What causes the tears in the bellow seals on front loaded washers

Piece of rubber WHERE? If you are referring to the rubber bellow (door seal), they will wear out with age and may become mishapened from repeated pressure from the door being closed. Over time the bellow can stretch or develop rips and tears and begin to leak. If the bellow is leaking, or no longer providing a good seal, it must be replaced. This will cause water to puddle under the front of the washer and inside the cabinet. The following link explains how to access and replace one:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3574186-installing_a_door_bellow_on_a_front_load


Replacement parts can be purchased at any of the following websites:

searspartsdirect.com
pcappliancerepair.com
appliancepartspros.com
repairclinic.com

All these sites are reputable and have great service with competitive pricing, so shop and compare. The first three sites I listed also include helpful exploded view parts diagrams to assist you in locating and properly identifying the parts you need. If the model number is correct, the part number is 8182119.

If you are not referrig to the door bellow, or if you have questions about this repair, please post back and let me know. hope this helps you.

NOTE: If you leave the door OPEN between washes this will help prevent constant pressure on the door seal which can stretch it out of shape over time. It is also beneficial to allow the wash tub to air out to prevent mold and mildew from forming. In addition, overloading the washer can contribute to premature wear and tear on the bellow which can lead to rips, tears and possible dislodging from the bellow clamp seals. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for loading in your owner's manual.

Check gasket for rips or damage. Replace if necessary.
Clean gasket after every use. Wipe with a bleachy rag. Use only HE detergent in small amounts.Dog hair, etc can get stuck in the gasket causing a small leak. Oversudsing can also cause leaks.

The front door seal is referred to as the "bellow". They will wear out with age and may become mishapened from repeated pressure from the door being closed. Over time the bellow can stretch or develop rips and tears and begin to leak. If the bellow is leaking, or no longer providing a good seal, it must be replaced. This will cause water to puddle under the front of the washer and inside the cabinet. The following link explains how to access and replace one:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3574186-installing_a_door_bellow_on_a_front_load


Replacement parts can be purchased at any of the following websites:

searspartsdirect.com
pcappliancerepair.com
appliancepartspros.com
repairclinic.com

All these sites are reputable and have great service with competitive pricing, so shop and compare. The first three sites I listed also include helpful exploded view parts diagrams to assist you in locating and properly identifying the parts you need. If the model number is correct, the part number is 8182119.

If you have any questions, please post back and let me know. I hope this helps you.

NOTE: If you leave the door OPEN between washes this will help prevent constant pressure on the door seal which can stretch it out of shape over time. It is also beneficial to allow the wash tub to air out to prevent mold and mildew from forming. In addition, overloading the washer can contribute to premature wear and tear on the bellow which can lead to rips, tears and possible dislodging from the bellow clamp seals. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for loading in your owner's manual.

The bellow does wear out with age and can also become mishapened from repeated pressure from the door being closed. Over time the bellow can stretch or develop rips and tears and begin to leak. If the bellow is leaking, or no longer sealing correctly, the following link explains how to replace one:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3574186-installing_a_door_bellow_on_a_front_load


Replacement parts (if required) can be purchased at any of the following websites:

searspartsdirect.com
pcappliancerepair.com
appliancepartspros.com
repairclinic.com

All these sites are reputable and have great service with competitive pricing, so shop and compare. The first three sites I listed also include helpful exploded view parts diagrams to assist you in locating and properly identifying the parts you need.

If you have any questions, please post back and let me know. I hope this helps you.

NOTE: If you leave the door OPEN between washes this will help prevent constant pressure on the door seal which can stretch it out of shape over time. It is also beneficial to allow the wash tub to air out to prevent mold and mildew from forming. Also DO NOT overload the washer. This can contribute to premature wear of the door bellow and cause rips and tears.

The front door seal is referred to as the "bellow". They do wear out with age and also become mishapened from repeated pressure from the door being closed. Over time the bellow can stretch or develop rips and tears and begin to leak. If the bellow is leaking, or no longer sealing correctly, the following link explains how to replace one:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3574186-installing_a_door_bellow_on_a_front_load


Replacement parts (if required) can be purchased at any of the following websites:

searspartsdirect.com
pcappliancerepair.com
appliancepartspros.com
repairclinic.com

All these sites are reputable and offer great service with competitive pricing, so shop and compare. The first three sites I listed also include helpful exploded view parts diagrams to assist you in locating and properly identifying the parts you need.

If you have any questions, please post back and let me know. I hope this helps you.

NOTE: If you leave the door OPEN between washes this will help prevent constant pressure on the door seal which can stretch it out of shape over time. It is also beneficial to allow the wash tub to air out to prevent mold and mildew from forming. Also DO NOT overload the washer. This can contribute to premature wear of the door bellow and cause rips and tears.

new seal

Most likely cause is the door seal or proper name for part is door bellows where the door seal to the machine. Check for tears or rips inside the bellows and any cuts where the door meets the seal. The seal could also be pronated toward the inner tub too much just from wear. The seal would need to be replaced. Also make sure the door is locking. The reason it happens with the towels (heavy load) is b/c they put more pressure on the door making it easier to break the water tight seal. Please rate this post.

Inspect the door bellow (seal) for any rips or tears. It may be worn or loose and require replacement. This is a fairly simple repair that anyone can do with a little guidance. The following link explains step-by-step how to install a door bellow on a Whirlpool Duet front loader:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r385210-replacing_door_bellow_kenmore_elite

Although the bellow may not have any physical tears, they can also become mishapened over time due to normal wear and not seal properly. You should have a good tight seal all the way around the door.

Read through the link provided and let me know if you have any questions.

NOTE: There is another method you may try as well. Although I do not prefer this next method because these washing machines are very heavy, an alternative way of replacing the door bellow is to remove the lower toe panel and tilt the washer back at a 45 degree angle instead of removing the washer front panel. If you use this method, make sure it rests against the wall and will not tip forward. This allows the wash tub to drop down and away from the front panel and gives you access to the the rear bellow clamp through the bottom. This can save you some time. Thanks to user DGBG for the helpful tip.

If you would like some helpful exploded view diagrams of your washer that you can reference, you can use any of these web sites:

searspartsdirect.com
appliancepartspros.com
pcappliancerepair.com

Just use your model number to begin your search criteria.

If you have any questions, please let me know. I hope this helps you.

NOTE: These door seals do wear out and require replacement from time to time. However, overloading the washer to the point where items get caught in the door area can contribute to premature wear and tear.

Some additional items to look for that may cause leaks around the bellow:

1. Check the dispenser tubes that pentrate the door bellow. Sometimes they get pushed behind the rubber causing the water to trickle behind the bellow and leak. You will notice this on fill and rinse.

2. Check the rear bellow clamp that holds the seal to the front facing of the wash tub. The clamp can come loose, causing it not to seal properly.

Whirlpool sells a product called Silco-seal it is a high temperature adhesive for sealing tub hoses to tubs this can be purchased at an appliance store it sometimes works to seal a tear or, hole in a bellows

most likley cause of your problem is the grey bellows has a tear in it. Inspect the bellows to check for tears. Or you can remove the lower panel and run the washer and look for the leak that way. Im sure it is a tear in the belows. Not a diffacult part to replace if you are mechanicly inclined. Good luck.