Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Getting up in the morning only to find an ominous puddle coming from the dishwasher is never a great to start the day.

Fortuitously, most common explanations of dishwasher leaks are comparatively simple to pinpoint and resolve by yourself. Meaning you could not have to wash the dishes by hand for too long, wait for the repair man or need to pay a high call-out charge.

So, if you’re feeling up to it grab the operating manual if you have it, clean up the puddle and so get something clean up any further spills and so find out whether you can find a do it yourself solution. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonplace Explanations of Dishwasher Leaks and How to Fix Them

Many of the most common sources of dishwasher leaks aren’t actually due to a dishwasher issue at all. Before you start preparing yourself for an engineering task as well as watching endless YouTube videos there are a couple of issues you can troubleshoot first.

Check to find out whether your dishwasher is level. If your dishwasher is not level water can quickly puddle as well as spill out even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Test you are using the correct detergent. You could be aware of this issue with your washing machine. An excess of soap or using the wrong variety can lead an excess of soap suds, the suds bubble over and so you get a spill.
Investigate your dishwasher door fully closes. If there’s a gap you could have something blocking it, or you might need to adjust the door fixings.
Test the filter at the bottom of the machine for any obvious obstructions because if your dishwasher isn’t draining properly this is likely to result in overfill and spill.

If none of the above issues apply it’s time to get ready and really start a thorough check.

To make your life easier start with the door and check for any visible issues within of the machine before you move on to the underside. If you can find and fix the issue without pulling out the dishwasher you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle.

And 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 seemingly the most common place for leakage and one of the quickest problems to fix.

If the leak is periodic the issue might be as easy as an oversize dish or something else pushing into the door and preventing the door from sealing properly.

On the other hand the door seal might have been dislodged or become split.

Examine the door gasket and also test for any cracks, mineral deposits or other deposits, or any parts in which the seal has come away from the door.

Taking off the gasket and also allowing it a thorough scrub might improve the situation in some cases or you may need to buy a new gasket and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The inlet valve can also be a commonly seen issue. It is usually located underneath the machine which means you will need to remove the kick plate and also might need to take off the door cover.

The water inlet valve opens and also closes to let water into the dishwasher at various parts of the cycle. The inlet valve might be showing a leak, shown with a slight drip, or it might be broken and not operating fully while the dishwasher is running.

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

In General these valves can’t be repaired, which means the whole part would need to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, drain and recirculate water during the cycle.

Two issues could present themselves where hoses are involved.

The gaskets can break or the connections can work loose thus it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connection points first.
The other problem than could easily happen as you use the machine is that hoses can become broken or get a hole in.

If you are able to see that the leak is a result of a faulty hose this will be relatively easy to replace and replacement hoses are easy to come by.

Pumps and Gaskets

You are able to visually check the rubber gaskets that are part of the water pumps or motor to determine whether there is a leak as well as replace them if there is.

The Float Switch

The float itself or the float switch may be broken causing the dishwasher to overfill.

When operating as it should the float will rise as the water rises until the desired or maximum water level is reached. The tail of the float would then activate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your issues.

Checking the switch would need a multi-meter although it might be clearly damaged in which case getting a new one should stop the leak.

Alternative Components that May Result in a Leak

A broken wash arm or support might build up pressure resulting in a leak. This could likewise often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or faulty lines can also result in this fault as could a damaged pump cap.

The motor shaft gasket might have come loose resulting in a leak. This generally presents as leakage coming from the underside of the machine.

Top Tips to Sort Out Your Dishwasher

Save money by replacing the gasket rather than the whole part. In plenty cases, you can buy the seal without the rest of the part which saves you having to change the entire part.
Test the quick solutions before you get more complicated. There’s no point pulling the whole machine away from the wall if it’s the soap that’s making the problem.
Take photos as you go along. This may help you put the thing back together, explain the component you need in a store, and also identify the problem to an engineer if needed.
Be careful. Water and electricity are not good friends so unplug the machine first.
If you’re not sure call the professionals.

The Next Steps You Should Take If Your Initial Investigation Doesn’t Identify or Resolve the Leakage

If the cause of the problem remains a mystery the next step you may take is to pull out the machine to get a better look underneath it and add water to the tub to see whether the leakage can be seen that way.

If you are still in the dark your machine might only leak if during a cycle. If this is the case, you should hire a service engineer to determine and also fix the problem due to the safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical elements exposed.