Your washer and dryer poses one of the greatest threats when it comes to flooding in the home. A burst washer hose can spill gallons and gallons of water per hour if it’s not detected right away, and water damage from a washing machine can be very expensive to repair. In just a few moments, a leaking washing machine can cause thousands of dollars of damage.
A drain pan is usually made of plastic or another composite material that may crack or leak over time. Therefore, you may need to replace your washer drain pan to provide adequate protection against leaks. Each time you run a load of laundry, check to be sure no water has leaked out. If you notice an unpleasant smell around your washing machine, it could be due to excess stagnant water collecting in your washer drain pan. In that case, it’s time to clean your drain pan. Use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up the standing water. If you don’t have a wet/dry vacuum, use thick towels or old clothes to soak up the water. Then spray the drain pan with a household cleaner. Use a non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning product. Using baking soda neutralizes odors in water and absorbs odors from the air.
Cleaning your drain pan will help increase house hold protection against future washer leaks and increase product longevity. Watch this video tutorial given by our Home Matters home solutions experts on "How to clean your drain pan."
Washing machine drain pans are an inexpensive way to protect your floors from water damage in case of leaks. Replacing the old rubber hoses with steel-jacketed hoses that can't split open is a good way to prevent leaks in the first place. These simple fixes can be the ounce of prevention that's worth a pound of cure.
Now that you have a way of protecting your floors from water damage, why not look look into a way to protect your washer. American Home Shield warranties cover a variety of home appliances, including you washer. An AHS home warranty offers peace of mind when it comes to one of your most important investments – your home.
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New Jersey Residents: The product being offered is a service contract and is separate and distinct from any product or service warranty which may be provided by the home builder or manufacturer.