Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

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

Fortuitously, most commonly seen sources of dishwasher leaks are relatively simple to determine and mend on your own. This means you might not have to wash the dishes by hand for more than a day or two, wait for the repair man or have to pay a high call-out fee.

So, get out the manual if you know where it is, clean up the mess and get something soak up any additional spills and find out if you can’t diagnose the problem. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Common Causes of Dishwasher Faults as well as How to Resolve Them

A lot of the most commonly seen causes of dishwasher faults aren’t actually because of a dishwasher issue at all. Prior to starting getting the tools out and also watching numerous youtube videos there are a few things you might want to rule out first.

Check to find out whether your dishwasher is level. If the dishwasher is misaligned water will quickly puddle as well as spill out without there being anything that needs to be resolved or changed.
Check you have been using the proper detergent. You could be aware of this fault with your washer. An excess of detergent or the incorrect type can result in an excess of soap suds, the bubbles deluge resulting in a leak.
Investigate your dishwasher door fully closes. If it doesn’t you might have an object blocking it such as a large plate, or you might have to adjust the door fixings.
Test the filter in the base of the machine for any easy to see drainage issues because if your dishwasher isn’t emptying effectively this will cause it to overfill and spill.

If you have looked at these possible causes it’s time to roll up your sleeves and really begin the inspection.

The easiest place to start is the door as well as investigate for any obvious issues inside of the machine prior to moving on to the underside. If you are able to identify and so resolve the issue without pulling out the dishwasher so much the better.

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 probably the most everyday area for a dishwasher to leak and one of the simplest problems to solve.

If the leakage is intermittent the fault might be as straightforward as an oversized dish or something else pushing into the door thus stopping the door from shutting correctly.

Else-ways the door seal may have come loose or got damaged.

Inspect the door gasket and test for any brittleness, a build-up of limescale or other gunk, or any areas in which the gasket might have separated from the door.

Removing the seal and allowing it a good scrub can help in some instances or you may be required to purchase a new gasket and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can also be a simple problem. It is in most cases situated on the underbelly of the machine which means you will most likely need to remove the toe board and may have to take off the door cover.

The inlet valve opens and closes to allow water into the tub at different times during the cycle. The water inlet valve could be showing a leak, shown by a slight drip, or it might be damaged thus not functioning fully during the programme.

When the water inlet valve fails to close correctly this can result in the dishwasher overfilling and result in a leakage.

Often these valves are not able to be fixed unless it is just the rubber gasket that is broken, which means the entire component would need to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, drain and also redistribute water during the programme.

Two issues might arise where hoses are the cause.

The seals could get damaged or the connections may come loose meaning it’s a good idea to check all the connections .
The alternative problem than could often happen as you use the machine is that hoses can become broken or cracked.

If you are able to identify that the leak is coming from a hose this will be relatively simple to change and new hoses are readily available.

Pumps and Gaskets

You can visually check the rubber seals that are part of the pumps or motor to ascertain whether there is a leakage and also change them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

The float itself or the float switch might be not working correctly causing the dishwasher to overfill.

When operating as it should the float will go up as the water rises until it reaches the maximum fill level. The tail of the float will then turn on the switch. A blockage or breakage could be causing your problem.

Checking the switch will require electrical equipment although it may be clearly broken in which case replacing it should fix the problem.

Other Parts that May Lead to Leakage

A broken wash arm or support might causing a leak. This could also often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or damaged lines might also cause this issue as might a damaged pump cap if your machine has one.

The motor shaft seal might have come loose resulting in leakage. This will generally show as a puddle coming from the underside of the appliance.

Top Tips to Mend Your Dishwasher

Save money by replacing the seal rather than the entire part. In many cases, you can purchase the gasket without the rest of the part which saves time as well as money.
Test the quick solutions before you get more complicated. There’s no point pulling the entire thing away from the wall if it’s the soap that’s making the problem.
Take pictures at each step. This might help you put the machine back together, explain the component you need to a sales person, as well as identify the issue to an engineer if needed.
Be careful. Water and electricity are not good friends so unplug the machine first.
If you’re not sure call a professional.

The Next Steps You Should Take If Your Initial Investigation Fails to Identify or Resolve the Leakage

If the root of the issue can’t be uncovered the next step you may take is to pull the dishwasher away from the wall to get better access beneath it as well as fill it with water to see if the leak presents itself.

If this gives no further clues your dishwasher could only leak when the pump is running. In this case, you should employ a dishwasher repair person to determine and resolve the fault as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical components exposed.