may have had a similar experience. It would seem that we intermittently end up with water under the washer.

The drain and fill hoses are all tight are not leaking on both ends.

We are using the proper amount of detergent for the load

The tub is still centered properly after loading

This happened twice with full loads of towels, and once with a medium load of dish towels. The first time was about 4 weeks ago, and the other two occurrences were about a week ago.

I pulled the front cover off the one time and could not see anywhere obvious where water had leaked from.

The last full load of towels I stood with the machine the entire time and we didn't have any issues. I guess a watched washer never leaks?

I did notice that the machine still indexes when towels are in there (heavier load?) but I hadn't noticed the indexing on some other loads that we recently did. A few other observations during this load (with no leaks), was that when the washer was spinning and water was being added that some of the stream hits the edge (see photo below). I also observed some bubbling later on when it was not spinning but filling (see photo). Not sure if these are all normal occurrences or not, I'm running out of ideas. The machine is still under warranty of course, but if a tech comes out and we can't replicate the issue I would hate to be wasting someone's time.

 

[nmassman44]

You do realize that with the bubbling water up from the bottom hole pattern is from the washer filling. Not all the water that enters the washer is directed to the load. Some water flows between the washbasket and outer tub....it’s a non issue. The water on the floor could just be splash over from the spray rinse if the tub is at high speed spin. It does happen. Unless you have a big puddle or stream then I would investigate further.

 

[wildmanwill]

The first time the leak was pretty significant with water more than just under the washer...whatever leaked out actually made a small stream that ran towards a low spot on the floor. That evening, I took the front cover off and couldn't see where it would have come from. I ran two additional loads afterwards that same night with no issues. It seems me to that I need to figure out at what point in the cycle it occurs, and maybe go from there? That makes sense about the bubbles, I'm just mentioning anything and everything... I appreciate your input!

 

[DADoES]

 
Probably should watch every load run until the leak source is identified.

 

[lorainfurniture]

Dadoes is right

The only way to fix a leak is to find it first. Leave the cover off, just pay attention for water after every load. When you see water, start looking and feeling for the source of the wet spot. I know this sounds ridiculous but just because water comes from the bottom it doesn’t mean the leak is at the bottom.

Gravity is a thing ya know. I can’t tell you how many “appliance technicians” (like real techs, seriously) don’t understand this simple concept.

Your leak is intermittent so I would be looking for leaks at the top,

 

[combo52]

Leaking 2017 Speed Queen Toploader

This was a very common problem we did more than 50s warranty calls on these machines for this problem of a slight leak intermittently.

Water is likely splashing over during the spray rinses it’s especially likely on the normal eco-cycle which does a longer spray rinse.

The main problem is if the machine is not completely level it’s much more likely to happen if the tub moves toward the front of the water sprays over the back, it’s very important to have the machine either completely level or slope slightly to the rear but never low in the front try releveling the machine and see if the problem goes away.

John L.

 

[wildmanwill]

Thank you Combo

We haven't been using the eco cycle at all, but I wouldn't doubt that water is splashing over the top during a rinse especially after watching a few loads. I really appreciate the input and will double check the leveling of the machine. I do realize that just because the water is at the bottom it isn't leaking at the bottom, but even when I had looked upward previously I didn't see anything telling.

 

[tolivac]

As pilots say----GRAVITY ALWAYS WINS!!!!

 

[wildmanwill]

I initially checked to make sure it was level and it was almost dead on. Regardless, its been dry for the last week to 10 days. I spent some time this morning releveling with an ever so slight slope to the rear. I received a text from my wife with a picture of a wet basement floor. Regular clothes, large load, permanent press. I took the cover off when I got home but couldn't see or feel anything wet high or low. She doesn't know exactly when it leaked as she wasn't watching it. She discovered it when there were about 14 minutes left in the cycle. I'd love to watch every load, but unfortunately that's not always possible. The loads I have watched have been uneventful. I guess I'll keep watching....

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>WildManWill:  I guess I'll keep watching....</blockquote> There's no other choice to pinpoint an erratic leak source.

 

[yogitunes]

check and rule out your drain pipe while your at it.....

another thought, if you can't be there to watch all cycles, is to place folded papertowels along the inside perimeter of the machine, would not hurt to place a border around the outside of the machine, just to see if that helps where the water may be coming from...

