Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Entering the kitchen to step in an ominous puddle on the floor is no-one’s chosen manner to start the day.

Luckily, most everyday causes of dishwasher leaks are comparably simple to determine and resolve yourself. Meaning you may not be required to wash the dishes by hand for more than a day or two, call an engineer or have to pay the call-out charge.

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

Commonplace Causes of Dishwasher Leaks and How to Resolve Them

Some of the more everyday sources of dishwasher faults are not actually a result of a broken dishwasher at all. Prior to starting preparing yourself for an engineering task as well as watching numerous YouTube videos there are a few things you should rule out first.

Test to find out if your dishwasher is aligned. If the dishwasher is not level water will easily pool and spill out regardless of whether or not the dishwasher has a fault.
Check you have been using the correct detergent. You might have seen this with your washing machine. Too much detergent or using the incorrect type can lead an excess of soap suds, the bubbles bubble over and so you get a leak.
Check your dishwasher door fully closes. If there’s a gap there may be an obstruction, or you could need to adjust the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Check the filter located in the base of the machine for any visible obstructions because if your dishwasher isn’t emptying correctly this can cause it to fill too much and so leak.

If you have looked at these possible causes it’s time to get ready and really begin a thorough check.

The easiest place to start is the door and test for any obvious issues within of the machine before you move on to the underside. If you are able to find as well as fix the problem without pulling 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 Gasket

The door is no doubt the most common area for a dishwasher to leak and also one of the easiest problems to solve.

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

Else-ways the door gasket may have been dislodged or got split.

Inspect the door seal and also investigate for any brittleness, a build-up of limescale or other gunk, or any areas where the gasket has come away from the door.

Taking off the seal and also allowing it a good scrub has been known to improve the situation in some instances or you might have to purchase a new gasket and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The inlet valve can be another commonly seen problem. The Valve is in most cases found under the machine therefore you will most likely have to unscrew the toe board and may have to remove the door cover.

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

In the case that the inlet valve fails to close correctly this can result in the dishwasher overfilling and result in a leak.

Generally these valves can’t be refurbished unless it is only the rubber seal that is damaged, thus the whole component would need to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Hoses are needed to fill, drain and redistribute water within the cycle.

Two problems can develop where hoses are involved.

The seals could break or the contact points may come loose so it’s worth examining all the connection points .
The other problem than could often happen over time is that hoses may become broken or get a hole in.

Luckily broken hoses are simple to procure and change.

Pumps and Seals

You are able to visually investigate the rubber gaskets around the water pumps or motor to see if there is a leak and replace them if there is.

The Float Switch

Either the float or the float switch may be not working correctly causing the dishwasher to overfill.

When operating as it should the float will lift up with the water level until the desired or highest water level is reached. The tag of the float should then activate the switch. If something is blocking this or the float is broken this could be your issues.

Testing the switch will require a multi-meter but it could be clearly broken in which case getting a new one should solve the issue.

Other Parts that Might Cause a Leak

A damaged wash arm or support can push water under the door resulting in a leak. This will also often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or faulty tubes can also cause this problem as may a cracked pump cover.

The motor shaft gasket may have come loose causing leakage. This will generally show as a puddle coming from the underside of the appliance.

Top Tips to Mend Your Dishwasher

Save money by changing the gasket rather than the whole component. In plenty cases, you can buy the gasket without the rest of the part which saves time as well as money.
Check the simple solutions first. You don’t need to pull the entire dishwasher out if the problem is the detergent.
Photograph your progress. This can make your life easier when you come to put the thing back together, describe the part you are looking for to a sales person, and also explain the fault to an engineer if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix so unplug the machine first.
If you’re not sure call the professionals.

What To Do Next If Your Initial Investigation Fails to Disclose or Resolve the Leak

If the cause of the problem is still a mystery the next step you can take is to pull out the machine to get better access underneath it and fill it with water to find out if the leakage can be seen that way.

If this doesn’t shed any light your dishwasher could only show a leakage if it’s running. In this case, your best bet would be to get a qualified technician to diagnose and fix the fault as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical elements uncovered.