Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Entering the kitchen only to discover a large puddle on the floor is no-one’s chosen way to start the day.

Thankfully, most common sources of dishwasher leaks are comparatively simple to determine and mend yourself. This means you might not have to hand wash the dishes that much, wait for the repair man or need to pay a high call-out charge.

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

Common Sources of Dishwasher Leaks and How to Resolve Them

Many of the most commonly seen sources of dishwasher faults aren’t in fact due to a dishwasher fault . Prior to starting getting the tools out and also looking at endless YouTube videos there are a couple of issues you should take a look at first.

Check to find out whether your dishwasher is level. If the dishwasher is wonky water will quickly puddle and leak even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Test you have been using the correct detergent. You might have seen this with your washer. Too much detergent or using the wrong variety can lead to too many suds, the suds bubble over resulting in a spill.
Test your dishwasher door fully closes. If there’s a gap you may have something obstructing it such as a large plate, or you may have to fix the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Investigate the filter located at the base of the tub for any easy to see drainage issues because if your dishwasher isn’t draining correctly this is likely to result in fill too much and so leak.

If none of the above issues apply it’s time to get ready and begin the inspection.

To make your life easier start with the door and check for any obvious damage within of the machine before you move on to the underside. If you can identify and fix the issue without pulling out the dishwasher so much the better.

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

Door Seal

The door is probably the most everyday area for a dishwasher to leak and one of the easiest issues to resolve.

If the leak is occasional the problem could be as easy as a big pan or something else pushing into the door and preventing the door from sealing correctly.

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

Check the door seal and also check for any cracks, a build-up of limescale or other debris, or any tracts in which the gasket has separated from the door.

Extracting the gasket and allowing it a good wash could help in some cases or you may need to acquire a new gasket and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The fill valve can be another commonplace problem. The Valve is in most cases found underneath the machine and so you may have to take off the kick plate and also might need to remove the door cover.

The inlet valve opens and also closes to allow water into the tub at various parts of the cycle. The water inlet valve may be damaged, evidenced with a slight drip, or it might be damaged and not opening or closing properly while the dishwasher is running.

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

Often fill valve are not able to be repaired, which means the entire valve would need to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Hoses are needed to supply, drain and redistribute water during the cycle.

Two issues may develop when it comes to hoses.

The gaskets may get damaged or the contact points might come loose thus it’s worth having a look at all the connections .
The other fault than can easily happen as you use the machine is that hoses could become broken or get a hole in.

Luckily faulty hoses are relatively simple to buy as well as replace.

Pumps and Gaskets

You are able to visually check the gaskets that are part of the water pumps or motor to determine if there is a leakage and replace them if there is.

The Float Switch

Either the float or the float switch could be broken resulting in the dishwasher overfilling.

When operating correctly the float will go up as the water rises until the desired or maximum water level is attained. The tag of the float will then turn on the switch. If something is blocking this or the float is broken this could be causing your issues.

Checking the switch would need a multi-meter but it may be noticeably damaged in which case replacing it should fix the issue.

Alternative Components that May Cause a Leak

A broken wash arm or support might force water under the door causing leakage. This can likewise often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or damaged lines can likewise result in this fault as can a cracked pump cap if your machine has one.

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

Top Tips to Mend Your Machine

Save money by replacing the gasket in place of the whole part. In most situations, you are able to buy the gasket separately which saves time as well as money.
Check the simple resolutions before you get more complicated. You don’t need to pull the entire thing away from the wall if the problem is the detergent.
Photograph your progress. This might help you reverse the process, explain the part you need to a sales person, as well as explain the problem to an engineer if required.
Be careful. 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 Trouble Shooting Fails to Disclose or Fix the Leak

If the root of the leakage can’t be discovered the thing you can do is to pull out the machine to get better access underneath it and fill it with water to see if the leakage becomes visible.

If this gives no further clues your machine might only show a leakage if the pump is running. In this case, your best bet would be to find a appliance repair person to diagnose and also mend the problem as there are safety risks of checking for faults with electrical parts uncovered.