Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

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

Fortunately, most simple sources of dishwasher leaks are comparatively easy to pinpoint and fix on your own. Meaning you could not have to hand wash the dishes for too long, take a day off waiting for an repair person or have to pay the call-out charge.

So, get out the operating manual if you can, clean up the mess and get something soak up any further spills and see whether you can’t find a do it yourself solution. If you aren’t able to call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonplace Explanations of Dishwasher Leaks and How to Resolve Them

A lot of the more commonplace sources of dishwasher faults aren’t actually a result of a dishwasher issue at all. Prior to starting getting the tools out and also looking at endless online tutorials there are a number of things you can take a look at first.

Test to see if your dishwasher is aligned. If the dishwasher isn’t aligned water will easily pool as well as spill out regardless of whether or not the dishwasher has a fault.
Check you are using the proper soap. You might have seen this with your washer. Too much soap or the incorrect type can lead an excess of suds, the soap suds bubble over and so you get a spill.
Investigate your dishwasher door closes fully. If it doesn’t there may be a blockage, or you could need to replace the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Investigate the filter located at the base of the tub for any obvious obstructions as if your dishwasher isn’t draining correctly this will result in overfill and so leak.

If none of the above issues apply it’s time to get ready and start a thorough check.

To make your life easier start with the door and check for any obvious damage within of the machine prior to moving on to the underneath. If you can identify and resolve the issue without pulling out the dishwasher you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle.

Also 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 seemingly the most commonly seen place for a dishwasher to leak and one of the simplest problems to resolve.

If the leak is occasional the fault may be as simple as an oversize dish or another object pushing into the door thus stopping the door from closing correctly.

Else-ways the door gasket might have been dislodged or become cracked.

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

Removing the seal and giving it a thorough clean might help in some cases or you might have to purchase a new gasket and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The inlet valve can be a further commonly seen fault. This is generally found underneath the machine and so you may have to unscrew the toe board and might need to take off the door cover.

The water inlet valve opens and also closes to let water into the dishwasher at varying times in the cycle. The water inlet valve may be showing a leak, evidenced with a slow drip, or it might be damaged and so not operating correctly throughout the cycle.

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

Often these valves are not able to be fixed unless it is just the rubber gasket that is broken, and so the whole valve would need to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to supply, drain and recirculate water during the program.

Two problems might present themselves when it comes to hoses.

The seals can get damaged or the contact points can work loose meaning it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connections .
The other issue than could often develop as you use the machine is that hoses might become broken or get a hole in.

If you can identify that the leakage is coming from a hose this should be relatively easy to change and spare hoses are readily available.

Pumps and Seals

You can visually investigate the seals that are part of the pumps or motor to determine whether there is a leakage and replace them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

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

When working correctly the float will lift up with the water level until the desired or highest water level is attained. The end piece of the float will then turn on the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your issues.

Checking the switch will require electrical equipment but it could be clearly damaged in which case replacing it should solve the problem.

Alternative Parts that Might Result in Leakage

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

Broken or cracked tubes could also result in this issue as might a broken pump cap.

The motor shaft gasket could have degraded resulting in leakage. This will generally show as a puddle coming from underneath the machine.

Top Tips to Fix Your Machine

Spend less by changing the gasket rather than the whole component. In most situations, you can acquire the seal separately which saves time as well as money.
Investigate the simple solutions first. You don’t need to pull the whole thing away from the wall if the problem is the soap.
Take photos as you go. This may assist you to put the machine back together, explain the part you need in a shop, as well as explain the fault to a repair person if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix 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 Identify or Resolve the Leak

If the cause of the leak can’t be discovered the next step you could take is to pull the dishwasher away from the wall to get a clearer view of the underneath it and also fill it with water to see whether the leak can be seen that way.

If this doesn’t shed any light your appliance may only show a leakage if during a cycle. In this case, you should hire a service engineer to pinpoint and also resolve the issue as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical components uncovered.