Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Coming downstairs only to find a large puddle on the floor is no-one’s favorite way to start the day.

Luckily, most everyday causes of dishwasher faults are relatively easy to pinpoint and resolve on your own. Meaning you may not need to hand wash the dishes that much, take a day off waiting for an engineer or have to pay a high call-out fee.

So, find the operating manual if you have it, get an old towel to clean up the leak and get something clean up any additional spills and see if you can’t fix the problem. If you aren’t able to call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonly Seen Causes of Dishwasher Faults and How to Mend Them

A lot of the more everyday sources of dishwasher faults aren’t really because of a dishwasher issue at all. Prior to starting preparing yourself for an engineering task and also flicking through endless YouTube videos there are a few things you can troubleshoot first.

Check to see if your dishwasher is aligned. If your dishwasher is wonky water can easily puddle and so spill out without there being anything that needs to be mended or replaced.
Check you are using the correct detergent. You could have seen this with your washing machine. Too much detergent or the wrong type could lead to too many soap suds, the bubbles overflow and so you get a leak.
Test your dishwasher door closes properly. If there’s a gap there may be a blockage, or you might have to replace the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Check the filter located at the base of the machine for any visible drainage issues because if your dishwasher isn’t emptying effectively this is likely to result in overfill and so leak.

If none of the above issues apply it’s time to get ready and really start the investigation.

To make your life easier start with the door and investigate for any obvious issues in the interior of the machine prior to moving on to the underside. If you are able to identify 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 most usual place for a dishwasher to leak is on the door, luckily it is also one of the simplest issues to resolve.

If the leakage is intermittent the problem might be as straightforward as a big pan or another object putting pressure against the door and stopping the door from shutting properly.

Else-ways the door seal might have come out of place or become split.

Check the door gasket and also test for any degradation, mineral deposits or other debris, or any parts in which the seal has come away from the door.

Removing the seal and giving it a thorough wash might improve the situation in some cases or you might be required to acquire a new seal and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can also be a simple issue. This is in most cases located underneath the machine so you will have to take off the toe board and also could need to remove the door cover.

The fill valve opens and also closes to let water into the dishwasher at varying parts of the program. The water inlet valve may be damaged, demonstrated by a slow drip, or it could be damaged and not opening or closing fully while the dishwasher is running.

If the inlet valve fails to shut fully this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

In General water inlet valve can’t be fixed unless it is only the rubber gasket that is damaged, and so the whole valve would need to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, empty and redistribute water within the program.

Two problems might present themselves with hoses.

The seals may break or the contact points could come loose meaning it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connections first.
The alternative issue than might easily develop as time goes by is that hoses can get damaged or get a hole in.

Luckily faulty hoses are relatively easy to procure as well as change, even for a novice.

Pumps and Gaskets

You are able to visually check the rubber gaskets surrounding the water pumps or motor to determine if there is a leakage as well as replace them if there is.

The Float Switch

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

When operating as it should the float will lift up as the water level goes up until the desired or maximum 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 causing your problem.

Testing the switch would need electrical equipment although it might be noticeably broken in which case getting a new one should solve the leak.

Alternative Components that Might Lead to a Leak

A damaged wash arm or support could push water under the door causing a leak. This could also often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or damaged lines can likewise result in this problem as can a broken pump cover.

The motor shaft gasket may have cracked resulting in leakage. This will generally show as a puddle coming from underneath the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Fix Your Machine

Save money by checking the gasket instead of the entire component. In most situations, you are able to buy the seal without the rest of the part which saves time as well as money.
Check the easy solutions before you get more complicated. There’s no point pulling the entire machine out if the problem is the soap.
Photograph your progress. This may assist you to reverse the process, explain the component you need in a shop, as well as identify the fault to an engineer if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity are not good friends so turn off the power first.
If you’re not sure call a repair person.

What To Do Next If Your Initial Investigation Fails to Disclose or Mend the Leakage

If the root of the problem can’t be uncovered the next step you may take is to pull out the dishwasher to get a clearer view of the underneath it as well as fill it with water to find out whether the leak becomes visible.

If this doesn’t shed any light your machine may only show a leakage if during a cycle. In this case, your best bet would be to hire a appliance repair person to determine and fix the problem as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical components exposed.