Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

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

Fortuitously, most everyday sources of dishwasher leaks are relatively easy to determine and mend on your own. Meaning you may not need to wash the dishes by hand that much, take a day off waiting for an repair person or have to pay the call-out charge.

So, if you’re feeling up to it get out the instruction manual if you can, grab an old towel to clean up the puddle and get something clean up any further leaks and see if you can’t fix the problem. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Simple Sources of Dishwasher Faults as well as How to Fix Them

Many of the more commonly seen explanations of dishwasher faults are not actually a result of a dishwasher issue at all. Prior to starting preparing yourself for an engineering task as well as looking at numerous youtube videos there are a few things you should rule out first.

Investigate to find out whether your dishwasher is aligned. If your dishwasher is misaligned water can easily pool and so leak even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Test you are using the correct detergent. You may be aware of this problem with your washing machine. An excess of detergent or the wrong variety can result in to too many suds, the suds overflow and you get a spill.
Check your dishwasher door closes correctly. If it doesn’t you may have an object obstructing it such as a large plate, or you could need to replace the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Test the filter located at the bottom of the machine for any easy to see drainage issues because if your dishwasher isn’t draining properly this can cause it to overfill and spill.

If none of the above issues apply it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start the inspection.

The easiest place to start is the door and check for any obvious damage within of the machine prior to moving on to the underside. If you are able to identify as well as fix the leak before you have to pull out the dishwasher you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle.

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

Door Seal

The most common place for leakage is on the door, thankfully it is also one of the easiest problems to solve.

If the leak is periodic the fault might be as simple as a big pan or something else putting pressure against the door thus stopping it from sealing correctly.

On the other hand the door gasket might have come loose or got damaged.

Inspect the door seal and also test for any degradation, a build-up of limescale or other debris, or any areas in which the seal has separated from the door.

Extracting the seal and also giving it a good wash has been known to help in some instances or you could need to acquire a new seal and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can be a further common problem. It is usually found under the machine which means you will most likely need to remove the toe board and also could need to take off the door cover.

The inlet valve opens and closes to allow water into the tub at varying times during the cycle. The inlet valve might be leaking, demonstrated by a slight drip, or it could be damaged and not functioning correctly while the dishwasher is running.

When the inlet valve doesn’t shut correctly this can result in the dishwasher overfilling and cause a leakage.

Usually water inlet valve are not able to be fixed, which means the entire component would need to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, empty and recirculate water along the cycle.

Two issues might arise when it comes to hoses.

The gaskets might get damaged or the contact points may work loose thus it’s a good idea to check all the connection points .
The other problem than may often happen over time is that hoses could get broken or cracked.

Luckily faulty hoses are relatively simple to get hold of and also replace.

Pumps and Gaskets

You are able to visually check the rubber gaskets around the pumps or motor to see whether there is a leakage and also change them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

Either the float or the float switch may be damaged causing the dishwasher to overfill.

A working float will go up as the water level goes up until the desired or maximum water level is attained. The tail of the float will then operate the switch. If something is blocking this or the float is broken this could be your problem.

Checking the switch will require electrical equipment although it might be clearly broken in which case replacing it should resolve the issue.

Other Parts that Might Result in a Leak

A broken wash arm or support might causing leakage. This will also often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or damaged tubes can likewise cause this problem as could a cracked pump cover if your machine has one.

The motor shaft gasket could have cracked causing leakage. This generally presents as a leak coming from underneath the machine.

Top Tips to Sort Out Your Dishwasher

Save money by checking the gasket in place of the whole component. In plenty situations, you can acquire the seal separately which saves you having to change the entire part.
Test the quick fixes first. There’s no point pulling the entire thing out if it’s the detergent that’s causing the problem.
Photograph your progress. This can make your life easier when you come to put the machine back together, describe the component you are looking for to a sales person, as well as explain the problem to a repair person if needed.
Stay safe. Water and electricity are not good friends so unplug the machine first.
If you’re struggling get in a professional.

What To Do Next If Your Trouble Shooting Fails to Disclose or Resolve the Leak

If the root of the leakage remains a mystery the next step you might take is to pull the dishwasher away from the wall to get a better look beneath it as well as 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 leak when during a cycle. In this instance, you may wish to employ a dishwasher repair person to determine and also resolve the leak as there are safety risks of checking for faults with electrical parts uncovered.