Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Coming downstairs to step in a large puddle coming from the dishwasher is no-one’s chosen manner to start the day.

Thankfully, most commonplace explanations of dishwasher faults are comparatively straightforward to pinpoint and resolve yourself. Meaning you could not be required to hand wash the dishes for more than a day or two, take a day off waiting for an repair person or have to pay the call-out fee.

So, find the manual if you know where it is, clean up the puddle and get a towel clean up any additional spills and find out whether you can’t find a do it yourself solution. If you aren’t able to call us for local dishwasher repair.

Common Sources of Dishwasher Faults as well as How to Mend Them

Some of the more common sources of dishwasher leaks aren’t really because of a dishwasher fault at all. Before you start preparing yourself for an engineering task and watching numerous online tutorials there are a few problems you might want to rule out first.

Investigate to find out whether your dishwasher is level. If your dishwasher is not aligned water can quickly puddle and so leak without there being anything that needs to be mended or changed.
Test you have been using the correct detergent. You may be aware of this problem with your washer. Too much detergent or using the incorrect variety can result in to too many suds, the suds deluge and so you get a spill.
Check your dishwasher door fully closes. If it does not there may be a blockage, or you may have to adjust the door fixings.
Test the filter at the base of the machine for any obvious obstructions because if your dishwasher isn’t emptying correctly this can result in overfill and so leak.

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

The easiest place to start is the door and check for any obvious damage inside of the machine prior to moving on to the underside. If you are able to find and mend the issue without pulling out the dishwasher so much the better.

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

Door Seal

The door is seemingly the most everyday area for leakage as well as one of the easiest issues to resolve.

If the leak is occasional the fault may be as straightforward as a large plate or something else pushing against the door thus stopping it from sealing properly.

Otherwise the door gasket may have been dislodged or been split.

Inspect the door seal and investigate for any cracks, a build-up of limescale or other gunk, or any parts in which the gasket has come away from the door.

Extracting the gasket and allowing it a thorough wash has been known to improve the situation in some instances or you might need to buy a new seal and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The fill valve can also be a everyday problem. This is in most cases situated underneath the machine and so you may need to take off the kick plate and could need to remove the door cover.

The fill valve opens and also closes to allow water into the tub at varying times during the program. The water inlet valve might be leaking, shown by a slight drip, or it may be damaged thus not functioning correctly while the dishwasher is running.

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

Usually fill valve cannot be refurbished unless it is just the rubber seal that is faulty, which means the entire valve would need to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to supply, drain as well as recirculate water during the cycle.

Two problems might develop where hoses are involved.

The seals might get damaged or the contact points could come loose so it’s a good idea to check all the connection points .
The other issue than may easily happen as you use the machine is that hoses could become degraded or get a hole in.

If you can identify that the leakage is a result of a faulty hose this should be simple to replace and new hoses are readily available.

Pumps and Gaskets

You can visually investigate the gaskets around the pumps or motor to see whether there is a leakage as well as change them if there is.

The Float Switch

The float itself or the float switch may be faulty resulting in the dishwasher overfilling.

When operating correctly the float will go up with the water level until it reaches the highest fill level. The end piece of the float will then turn on the switch. A blockage or breakage could be causing your issues.

Testing the switch will require electrical equipment although it could be obviously damaged in which case replacing it should resolve the leak.

Alternative Parts that Might Result in Leakage

A damaged wash arm or support could push water under the door causing a leak. This will likewise often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or faulty lines could also result in this problem as might a damaged pump cover if your machine has one.

The motor shaft seal could have come loose resulting in leakage. This will generally show as a leak coming from the underside of the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Sort Out Your Machine

Save money by replacing the seal instead of the entire component. In most situations, you can purchase the seal separately which saves time as well as money.
Investigate the simple solutions first. There’s no point pulling the entire thing out if the problem is the detergent.
Photograph your progress. This might make your life easier when you come to put the machine back together, show the component you need in a store, and also identify the problem to a repair person if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix so turn off the power first.
If in doubt call a repair person.

The Next Steps You Should Take If Your Trouble Shooting Fails to Identify or Fix the Leak

If the cause of the leakage can’t be discovered the next step you may take is to pull the machine away from the wall to get better access beneath 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 appliance could only leak when during a cycle. In this instance, you should hire a dishwasher repair person to determine and also mend the issue due to the safety risks of checking for faults with electrical elements exposed.