Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

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

Thankfully, most common explanations of dishwasher faults are comparatively straightforward to diagnose and resolve yourself. Meaning you might not have to hand wash the dishes for more than a day or two, call an engineer or need to pay the call-out fee.

So, find the operating manual if you know where it is, grab an old towel to clean up the puddle and so get something soak up any additional leaks and find out whether you can diagnose the issue. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonly Seen Sources of Dishwasher Faults and How to Mend Them

Many of the more commonly seen sources of dishwasher leaks are not really a result of a dishwasher issue . Prior to starting getting the tools out and watching numerous online tutorials there are a few issues you should troubleshoot first.

Investigate to see whether your dishwasher is level. If your dishwasher is misaligned water will quickly pool as well as spill out without there being anything that needs to be fixed or changed.
Check you have been using the right detergent. You could be aware of this fault with your washer. An excess of detergent or the wrong type can result in an excess of suds, the soap suds bubble over and you get a leak.
Test your dishwasher door fully closes. If it does not there may be a blockage, or you could need to adjust the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Test the filter at the base of the tub for any easy to see drainage issues because if your dishwasher isn’t emptying correctly this can cause it to fill too much and so spill.

Once you have ruled out these possible causes it’s time to roll up your sleeves and really start a thorough check.

The easiest place to start is the door and test for any visible problems in the interior of the machine before you move on to the underneath. If you can find and so fix the issue before you have to pull 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 Seal

The most commonplace place for a dishwasher to leak is around the door, luckily it is likewise one of the simplest issues to solve.

If the leak is intermittent the fault may be as easy as a big pan or another object pushing into the door thus preventing it from sealing fully.

On the other hand the door seal could have come loose or been cracked.

Examine the door seal and also check for any cracks, mineral deposits or other gunk, or any parts where the seal has come away from the door.

Taking off the seal and also allowing it a comprehensive clean could help in some instances or you might be required to purchase a new seal and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The fill valve can also be a commonly seen issue. This is in most cases situated underneath the machine so you will most likely have to take off the toe board and also may need to take off the door cover.

The inlet valve opens and closes to allow water into the machine at varying parts of the cycle. The inlet valve might be damaged, shown with a slow drip, or it may be damaged and not functioning correctly while the dishwasher is running.

In the case that the fill valve doesn’t shut fully this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

In General inlet valve can’t be fixed, which means the entire component would have to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, drain and recirculate water within the program.

Two issues might arise where hoses are involved.

The gaskets can go or the contact points might work loose meaning it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connection points .
The alternative issue than can easily develop over time is that hoses can become damaged or cracked.

Luckily broken hoses are relatively easy to procure and replace.

Pumps and Seals

You can visually check the rubber gaskets around the pumps or motor to ascertain if there is a leakage and also replace them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

The float itself or the float switch could be damaged causing the dishwasher to overfill.

A working float will lift up with the water level until the desired or maximum water level is reached. The tail of the float will then turn on the switch. If something is blocking this or the float is broken this could be your issues.

Testing the switch would need electrical equipment but it might be obviously broken in which case replacing it should stop the leak.

Other Parts that Might Lead to a Leak

A damaged wash arm or support might build up pressure resulting in leakage. This will also often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or faulty lines could likewise result in this problem as could a broken pump cover.

The motor shaft gasket might have cracked resulting in leakage. This will generally show as a puddle coming from the underside of the machine.

Top Tips to Fix Your Machine

Save money by replacing the seal rather than the entire part. In many cases, you can purchase the seal separately which saves you having to replace the whole part.
Test the quick solutions before you get more complicated. You don’t need to pull the whole machine away from the wall if it’s the soap that’s causing the problem.
Photograph your progress. This could make your life easier when you come to put the machine back together, show the part you are looking for to a sales person, as well as explain the problem to an engineer if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix so unplug the machine first.
If in doubt get in a professional.

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

If the cause of the issue can’t be discovered the thing you may do is to pull the machine away from the wall to get a better look beneath it and also fill it with water to find out if the leak presents itself.

If you are still in the dark your dishwasher might only leak when it’s running. In this case, you may wish to employ a service engineer to pinpoint and mend the fault due to the safety risks of checking for faults with electrical parts exposed.

More Dishwasher Problems:

Dishwasher Being Loud
Dishwasher Not Turning On
Dishwasher Not Draining
Dishwasher Not Drying