The Importance of Washing Machine Maintenance in Preventing Moisture and Mold Issues

May 31

Although how much use a washer gets depends on the size of your household and your habits, the average three-person household usually does six to eight loads a week. With your washing machine doing so much work and so frequently, it’s routinely undergoing stress.

Just think about the times when you’re doing laundry more frequently than usual, such as summer if you have a pool or set up sprinklers for the kids. For this reason it’s important that you do the necessary washing machine maintenance, which can prevent moisture and mold issues. Let’s talk about what you can do and when you should hire a professional.

General Information

Laundry rooms and basements are prime areas for moisture and mold growth already in many cases. These areas tend to have poor ventilation and high humidity. If you have a leaking washer, you’re only adding to this issue by contributing to more moisture.

Possible Problems

If you have hoses or connections that are leaking, even if it’s only a minor, slow drip, the washer may make the flooring, baseboards, or drywall wet. A front-load washer has gaskets around the door to create a watertight seal to prevent leaks. However, those gaskets can trap water. They’re also a prime area for detergent residue and lint to build up and contribute to mold growth.

Your drain pump may clog, which leaves water in the drum that can grow mold. Drain pipes can clog and cause slow drainage or block it completely, leading to leakage.

Mineral buildup may contribute to inlet valve leaking, but these can wear out in general.

Issues from Mold to Your Laundry Room or Basement

Moisture makes the perfect conditions for mold growth. The spores are pretty much everywhere and will land. When they land on hospitable conditions that include water and a food source, such as drywall, wood, fabric, or even lint or skin cells, they’ll start thriving. In as little as 24 to 48 hours of stagnant water remaining in a spot, you can already have mold growing and not even know it.

Certain species of mold prefer a cool space or will thrive in one. On the other hand, if your basement is warmer throughout various times during the year, it has the ideal temperature for most varieties of mold.

Mold can easily damage fabric, the walls, flooring, and more. For one, it can cause discoloration. Plus, it’s not always safe to use mold removers on certain surfaces or fabrics, meaning you won’t be able to get rid of it.

Just like every other living thing, mold requires a food source, which could very well be the organic material in wood. It can grow on drywall and cause it to deteriorate or crumble, and it’ll degrade carpeting or fabrics. You may visibly be able to tell there was mold on a substance because it’ll cause roughness of a usually smooth surface or pitting.

Sometimes, the odor mold releases will linger on an item, even after you clean the visible mold. Not all cleaners work effectively to kill the spores completely, so they can easily return. And any contamination you have can spread to nearby items.

Health Concerns of Mold

Mold, unfortunately, isn’t only damaging to items in your home, but it can also be harmful to your family and pets. Some people will have no problems from mold, even in high concentrations. However, for those who are immunocompromised or are allergic, mold can cause infections and severe reactions. Someone with asthma could be particularly vulnerable to a reaction. And these issues aren’t limited to humans only.

Water-Related Damage

If you have certain vinyl floors or laminate or wood flooring, it may curl, swell, or separate from the subfloor from the water. It could soak through to the subfloor, which can cause rot or weak spots. Any carpeting that gets wet from the leaking washer may develop a musty odor or grow mold. The water could lead to stained drywall. Soft spots or bubbling paint could happen as well.

Wooden cabinetry, framing, or trim could rot from the water, especially if it’s not dried out thoroughly and quickly.

What Kind of Maintenance Should You Do (and Why)

While you don’t need to have a professional inspection like you would with your central air condition, per se, there are certain steps you’ll want to take on a regular basis that ensure all the components are functioning properly and the washer won’t wear out overall. You will, however, want to schedule a repair visit at the first signs of a problem, such as the machine leaking even slightly or it’s vibrating excessively (This could loosen components and cause leaking).

As your washer reaches 10 years or more, you may want to schedule a washing machine maintenance visit every so often to inspect all the components and replace them as necessary. This will prevent issues and minimize how much energy your machine is using.

Some steps you can take include the following:

Wipe the door gasket of front-loading washers
Don’t leave wet laundry sitting in the washer
Clean your detergent compartment regularly
Check your hoses for drips
Check fittings
Clean any debris on the inside regularly
Clean your drain pump filter every six months (if your washer has one)
Inspect (and possibly replace) rubber hoses every year (check for wear)
Check seals, drainage, and connections once yearly

By taking care of your washer, you can help the vital components work properly and not wear out. You can often catch a problem early before a leak has a chance to begin. You’ll then have the opportunity to prevent it or replace the part that’s wearing out. This not only extends the life of your washer, but it also can protect the flooring and other items nearby from water damage and mold growth.

Taking some steps to keep your washer functioning can save you money in the long run on costly repairs to your home. It also saves you money when you don’t have to replace the washer as soon. Plus, you’re keeping your washer working for as long as possible. Steps at home are integral, but you should schedule washing machine repairs when you first see — or hear — an issue.