Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Entering the kitchen only to find an ominous puddle on the floor is never the best to start the day.

Fortuitously, most everyday sources of dishwasher leaks are comparatively simple to pinpoint and resolve by yourself. Meaning you might not have to hand wash the dishes for too long, take a day off waiting for an engineer or need to pay the call-out fee.

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

Everyday Explanations of Dishwasher Faults as well as How to Mend Them

Some of the more commonly seen explanations of dishwasher leaks are not in fact due to a dishwasher issue . Before you start preparing yourself for an engineering task as well as flicking through numerous YouTube tutorials there are a few things you should take a look at first.

Investigate to see if your dishwasher is level. If the dishwasher is not level water will quickly puddle and so spill out even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Investigate you are using the right detergent. You may have seen this with your washer. Too much detergent or using the wrong type could result in to too many soap suds, the bubbles overflow and you get a spill.
Check your dishwasher door fully closes. If it doesn’t there may be an obstruction, or you might need to replace the door fixings.
Check the filter located in the base of the tub for any visible drainage issues as if your dishwasher isn’t draining properly this can result in overfill and so spill.

Once you have ruled out these potential problems it’s time to get ready and really start a thorough check.

The easiest place to start is the door as well as test for any visible issues in the interior of the machine prior to moving on to the underneath. If you can find and resolve the leak 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 Gasket

The door is no doubt the most everyday area for leakage and one of the quickest problems to solve.

If the leak is occasional the problem might be as straightforward as a big pan or something else pushing into the door thus stopping it from closing properly.

On the other hand the door gasket may have come out of place or become cracked.

Check the door gasket and also test for any cracks, a build-up of limescale or other deposits, or any parts where the seal has come away from the door.

Taking off the gasket and also allowing it a thorough wash can improve the situation in some instances or you might be required to buy a new seal and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The fill valve can be another common problem. It is in most cases found underneath the machine therefore you will have to take off the toe board and might have to remove the door cover.

The inlet valve opens and closes to allow water into the dishwasher at various parts of the program. The inlet valve may be showing a leak, demonstrated with a slight drip, or it may be broken and so not operating fully while the dishwasher is running.

In the case that the fill valve doesn’t close fully this can result in the dishwasher overflowing.

Usually water inlet valve can’t be refurbished, and so the whole component would need to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Hoses are needed to fill, drain and also redistribute water during the program.

Two issues may develop where hoses are involved.

The seals might go or the connections may come loose so it’s worth having a look at all the connection points .
The alternative problem than may often develop as time goes by is that hoses may become degraded or cracked.

If you are able to see that the leak is a result of a faulty hose this should be easy to change and new hoses are easy to procure.

Pumps and Seals

You are able to visually investigate the seals surrounding the water pumps or motor to see whether there is a leakage and also change them if there is.

The Float Switch

The float itself or the float switch may be damaged resulting in the dishwasher overfilling.

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

Checking the switch will require a multi-meter but it could be clearly damaged in which case replacing it should fix the problem.

Other Parts that Might Result in a Leak

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

Broken or cracked lines may also result in this problem as can a damaged pump cover.

The motor shaft seal could have cracked causing a leak. This will generally show as a puddle coming from underneath the appliance.

Top Tips to Fix Your Dishwasher

Spend less by checking the gasket in place of the whole component. In most cases, you are able to acquire the seal separately which saves you having to replace the whole component.
Test the simple fixes first. You don’t need to pull the entire thing out if the problem is the detergent.
Take photos as you go along. This might help you reverse the process, explain the component you are looking for to a sales person, as well as explain the issue to an engineer if required.
Be careful. Water and electricity do not mix so turn off the power first.
If you’re struggling get in the professionals.

What To Do Next If Your Initial Investigation Fails to Identify or Fix the Leakage

If the cause of the leakage can’t be discovered the next step you could take is to pull the dishwasher away from the wall to get a clearer view of the underneath it and fill it with water to find out whether the leakage can be seen that way.

If this doesn’t shed any light your machine may only show a leakage when during a cycle. If this is the case, you may wish to find a qualified technician to determine and also mend the issue as there are safety risks of checking for faults with electrical elements exposed.