Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Entering the kitchen only to step in an ominous puddle on the floor is never the best to start the day.

Fortuitously, most simple sources of dishwasher faults are comparatively simple to determine and fix yourself. This means you might not need to hand wash the dishes for more than a day or two, wait for the repair man or need to pay a high call-out charge.

So, if you’re feeling up to it find the operating manual if you have it, clean up the mess and so get something clean up any further spills and see if you can’t fix the problem. If you cannot call us for local dishwasher repair.

Common Explanations of Dishwasher Faults as well as How to Resolve Them

Some of the most common sources of dishwasher faults are not actually because of a broken dishwasher at all. Prior to starting preparing yourself for an engineering task and also watching numerous youtube tutorials there are a couple of things you might want to rule out first.

Test to find out whether your dishwasher is aligned. If the dishwasher is not level water can easily pool as well as leak without there being anything that needs to be resolved or replaced.
Test you are using the right detergent. You might have seen this with your washer. Too much detergent or using the wrong variety could lead to too many soap suds, the bubbles bubble over resulting in a leak.
Check your dishwasher door fully closes. If there’s a gap there may be a blockage, or you may have to fix the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Test the filter in the bottom of the tub for any visible obstructions because if your dishwasher isn’t emptying effectively this is likely to result in fill too much and so leak.

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

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 leak 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 probably the most everyday place for a dishwasher to leak and also one of the quickest issues to resolve.

If the leakage is periodic the fault could be as simple as an oversized dish or another object putting pressure into the door and preventing it from sealing fully.

Otherwise the door gasket might have been dislodged or got split.

Inspect the door gasket and test for any degradation, mineral deposits or other gunk, or any areas where the gasket might have come away from the door.

Removing the seal and giving it a good clean might help in some cases or you might be required to acquire a new seal and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can also be a commonly seen issue. The Valve is usually found under the machine therefore you will need to take off the toe board and also might need to remove the door cover.

The fill valve opens and also closes to allow water into the dishwasher at varying parts of the cycle. The fill valve could be damaged, evidenced with a slow drip, or it may be damaged thus not opening or closing properly during the cycle.

When the water inlet valve fails to close properly this can result in the dishwasher overfilling and result in a leak.

Often these valves cannot be repaired, and so the whole component would have to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Hoses are needed to fill, empty as well as recirculate water along the cycle.

Two complications might arise with hoses.

The gaskets can go or the connections can come loose thus it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connection points first.
The alternative issue than could easily happen over time is that hoses can get broken or cracked.

If you are able to see that the leak is a result of a faulty hose this will be relatively simple to replace and replacement hoses are easy to procure.

Pumps and Gaskets

You are able to visually test the gaskets that are part of the pumps or motor to see if there is a leak as well as replace them if there is.

The Float Switch

Either the float or the float switch could be faulty causing the dishwasher to overfill.

When working correctly the float will go up as the water rises until the optimum or maximum water level is attained. The tag of the float would then operate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be causing your issues.

Testing the switch will require a multi-meter but it might be clearly broken in which case replacing it should stop the leak.

Alternative Components that May Lead to a Leak

A damaged wash arm or support may build up pressure causing a leak. This will also often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or faulty lines can likewise result in this problem as can a cracked pump cover if your dishwasher has one.

The motor shaft gasket may have come loose resulting in a leak. This will generally show as leakage coming from underneath the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Sort Out Your Dishwasher

Save money by changing the seal rather than the whole part. In plenty situations, you can buy the gasket separately which saves time as well as money.
Investigate the quick resolutions first. There’s no point pulling the entire machine away from the wall if it’s the soap that’s making the issue.
Take pictures as you go along. This could make your life easier when you come to put the thing back together, explain the part you are looking for in a store, as well as explain the fault to a repair person if needed.
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 Trouble Shooting Doesn’t Identify or Resolve the Leak

If the cause of the leak remains a mystery the next step you may take is to pull the dishwasher away from the wall to get better access underneath it as well as add water to the tub to find out if the leakage becomes visible.

If you are still in the dark your appliance could only show a leakage if during a cycle. If this is the case, your best bet would be to hire a service engineer to pinpoint as well as fix the issue due to the safety risks of checking for faults with electrical components exposed.