Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Coming downstairs to step in an ominous puddle on the floor is no-one’s chosen way to start the day.

Fortuitously, most everyday sources of dishwasher leaks are comparatively easy to determine and resolve by yourself. This means you could not need to wash the dishes by hand for more than a day or two, call an engineer or need to pay the call-out fee.

So, if you’re feeling up to it find the instruction manual if you know where it is, find a towel to clean up the puddle and so get a towel clean up any additional leaks and see whether you can’t find a DIY solution. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonplace Causes of Dishwasher Faults and How to Resolve Them

Some of the most everyday sources of dishwasher leaks aren’t in fact due to a broken dishwasher at all. Prior to starting getting the tools out as well as looking at numerous youtube videos there are a couple of things you should troubleshoot first.

Test to find out whether your dishwasher is aligned. If the dishwasher is misaligned water can quickly puddle and spill out even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Investigate you are using the correct soap. You might be aware of this fault with your washer. An excess of detergent or the wrong variety may result in to too many suds, the soap suds bubble over resulting in a spill.
Check your dishwasher door fully closes. If it does not there may be a blockage, or you may need to replace the door fixings.
Test the filter at the bottom of the tub for any obvious drainage issues because if your dishwasher isn’t emptying properly this can cause it to fill too much and spill.

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

To make your life easier start with the door as well as check for any visible issues inside of the machine before you move on to the underneath. If you can identify as well as resolve the leak before you need to pull out the dishwasher so much the better.

Before you do anything else make sure you unplug the dishwasher.

Door Gasket

The door is no doubt the most commonly seen place for a dishwasher to leak and one of the easiest problems to fix.

If the leak is periodic the fault could be as easy as a big pan or another object pushing into the door thus preventing it from sealing fully.

On the other hand the door gasket might have come out of place or got damaged.

Check the door seal and also investigate for any brittleness, 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 also giving it a thorough wash might improve the situation in some instances or you might be required to acquire a new seal and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The inlet valve can also be a commonly seen problem. The inlet is generally located on the underbelly of the machine which means you may have to unscrew the toe board and also may need to take off the door cover.

The fill valve opens and closes to let water into the tub at varying times during the cycle. The fill valve could be leaking, demonstrated by a slight drip, or it might be damaged and so not functioning fully while the dishwasher is running.

If the inlet valve fails to shut fully this can result in the dishwasher leaking.

Often water inlet valve cannot be refurbished unless it is only the rubber seal that is damaged, and so the entire component would need to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to supply, empty and also redistribute water during the programme.

Two issues might arise where hoses are the cause.

The gaskets could break or the connections could work loose so it’s worth examining all the connection points first.
The other problem than might easily happen as you use the machine is that hoses may get damaged or get a hole in.

Luckily damaged hoses are relatively easy to procure and also change.

Pumps and Gaskets

You are able to visually investigate the rubber seals surrounding the pumps or motor to determine whether there is a leak and also change them if there is.

The Float Switch

Either the float or the float switch might be damaged causing the dishwasher to overfill.

When working as it should the float will lift up as the water rises until the optimum or maximum water level is attained. The tail of the float will then activate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be causing your issues.

Testing the switch would need electrical equipment but it could be clearly broken in which case getting a new one should solve the leak.

Alternative Components that Might Lead to a Leak

A cracked wash arm or support could build up pressure resulting in a leak. This could likewise often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or damaged lines may also cause this fault as could a damaged pump cap.

The motor shaft gasket might have cracked resulting in a leak. This will generally show as leakage coming from the underside of the machine.

Top Tips to Sort Out Your Dishwasher

Spend less by checking the seal rather than the whole component. In many cases, you are able to buy the seal without the rest of the part which saves you having to replace the entire component.
Test the simple solutions first. There’s no point pulling the entire thing out if it’s the soap that’s causing the problem.
Photograph your progress. This might assist you to reverse the process, describe the component you need in a shop, and also identify the problem to a repair person if required.
Be careful. Water and electricity do not mix so turn off the power first.
If you’re not sure get in the professionals.

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

If the root of the problem remains a mystery the next step you might take is to pull the machine away from the wall to get a better look underneath it and add water to the tub to see whether the leakage presents itself.

If this gives no further clues your machine could only leak if it’s running. In this case, you should get a qualified technician to determine and also mend the leak due to the safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical parts exposed.