Maytag Front-Load Washer Door Seal Moldy and Torn: Door Boot Replaced in San Jose
A Maytag MHW5500FW1 front-loader in San Jose with a moldy, worn door boot. I replaced it with an OEM Whirlpool boot and checked the seal.
Repair at a glance
| City | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|
| Appliance | Front-load washer |
| Category | Major Brands |
| Brand & model | Maytag MHW5500FW1 front-load washer |
| Repair date | |
| Customer complaint | The customer asked for the door boot on the front-load washer to be replaced. |
| Diagnosis | The rubber door boot had mold in the folds and was worn, so it could no longer be cleaned or seal well. |
| Repair cost | $441 (parts and labor) |
| Warranty | 6 months on parts and labor |
| Outcome | Repaired |
What I found
The door seal had dark mold deep in its folds and along the lower edge — common on front-loaders when the door stays closed between washes. At that stage cleaning doesn't remove it, so the boot gets replaced.
The repair
I removed the outer clamp, then the front panel to reach the inner clamp holding the boot on the tub. The old boot came off in one piece.
The new OEM boot was seated on the tub lip with the drain holes at the bottom, then clamped from the inside and outside before the panel went back on.
Testing
I ran a wash cycle and checked around the door for leaks. The total was $441 with a 6-month warranty on parts and labor.
Part replaced: washer door boot (WPW10237499).
Photos from this repair
The Maytag washer before the repair. 
The old door boot. 
Mold in the seal folds. 
Front panel open to reach the clamp. 
The old boot removed. 
The new OEM boot.
Need Maytag front-load washer repair?
$85 diagnostic applied to the repair. Serving San Jose, San Francisco & the Bay Area.