Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

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

Fortuitously, most common causes of dishwasher leaks are comparatively straightforward to determine and mend on your own. This means you could not have to hand wash the dishes for more than a day or two, call an engineer or have to pay the call-out charge.

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

Everyday Causes of Dishwasher Leaks and How to Fix Them

Some of the more commonplace sources of dishwasher leaks are not actually a result of a dishwasher issue . Before you start getting the tools out and flicking through endless YouTube tutorials there are a few issues you might want to take a look at first.

Test to find out whether your dishwasher is level. If the dishwasher isn’t aligned water will easily pool as well as spill out without there being anything that needs to be resolved or replaced.
Check you have been using the correct detergent. You might be familiar with this problem with your washing machine. Too much soap or using the wrong variety may result in an excess of suds, the soap suds bubble over resulting in a spill.
Investigate your dishwasher door fully closes. If there’s a gap you might have an object blocking it such as a large plate, or you may need to replace the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Test the filter located at the base of the tub for any visible drainage issues because if your dishwasher isn’t emptying properly this can result in overfill and so spill.

Once you have eliminated these issues it’s time to get ready and really begin the inspection.

The easiest place to start is the door as well as investigate for any obvious damage inside of the machine before you move on to the underside. If you are able to identify as well as fix the problem before you have to pull 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 around the door, luckily it is also one of the easiest issues to resolve.

If the leak is occasional the issue might be as simple as a large plate or something else pushing against the door and preventing the door from sealing correctly.

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

Examine the door seal and also investigate for any cracks, a build-up of limescale or other deposits, or any areas in which the gasket has come away from the door.

Extracting the seal and also giving it a comprehensive clean might help in some instances or you might need to buy a new seal and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The inlet valve can be a further commonly seen issue. It is usually located under the machine and so you may have to remove the kick plate and may have to unscrew the door cover.

The fill valve opens and also closes to let water into the tub at various times during the cycle. The water inlet valve might be leaking, demonstrated with a slow drip, or it might be damaged and so not operating correctly during the cycle.

If the inlet valve fails to close correctly this can lead to the dishwasher overfilling and result in a leak.

Generally water inlet valve can’t be repaired, thus the whole part would have to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Hoses are needed to fill, empty and recirculate water within the program.

Two complications can arise with hoses.

The gaskets might get damaged or the contact points might work loose so it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connection points first.
The alternative fault than may often develop as time goes by is that hoses may become damaged or get a hole in.

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

Pumps and Gaskets

You can visually check the rubber seals surrounding the water pumps or motor to determine whether there is a leakage as well as change them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

Either the float or the float switch may be faulty resulting in the dishwasher overfilling.

A working float will rise as the water rises until the optimum or highest water level is attained. The end piece of the float should then operate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your problem.

Testing the switch would need a multi-meter although it could be clearly damaged in which case getting a new one should stop the leak.

Other Components that May Cause Leakage

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

Broken or cracked lines might also result in this fault as could a broken pump cover.

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

Top Tips to Mend Your Dishwasher

Save money by replacing the gasket instead of the whole component. In many situations, you are able to acquire the seal separately which saves time as well as money.
Investigate the easy resolutions before you get more complicated. There’s no point pulling the entire dishwasher out if it’s the soap that’s making the issue.
Photograph your progress. This could make your life easier when you come to reverse the process, describe the part you are looking for in a shop, as well as explain the fault to an engineer if needed.
Stay safe. Water and electricity are not good friends so unplug the machine first.
If you’re struggling call a repair person.

The Next Steps You Should Take If Your Initial Investigation Doesn’t Identify or Resolve the Leak

If the cause of the leak can’t be discovered the next step you may take is to pull out the dishwasher to get better access underneath it and add water to the tub to see if the leak presents itself.

If this doesn’t shed any light your appliance may only show a leakage when it’s running. In this instance, your best bet would be to employ a qualified technician to pinpoint and mend the leak due to the safety risks of checking for faults with electrical components exposed.