My whirlpool duet washer is leaking water from the detergent compartment. Looks like the water can't get through the hole under the detergent compartment before it gets to where clothes are How can I open to get access and see what could be blocking the water?

First places that I would check are hose connections and the seals on the water pump...

If the seals are leaking the pump has to be replaced.

Mine is doing the same. For over 2 months now I've been adding fabric softner to the detergent compartment but I broke down and called a repairman to come tomorrow... at a ridiculous repair rate. My washer is less than 3 years old and this will be the 3rd major problem that needed to be fixed. I've seen a lot of people post the same problem - some say all 3 compartments won't drain.

You could have a clog in the housing underneath the dispenser where the water flows through a hose into the tub.
Pull the dispenser drawer completely out.
There is a tab that needs to be depressed to release the drawer and remove it.
Check the opening at the bottom of the housing just inside the dispenser housing opening to see if a small sock or garment is clogging this opening.
Reach down into this opening to see if an item is inside the hose.
This is the normal issue that will cause water to leak out of the dispenser housing.

Wash the dispenser drawer thoroughly with warm water. Make sure that you pull off the siphon covers and wash all siphon holes. This process is described in your owner's manual. Replace the dispenser drawer and try the washer again.

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You could have a clog in the housing underneath the dispenser where the water flows through a hose into the tub.
Pull the dispenser drawer completely out.
There is a tab that needs to be depressed to release the drawer and remove it.
Check the opening at the bottom of the housing just inside the dispenser housing opening to see if a small sock or garment is clogging this opening.
Reach down into this opening to see if an item is inside the hose.
This is the normal issue that will cause water to leak out of the dispenser housing.

Wash the dispenser drawer thoroughly with warm water. Make sure that you pull off the siphon covers and wash all siphon holes. This process is described in your owner's manual. Replace the dispenser drawer and try the washer again.

Thanks for using FixYa - a 4 THUMBS rating is appreciated for answering your FREE question

pull the dispenser out and push down on the tab to remove the dispenser.clean the dispenser.

You could have a clog in the housing underneath the dispenser where the water flows through a hose into the tub.
Pull the dispenser drawer completely out.
There is a tab that needs to be depressed to release the drawer and remove it.
Check the opening at the bottom of the housing just inside the dispenser housing opening to see if a small sock or garment is clogging this opening.
Reach down into this opening to see if an item is inside the hose.
This is the normal issue that will cause water to leak out of the dispenser housing.

Wash the dispenser drawer thoroughly with warm water. Make sure that you pull off the siphon covers and wash all siphon holes. This process is described in your owner's manual. Replace the dispenser drawer and try the washer again.

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spash over...its made to channel water down open or close...if your getting water down the front i would check,,the bellows,,or gasket..that big rubber tube between the front panel and the tub,,for a leak ,hole tear...over suddsing will alse make a leak ..make sure your using he/low suddsing detergent

You could have a clog in the housing underneath the dispenser where the water flows through a hose into the tub.
Pull the dispenser drawer completely out.
There is a tab that needs to be depressed to release the drawer and remove it.
Check the opening at the bottom of the housing just inside the dispenser housing opening to see if a small sock or garment is clogging this opening.
Reach down into this opening to see if an item is inside the hose.
This is the normal issue that will cause water to leak out of the dispenser housing.

Wash the dispenser drawer thoroughly with warm water. Make sure that you pull off the siphon covers and wash all siphon holes. This process is described in your owner's manual. Replace the dispenser drawer and try the washer again.

Thanks for using FixYa - a 4 THUMBS rating is appreciated for answering your FREE question

According to my information the dispenser drawer has four separate compartments for adding laundry products to the wash load. These compartments are:
1. Prewash Detergent Compartment
2. Main Wash Detergent Compartment
3. Bleach Compartment
4. Fabric Softener Compartment

Laundry products are diluted and dispensed automatically
at the proper time during the wash cycle. The separator in the Prewash and Main Wash Detergent Compartment can be moved to accommodate either liquid or powdered detergents.

There is a small plastic "gate" that is left down for liquid detergent and moved back and up for powder detergent. If this piece is left down and powder detergent is used, the water leaks and the detergent won't go into the washer properly.