Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Entering the kitchen to discover a large puddle on the floor is never a great to start the day.

Luckily, most simple sources of dishwasher leaks are comparably easy to diagnose and fix on your own. Meaning you may not be required to wash the dishes by hand for more than a day or two, wait for the repair man or have to pay the call-out fee.

So, get out the instruction manual if you know where it is, get an old towel to clean up the mess and get a towel clean up any further leaks and see whether you can’t fix the problem. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonly Seen Explanations of Dishwasher Faults as well as How to Fix Them

A lot of the most everyday sources of dishwasher faults are not in fact due to a dishwasher issue at all. Prior to starting preparing yourself for an engineering task and also watching numerous youtube videos there are a number of things you can troubleshoot first.

Test to find out whether your dishwasher is level. If your dishwasher isn’t aligned water can quickly puddle and so leak regardless of whether or not the dishwasher has a fault.
Test you have been using the right detergent. You could be familiar with this fault with your washer. Too much soap or the incorrect variety may lead to too many soap suds, the soap suds spill over and you get a leak.
Test your dishwasher door fully closes. If it doesn’t there may be a blockage, or you may need to replace the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Test the filter located in the bottom of the tub for any visible obstructions as if your dishwasher isn’t emptying correctly this is likely to result in overfill and leak.

If you have ruled out these possible causes it’s time to roll up your sleeves and begin a thorough check.

To make your life easier start with the door as well as test for any obvious issues within of the machine prior to moving on to the underside. If you can identify and fix the problem before you have to pull out the dishwasher you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle.

Before you do anything else make sure you disconnect the dishwasher.

Door Gasket

The most everyday place for leakage is around the door, thankfully it is also one of the simplest problems to fix.

If the leakage is periodic the issue might be as simple as a large plate or something else putting pressure into the door and preventing it from closing properly.

On the other hand the door gasket could have been dislodged or become cracked.

Inspect the door seal and investigate for any cracks, mineral deposits or other debris, or any areas in which the seal might have come away from the door.

Taking off the gasket and allowing it a comprehensive wash could improve the situation in some instances or you might need to buy a new gasket and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can be another commonly seen fault. It is usually found underneath the machine therefore you will have to unscrew the kick plate and might need to remove the door cover.

The inlet valve opens and closes to let water into the dishwasher at different parts of the programme. The water inlet valve may be leaking, shown with a slight drip, or it could be damaged and not opening or closing fully during the cycle.

In the case that the inlet valve fails to close correctly this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

Generally these valves cannot be repaired, thus the whole valve would need to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Hoses are needed to fill, drain and also recirculate water during the programme.

Two complications may present themselves when it comes to hoses.

The seals could go or the connections can work loose so it’s worth checking all the connection points .
The alternative issue than can easily happen over time is that hoses might be broken or cracked.

If you are able to determine that the leakage is coming from a hose this will be relatively easy to change and spare hoses are easy to procure.

Pumps and Seals

You can visually investigate the rubber gaskets surrounding the water pumps or motor to determine whether there is a leak and replace them if there is.

The Float Switch

The float itself or the float switch might be not working correctly resulting in the dishwasher overfilling.

When working correctly the float will lift up as the water rises until it reaches the desired fill level. The tail of the float should then activate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your issues.

Checking the switch would need electrical equipment although it could be noticeably broken in which case getting a new one should solve the leak.

Alternative Parts that Could Lead to Leakage

A cracked wash arm or support could build up pressure causing a leak. This could also often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or faulty lines can also cause this fault as might a broken pump cap.

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

Top Tips to Fix Your Dishwasher

Save money by checking the gasket in place of the entire part. In many situations, you are able to acquire the seal without the rest of the part which saves time as well as money.
Test the quick fixes before you get more complicated. You don’t need to pull the whole thing away from the wall if the problem is the detergent.
Photograph your progress. This could assist you to put the thing back together, explain the component you are looking for to a sales person, as well as explain the fault to a repair person if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix so unplug the machine first.
If you’re not sure get in a repair person.

What To Do Next If Your Trouble Shooting Fails to Identify or Fix the Leakage

If the root of the issue can’t be uncovered the next step you can take is to pull out the dishwasher to get a better look beneath it as well as add water to the tub to see whether the leakage becomes visible.

If this gives no further clues your machine may only show a leakage when the pump is running. In this instance, you may wish to hire a qualified technician to pinpoint as well as fix the issue due to the safety risks of checking for faults with electrical parts uncovered.