Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Getting up in the morning only to step in an ominous puddle on the floor is no-one’s chosen manner to start the day.

Luckily, most commonly seen explanations of dishwasher leaks are comparably simple to determine and mend yourself. This means you may not need 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 charge.

So, if you’re feeling up to it get out the operating manual if you can, get a towel to clean up the leak and get something soak up any further spills and see if you can’t fix the problem. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonly Seen Sources of Dishwasher Faults and How to Fix Them

Many of the more common causes of dishwasher leaks are not actually because of a broken dishwasher at all. Prior to starting getting the tools out and also looking at numerous online tutorials there are a couple of things you can take a look at first.

Investigate to see whether your dishwasher is aligned. If your dishwasher is wonky water will easily puddle as well as leak without there being anything that needs to be fixed or changed.
Investigate you have been using the proper soap. You may have seen this with your washer. Too much soap or using the wrong type can lead to too many bubbles, the bubbles deluge and you get a spill.
Check your dishwasher door fully closes. If there’s a gap you may have an object blocking it such as a large plate, or you may have to fix the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Test the filter in the base of the tub for any visible drainage issues because if your dishwasher isn’t draining properly this will cause it to fill too much and so spill.

Once you have eliminated these potential problems it’s time to roll up your sleeves and really start a thorough check.

To make your life easier start with the door and investigate for any visible problems inside of the machine prior to moving on to the underneath. If you can identify and so fix 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 door is no doubt the most commonplace place for a dishwasher to leak and one of the quickest problems to resolve.

If the leak is periodic the fault may be as simple as an oversized dish or another object putting pressure into the door thus stopping it from sealing fully.

Otherwise the door seal may have been dislodged or got split.

Check the door gasket and investigate for any brittleness, a build-up of limescale or other gunk, or any tracts where the gasket might have separated from the door.

Removing the gasket and allowing it a comprehensive wash has been known to improve the situation in some cases or you might be required to buy a new seal and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The inlet valve can also be a common fault. The inlet is generally found on the underbelly of the machine so you will need to remove the toe board and also might need to remove the door cover.

The inlet valve opens and closes to allow water into the dishwasher at varying parts of the cycle. The water inlet valve might be damaged, shown by a slight drip, or it may be damaged and so not opening or closing correctly during the programme.

In the case that the fill valve doesn’t close properly this can lead to the dishwasher overflowing.

Generally water inlet valve cannot be refurbished unless it is only the rubber seal that is broken, thus the whole part would have to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, drain and also redistribute water within the cycle.

Two problems might present themselves when it comes to hoses.

The seals might get damaged or the contact points can come loose so it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connection points .
The alternative issue than may easily happen as time goes by is that hoses can become damaged or get a hole in.

Luckily damaged hoses are simple to procure and also replace.

Pumps and Seals

You are able to visually investigate the gaskets surrounding the pumps or motor to determine if there is a leak as well as replace them if there is.

The Float Switch

The float itself or the float switch may be faulty causing the dishwasher to overfill.

When operating as it should the float will rise with the water level until the desired or highest water level is attained. The end piece of the float should then turn on the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your issues.

Testing the switch will require electrical equipment but it might be clearly damaged in which case replacing it should solve the leak.

Other Components that Might Cause a Leak

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

Broken or damaged tubes could likewise result in this issue as might a cracked pump cap.

The motor shaft gasket may have come loose causing leakage. This will generally show as a leak coming from the underside of the appliance.

Top Tips to Mend Your Machine

Spend less by replacing the seal instead of the whole component. In plenty cases, you are able to buy the seal separately which saves time as well as money.
Investigate the simple fixes before you get more complicated. You don’t need to pull the entire thing out if it’s the detergent that’s making the leak.
Take pictures as you go along. This could help you reverse the process, describe the component you need in a shop, and also explain the fault to a repair person if needed.
Be careful. Water and electricity are not good friends so unplug the machine first.
If in doubt get in a professional.

What To Do Next If Your Initial Investigation Fails to Identify or Resolve the Leakage

If the root of the issue remains a mystery 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 see if the leakage can be seen that way.

If this doesn’t shed any light your dishwasher may only show a leakage when during a cycle. If this is the case, you should find a appliance repair person to determine as well as mend the fault as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical components uncovered.