Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Coming downstairs only to discover an ominous puddle coming from the dishwasher is never the best to start the day.

Luckily, most commonplace sources of dishwasher leaks are comparably simple to diagnose and mend on your own. This means you could not need to wash the dishes by hand that much, spend a day at home waiting for an repair person or have to pay a high call-out fee.

So, grab the operating manual if you have it, find a towel to clean up the leak and get something clean up any further leaks and see if you can’t fix the problem. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonplace Causes of Dishwasher Faults and How to Resolve Them

A lot of the more common causes of dishwasher leaks are not actually due to a broken dishwasher at all. Prior to starting getting the tools out and flicking through numerous YouTube tutorials there are a number of problems you can troubleshoot first.

Check to see if your dishwasher is level. If your dishwasher is not aligned water will easily puddle as well as leak without there being anything that needs to be fixed or changed.
Test you are using the right soap. You could have seen this with your washer. Too much soap or using the wrong variety can result in to too many suds, the soap suds overflow resulting in a leak.
Check your dishwasher door closes properly. If it does not there may be an obstruction, or you may need to adjust the door fixings.
Investigate the filter at the bottom 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 spill.

If you have ruled out these possible causes it’s time to get ready and start a thorough check.

To make your life easier start with the door as well as test for any visible problems within of the machine prior to moving on to the underneath. If you can find and so resolve the problem 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 common place for a dishwasher to leak is on the door, thankfully it is also one of the quickest issues to resolve.

If the leakage is periodic the problem could be as simple as a large plate or something else pushing against the door thus stopping it from closing fully.

On the other hand the door gasket could have been dislodged or become cracked.

Examine the door seal and test for any degradation, a build-up of limescale or other debris, or any areas in which the seal might have come away from the door.

Taking off the seal and giving it a good clean has been known to improve the situation in some cases or you may be required to buy a new gasket and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

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

The inlet valve opens and also closes to let water into the tub at various parts of the program. The fill valve may be leaking, evidenced by a slight drip, or it may be broken and not operating correctly during the program.

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

Usually these valves can’t be repaired, and so the entire valve would need to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

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

Two complications could develop where hoses are concerned.

The seals might go or the connections can work loose so it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connections .
The other issue than may easily develop as time goes by is that hoses might get damaged or get a hole in.

Luckily broken hoses are easy to buy as well as change.

Pumps and Seals

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

The Float Switch

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

When working as it should 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 operate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your issues.

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

Alternative Parts that Might Lead to Leakage

A broken wash arm or support could causing a leak. This could also often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or faulty lines could also cause this problem as might a loose pump cover.

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

Top Tips to Sort Out Your Machine

Spend less by checking the seal in place of the whole part. In plenty instances, you are able to purchase the gasket without the rest of the part which saves you having to change the entire component.
Check the simple solutions first. You don’t need to pull the entire thing away from the wall if the problem is the detergent.
Take pictures at each step. This can help you put the machine back together, describe the part you are looking for to a sales person, and also explain the fault to a repair person if needed.
Be careful. Water and electricity do not mix so unplug the machine first.
If you’re struggling call a professional.

What To Do Next If Your Trouble Shooting Fails to Disclose or Fix the Leak

If the root of the leak is still a mystery the thing you could do is to pull the dishwasher away from the wall to get better access underneath it and also add water to the tub to see whether the leakage presents itself.

If this doesn’t shed any light your machine may only leak if the pump is running. In this instance, you should employ a qualified technician to diagnose as well as resolve the fault due to the safety risks of checking for faults with electrical elements exposed.