Washer over foaming repeatedly but not always

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Been having problems with washer since end of last year.

Over foaming leading to leaking which is causing me considerable stress. I'm now at a point where I daren't have it on without me in the room monitoring it the whole time!

Engineers have twice been out to "fix" but not done much. Last one all he really did was make it so the pressure of fill was slower as he thought that might be contributing to the issue but mainly he told me off for using too much detergent - which I am no longer doing! Also advised me to do an empty hot wash on a long cycle which I've also done and thought it had helped.

But still getting same bloody problem!

It's an indesit if that's any help.

I've just gone to do a load today, min amount of detergent as recommended on detergent packaging.

As I stood watching more and more foam building up. I paused the programme and switched it to drain only (which I only recently figured out how to do myself by laboriously reading the instruction manual it's quite hard to find how to do, both engineers said it wasn't possible on this machine which I was sceptical of because every other machine I've had the option to do this was available. Last engineer - supposedly a senior engineer - drained the machine via the filter)

I panicked and paused the programme as I said and switched to a drain only, it's taken another about 20 mins for the bubbles to dissipate.

Hoped this remedied the problem as it did look "clearer" but I tried to "wash" again and same thing happened only worse!

Even more panic and switched it to drain only again and even on that was foaming up more and I was gettting worried. Eventually it did drain and I'm now again about 20 mins later and it looks clearer again.

But I don't know what to do now?

Ideas vary from

1 that load out and set aside and do an empty long hot wash. Then try again

2 Do a rinse only cycle - but the foaming has previously been even worse when I've tried this. But if I did it and it worked would then try and wash load again

3 do a spin & drain cycle in hopes this will draw out and drain away the soap and again try and wash the load again

Fed up with this bloody machine! Can't get a new one at the moment as nobody will deliver, remove old machine and install new machine.

As soon as I can I'll be getting a new machine and it won't be same model or make! Argh!

Can anyone advise? Or even sympathise?

Best thing to do first, would be to check your drainage hose. Is there anything in there that is restricting the flow of water? Or is there a kink on the hose? If possible, see if you can replace it with a new hose. Did any of the engineers check that the pump and motor us running correctly. Or is there something in the trap/filter that is causing the water to drain out slowly?
Do you have a water softener? Or live in a soft water area? If so, try reducing the amount of soap to below the recommended amount further. Water softness can affect how much detergent you need and thus may mean that you need less the manufacturer recommends.
Otherwise, I know people have said adding fabric conditioner and water to the draw, whilst it is foaming, helps cut down on the foam, but don't know how true this is. Pretty sure that Bosch did a video 5 or so years ago about it, so look that up and see whether that helps

I am disabled I cannot do anything with the machine myself that involves moving or lifting it and frankly I'm crap at diy type stuff and wouldn't know what I was doing.

I believe both engineers checked and found no blockages as such.

Hose was not replaced I'd have noticed that

I think they checked if the pump and motor were running correctly - but very briefly!

Quite honestly on both occasions I think they were here less than 30 mins each time

Live in a very soft water area, but have done for years and not previously had same problem with other machines

I've reduced how much detergent I use to bare minimum

Cannot open drawer - it's bust too! Have to put detergent directly in drum.

I generally don't use fabric conditioner due to sensitive skin but had bought some in anyway but as drawer broke been unable to use!

Drum is currently drained and door can be opened but laundry load not yet washed, full of soap probably.

It's also now making a hard clunking sound when on "wash" part of cycle no idea why

Try capsules and see if that helps. Detergent can disagree with my machine so house a half dose. Helpfully when this happens it says 'check detergent' ours is better with Arial powder too.

I would rinse the current load, then rewash with no additional soap.
For the next load, add half the recommended amount of detergent, see what happens.
Are you buying detergent that is designed to go straight in the drum? That might be worth doing next time you buy some. In fact, do you always use the same detergent? Have you tried a different brand?

Maybe try adding a bit of water to your soap when you put it in the ball. Otherwise, you can try a limescale and detergent cleaner

Put washer on without any washing in at all. No detergent either. Then put half your normal amount of washing with only a little detergent. Sounds like the detergent is at least part of the problem. Or are you overfilling the machine with washing.

Put the machine on empty using the hottest, longest cycle to rinse it through. Then use half (or less) the recommended powder or switch to tabs.

Was told not to use capsules. Last engineer said powder but I find it very hard to use a minimal amount when it's powder and I've been googling/reading lots and there's loads saying powder clogs hoses/pipes

"I would rinse the current load, then rewash with no additional soap" I've tried that before it foamed even worse!

I'm using easily 1/5 if not less than the amount of detergent I used to use - which I did for many years with other machines in the same soft water area with no problems whatsoever I'm seriously using a TINY amount also not overloading the machine - there's 3 tops 3 trousers a few pairs underwear and a hand towel in there that's all!

Yes it's detergent designed to go in drum - another reason I'm reluctant to use powder as that's meant to go in drawer and can't open bloody drawer!

"Put washer on without any washing in at all"

"Put the machine on empty using the hottest, longest cycle to rinse it through"

When I referenced empty wash on a long hot cycle that's what I meant.

Engineer advised to do monthly it's only been 2 weeks since I last did this. Instruction manual says this should take 2 hours 40 mins it actually takes closer to 4 hours!

Last load I did, because of these issues I set it to do an extra rinse after the main cycle that's meant to take 36 mins it took an hour

I really shouldn't have to do a long hot wash between each load and the cycles shouldn't be taking so long and it shouldn't be foaming like it is.

So sick of this machine but Currys being really awkward.

I supposedly have a care and repair plan but at least twice they've mistakenly thought I didn't still have it...then realised I did. Today I queried t&c's as frankly I'm done with this machine and just want a new one from a different manufacturer.

Imo it's supposed to have been repaired twice now and the problem hasn't been solved so as far as I'm concerned it's faulty. It was less than 2.5 years old when it first went wrong.

Have you tried contacting Indesit directly? May be a better idea to get in touch with them and see if they can send an engineer instead? You should be able to claim it from Currys under your plan if they find a fault with it.
Otherwise, move from using powder in the drum, as that will possibly be half your problem. If you could use the drawer, it wouldn't be as much of an issue as it mixes and dilutes the powder before it reaches your drum so it isn't agitated whilst spinning. Try using liquid, as that is a better way in my opinion

How old is the machine?
Sorry if I missed this in your post.

@Muchlywrong it's indesit (whirlpool) who HAVE been dealing with the repairs. The repairs plan is through Currys but when you call to arrange a repair you're put through to the manufacturer via Currys and they book the repair (in a ridiculously convoluted way!) and send their engineers. Which imo makes it even more worrying that the engineers weren't even familiar enough with the machine to know how to drain it!

It's gel I use in the machine, might try liquid. Have never put powder in the drum

Machine bought may 2017 fault first noticed end Oct and then repair booked early nov 2019

I’d suggest halving the amount of powder. And maybe try a hot wash or two with no detergent or conditioner at all.
There is often a big build-up of detergent/conditioner gunge, as I found when I did two consecutive ‘washes’ with no laundry or detergent, just soda crystals.
The amount of foam that still appeared was astonishing.
I now only use powder and half the amount I’d have used before. There’s no difference in the results.

The gel from pods (which I used to use) in particular apparently causes a lot of gunge build-up.