Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Entering the kitchen only to step in an ominous puddle coming from the dishwasher is never a great to start the day.

Luckily, most common sources of dishwasher leaks are comparably easy to pinpoint and mend on your own. Meaning you could not have to wash the dishes by hand for more than a day or two, spend a day at home waiting for an repair person or need to pay a high call-out fee.

So, get out the operating manual if you know where it is, clean up the mess and get something soak up any further spills and see if you can’t diagnose the problem. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Everyday Explanations of Dishwasher Leaks as well as How to Fix Them

Some of the most simple sources of dishwasher faults are not really due to a broken dishwasher at all. Before you start getting the tools out and looking at numerous youtube tutorials there are a couple of issues you should take a look at first.

Test to find out whether your dishwasher is aligned. If the dishwasher is wonky water can easily puddle and so leak even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Test you have been using the right detergent. You may have seen this with your washing machine. An excess of detergent or using the wrong type could lead to too many suds, the bubbles spill over resulting in a leak.
Investigate your dishwasher door fully closes. If there’s a gap there may be an obstruction, or you could have to adjust the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Check the filter in the bottom of the tub for any visible drainage issues because if your dishwasher isn’t draining properly this is likely to result in overfill and spill.

When you have ruled out these potential problems it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start a thorough check.

To make your life easier start with the door and check for any obvious problems within of the machine prior to moving on to the underside. If you are able to identify as well as mend the issue before you have to pull out the dishwasher so much the better.

Also make sure you disconnect the appliance first by either unplugging it or turning off the circuit breaker for the dishwasher.

Door Seal

The door is no doubt the most everyday area for a dishwasher to leak and one of the easiest problems to resolve.

If the leak is occasional the issue could be as easy as a big pan or something else pushing into the door thus preventing the door from closing properly.

On the other hand the door seal may have come loose or got split.

Inspect the door seal and test for any degradation, a build-up of limescale or other deposits, or any areas where the gasket has come away from the door.

Removing the seal and also allowing it a good scrub can improve the situation in some cases or you could need to acquire a new gasket and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The fill valve can also be a simple issue. This is usually located under the machine so you will most likely have to unscrew the toe board and also might have to take off the door cover.

The inlet valve opens and closes to let water into the dishwasher at varying parts of the cycle. The fill valve may be damaged, evidenced by a slight drip, or it could be damaged thus not opening or closing correctly while the dishwasher is running.

If the fill valve doesn’t shut properly this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

Generally these valves are not able to be refurbished unless it is only the rubber seal that is broken, thus the whole component would have to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to supply, drain and also redistribute water along the programme.

Two issues could develop when it comes to hoses.

The seals could go or the contact points may come loose thus it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connection points .
The alternative problem than could easily develop as time goes by is that hoses can be broken or get a hole in.

If you can identify that the leakage is a result of a faulty hose this should be simple to replace and replacement hoses are easy to come by.

Pumps and Seals

You are able to visually test the rubber gaskets that are part of the water pumps or motor to ascertain whether there is a leakage and replace them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

The float itself or the float switch could be broken resulting in the dishwasher overfilling.

When working correctly the float will go up as the water rises until it reaches the maximum fill level. The tag of the float should then operate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your problem.

Checking the switch will require electrical equipment but it might be noticeably broken in which case getting a new one should resolve the problem.

Alternative Parts that May Lead to a Leak

A damaged wash arm or support may force water under the door causing a leak. This will likewise often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or faulty lines might likewise result in this issue as could a loose pump cover if your dishwasher has one.

The motor shaft seal could have come loose causing leakage. This will generally show as a leak coming from underneath the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Mend Your Machine

Spend less by checking the gasket instead of the entire part. In many cases, you can acquire the gasket separately which saves time as well as money.
Check the quick fixes before you get more complicated. You don’t need to pull the entire dishwasher away from the wall if the problem is the soap.
Photograph your progress. This may make your life easier when you come to put the thing back together, show the component you need in a shop, and also identify the problem to a repair person if required.
Be careful. Water and electricity are not good friends so turn off the power first.
If you’re struggling call a repair person.

The Next Steps You Should Take If Your Trouble Shooting Fails to Identify or Mend the Leakage

If the cause of the leak can’t be discovered the thing you can do is to pull the dishwasher away from the wall to get a better look underneath it and also add water to the tub to see if the leakage presents itself.

If this doesn’t shed any light your dishwasher may only show a leakage when the pump is running. In this instance, you should get a service engineer to diagnose as well as fix the leak as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical components exposed.