 

[wildmanwill]

Update

So I wasn't able to find the source of leak and ended up placing a service call since the machine was still under warranty. Of course it leaked that morning before the Tech came, but then he was "unable to duplicate the issue" during his visit. He only pulled the front cover off and tested various points of the cycle and looked all over inside. He made sure the hose clamps were tight on the pump, etc. Mostly this was all of the same stuff that I had done.

For whatever reason after his visit on July 25th it didn't leak anymore! The machine started getting progressively noisier over the following 6 weeks. I ended up calling a different company this time for the repair. They came out and quickly diagnosed it to the pump failing. He said in addition to the noise, they can start to leak when they fail (I thought maybe I had my answer) Anyway, they ordered the part, came back a few days later and replaced it. I had forgotten what a normal washer sounded like. I went back down after the first load...and had water on the floor. This persisted for the next several loads. I decided to investigate once again. I found the water sitting in the low spots on the back of the washer vs the front. I flipped the top back and ended up tracing it back to the hose that runs between the valve and the inlet at the drum. It had some small cracks along the bottom and when I moved it just the right way or stressed it a little small droplets of water would form on it. I have another one on order (just going to do this myself at this point). I will post some pictures of the old hose when I remove it. I'm not sure why it didn't leak for over 8 weeks, but I'm guessing when the new pump was installed that the machine was jarred around just enough to cause the hose to be in position where it could start leaking again.

 

[wildmanwill]

Photo

Below are pictures of the original valve to inlet hose. The affected area is highlighted in the photos. It almost looks like maybe someone slipped with tool when installing or tightening the hose clamp at the factory as directly inline with where the small crack/split was in a scuffed area almost like a tool slipping.

The unfortunate news is that this was not the main culprit of the mysterious leak after all. Its still intermittently leaking. I've been unable to figure out the source still. We had a tech back out from the company that replaced the pump, but he was unable to duplicate the leak in the time that we was here. I've since started keeping a log of what types of loads, water level settings, etc. and whether it leaked and if so a large or small leak. Maybe this will help me see a trend or pattern and perhaps help me duplicate the issue with a tech. Its great that the washer is well built, cleans clothes well and has a good warranty but if no one can troubleshoot and resolve the leak the warranty doesn't do me much good. The leak seems to originate on the right side of the machine now. I'm thankful that I don't have a finished basement with a hardwood or carpeted floor.

 

[gizmo]

For a mystery leak, I draw lines of brightly coloured chalk all over the place - under every hose connection, on the floor round the machine, around base plate inside the machine. Especially around the drain standpipe.

The water will wash away the chalk when the leak occurs. Find a gap in the chalk and you should be able to ID your leak.

I would pay close attention to the drain, especially if it empties into a standpipe. These machines pump out pretty fast, at least here in Australia these big American machines are known to pump out too fast for many drains, they back up and flood. I believe Speed Queens sold in Australia the last few years now have a small electric drain pump instead of the belt driven pump in US market machines. This means they pump out slower.

If you have a big sink or laundry tub next to the washer, put the drain hose into the sink instead of the standpipe. If it is pumping too fast, the water will just rise up in the sink. If the mystery leak disappears, you have your answer.

 

[wildmanwill]

Gizmo - I really appreciate the feedback and ideas. The unit used to empty into a standpipe and early on in this process I ended up switching it over to the laundry sink just to rule out any standpipe related issues. I truly believe it is originating at the top somewhere - either related to the inlet where the water enters the wash basket, or something else related to how the water sprays. I've made sure that the machine is level, that we are using the appropriate amounts of soap, and that we aren't overloading it. All of the hose clamps are properly tightened everywhere and I've seen no evidence of any of the hoses leaking, the pump leaking or the seal leaking. I'm really at a loss. I need to make more time to watch it I guess - or maybe set a camera up on it!

 

[wildmanwill]

Also...

The quantity of water that leaks out varies from load to load. It has never appeared to be soapy. I will also take closer look at the tub cover gasket seal too, I guess, though I've never seen any signs of water running along the outer edge of the tub.

 

[wildmanwill]

Update

Well, whatever it is seems to be getting worse... I'm still working on narrowing down what part of the cycle it occurs on.

 

[henene4]

Try to think of if it happens during a certain cycle or with certain options or load components.

If you have camcorder with tripod or such tapeing the cycle and only checking the footage if there was leakage might save you tons of time and effort and give you something to proof to the service technician that there is something going on.

 

[DADoES]

 
You're not running the machine with the front panel off so you can see the "guts" for locating the leak?