A washing machine hose or valve let go. Close the two valves behind it.
A supply hose is under full house pressure whether the machine is running or not.
What is probably happening
- A rubber supply hose split or its fitting failed. This is the classic cause of a laundry room flood.
- A drain hose popped out of the standpipe during a cycle. That is used wash water, not a supply leak.
- If the machine was mid-cycle, the water is Category 2 (gray) under the IICRC S500 standard. Wash water counts as contaminated, and a restorer treats it differently from a clean supply leak.
Do this in the next five minutes
- Turn both valves behind the machine clockwise until they stop. If they will not turn, close the main.
- Unplug the machine only if the plug and your hands are dry. Otherwise turn off its breaker.
- Pull the machine forward if you can do it without stepping in water near the outlet.
- Get towels and a mop on the water. Open doors and run a fan through the room.
- Check the room below or next door. Laundry water travels along the floor and under walls.
- Photograph the hose, the floor and anything damaged.
Do not
- Do not run the machine again until the hose is replaced.
- Do not leave a wet vinyl or laminate floor to dry on its own. Water under the flooring does not dry from above.
Who to call
A water damage restoration company
Once the valves are closed the source is stopped. The job is finding where the water went and drying it. A plumber is only needed if a valve will not close.
BestHonestPro is a free comparison resource, not a contractor. There is nothing to sign up for and we do not sell your details. When we begin connecting callers to contractors, we will be paid a referral fee by the contractor, never by you, and this line will say so.
What it should cost
$1,383 to $6,369
Water damage restoration, typical range, national average $3,868. Gray water is priced at $5.25 per square foot by the same source.
Source: Angi, water damage restoration cost, updated September 2026. View source
National published range, not a quote for your job. The full cost table for this trade is on the water damage page.
Ask this contractor, on the phone, before anyone comes out
Tap each one as you ask it.
- Which S500 category are you assigning, clean or gray, and why?
- Will you moisture test the rooms next to and below the laundry, not just the laundry floor?
- Are you removing the flooring, or drying it in place, and how will you show me it is dry?
- Will you leave a daily moisture log?
End the call if
- A crew that starts tearing out walls before taking a single moisture reading.
- A demand to sign an Assignment of Benefits before they will set up fans.
- A large deposit up front.