Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Entering the kitchen to find a large puddle coming from the dishwasher is no-one’s chosen way to start the day.

Fortuitously, most everyday explanations of dishwasher faults are comparably simple to diagnose and fix on your own. Meaning you could not be required to wash the dishes by hand that much, call an engineer or have to pay the call-out charge.

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

Commonplace Sources of Dishwasher Leaks as well as How to Fix Them

Some of the more commonplace sources of dishwasher leaks aren’t in fact because of a dishwasher fault at all. Before you start getting the tools out as well as watching numerous online tutorials there are a few problems you can troubleshoot first.

Investigate to see whether your dishwasher is aligned. If the dishwasher is not level water will easily pool and spill out regardless of whether or not the dishwasher has a fault.
Investigate you are using the correct soap. You may have seen this with your washer. Too much soap or the incorrect variety could lead an excess of suds, the soap suds spill over and so you get a leak.
Test your dishwasher door closes correctly. If it does not there may be a blockage, or you could have to adjust the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Test the filter located in the bottom of the machine for any obvious obstructions as if your dishwasher isn’t emptying correctly this will cause it to fill too much and leak.

If none of the above issues apply it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start a thorough check.

To make your life easier start with the door as well as test for any obvious issues within of the machine before you move on to the underside. If you are able to identify and so fix the leak before you have to pull 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 seemingly the most everyday place for leakage as well as one of the quickest issues to fix.

If the leakage is occasional the fault could be as easy as a big pan or something else pushing into the door thus stopping the door from sealing fully.

Otherwise the door gasket might have come loose or got split.

Inspect the door seal and check for any cracks, mineral deposits or other debris, or any areas in which the seal has separated from the door.

Taking off the seal and also giving it a comprehensive scrub could improve the situation in some instances or you could be required to buy a new seal and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can also be a everyday fault. This is generally located underneath the machine therefore you may need to unscrew the kick plate and could have to remove the door cover.

The inlet valve opens and also closes to allow water into the machine at different parts of the cycle. The fill valve could be damaged, demonstrated with a slow drip, or it may be damaged and so not operating properly during the cycle.

When the inlet valve fails to close fully this can lead to the dishwasher overflowing.

Often these valves are not able to be refurbished, and so the whole valve would need to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

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

Two problems might arise when it comes to hoses.

The gaskets may break or the contact points can come loose so it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connection points first.
The alternative fault than may often develop over time is that hoses may become degraded or get a hole in.

Luckily broken hoses are relatively easy to procure as well as change, even for a novice.

Pumps and Seals

You are able to visually investigate the rubber seals that are part of the water pumps or motor to ascertain whether there is a leak as well as replace them if there is.

The Float Switch

The float itself or the float switch might be not working correctly resulting in the dishwasher overfilling.

When operating correctly the float will lift up as the water level goes up until it reaches the highest fill level. The tail of the float will then turn on the switch. If something is blocking this or the float is broken this could be causing your problem.

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

Other Parts that Might Cause Leakage

A broken wash arm or support may build up pressure causing leakage. This could likewise often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or damaged tubes could likewise cause this issue as may a broken pump cover if your machine has one.

The motor shaft seal could have degraded resulting in a leak. This generally presents as a puddle coming from underneath the appliance.

Top Tips to Sort Out Your Machine

Spend less by changing the seal instead of the entire component. In plenty instances, you are able to purchase the seal without the rest of the part which saves you having to replace the whole part.
Test the simple solutions before you get more complicated. You don’t need to pull the entire dishwasher away from the wall if it’s the detergent that’s causing the issue.
Photograph your progress. This may help you reverse the process, explain the component you are looking for to a sales person, and identify the fault to an engineer if needed.
Be careful. Water and electricity do not mix so unplug the machine first.
If in doubt get in the professionals.

What To Do Next If Your Trouble Shooting Doesn’t Identify or Fix the Leakage

If the root of the leak can’t be discovered the next step you can take is to pull out the machine to get a clearer view of the beneath it and fill it with water to find out whether the leakage can be seen that way.

If you are still in the dark your dishwasher might only show a leakage when the pump is running. In this instance, your best bet would be to hire a qualified technician to diagnose and also resolve the issue as there are safety risks of checking for faults with electrical components exposed.