Turn the water supply tap fully clockwise (closed) and unplug the machine from the mains socket. These are essential safety steps before any inspection.

Unscrew the machine's rear panel and access panel if fitted, or carefully tilt the machine back about 10 to 15 degrees to allow water in the base tray to drain toward the front. Use a torch to look inside the base for signs of where the water originated — check around the door seal, the pump area, the drum shaft seal, and all hose connection points.

With the machine pulled out from the wall, examine the full length of the inlet hose from the tap to the machine. Look for cracks, splits, loose fittings, or pinhole leaks. Feel the hose with dry hands. Check that both ends are firmly attached.

Open the door and examine the full circumference of the rubber door seal. Look for cracks, tears, holes, or any area where the seal has pulled away from its groove. Push your fingers gently into the fold of the seal and feel for moisture or soft areas indicating damage.

Using your torch, look at the area around the pump at the base of the machine. Look for water staining, mineral deposits, or active drips around the pump body, the pump housing, and where the hoses connect to the pump.

Once you have identified and resolved the source of the leak, dry the base tray as thoroughly as possible using dry cloths or a sponge. The Aquastop float switch in the tray must sit in its normal position before the machine will operate. Some machines require tilting forward slightly to allow remaining water to escape through a drain hole at the front.