Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Coming downstairs only to find a large puddle coming from the dishwasher is never the best to start the day.

Fortunately, most common causes of dishwasher faults are comparatively easy to determine and mend on your own. Meaning you could not be required to wash the dishes by hand for too long, take a day off waiting for an repair person or have to pay a high call-out fee.

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

Commonly Seen Causes of Dishwasher Faults and How to Fix Them

Some of the most commonly seen causes of dishwasher faults aren’t in fact because of a broken dishwasher at all. Before you start getting the tools out and flicking through endless youtube tutorials there are a number of problems you might want to take a look at first.

Investigate to find out if your dishwasher is level. If the dishwasher is misaligned water will quickly puddle and leak without there being anything that needs to be mended or replaced.
Check you have been using the correct detergent. You might have seen this with your washing machine. Too much detergent or using the incorrect type could result in an excess of soap suds, the bubbles bubble over and so you get a leak.
Test your dishwasher door closes fully. If it doesn’t you could have something blocking it such as a large plate, or you may have to adjust the door fixings.
Test the filter located in the base of the tub for any easy to see drainage issues as if your dishwasher isn’t draining effectively this can result in fill too much and leak.

If none of the above issues apply it’s time to get ready and really begin the inspection.

The easiest place to start is the door and check for any visible damage within of the machine prior to moving on to the underneath. If you are able to identify and so fix the problem before you have to pull out the dishwasher so much the better.

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 probably the most simple area for leakage as well as one of the easiest problems to resolve.

If the leakage is occasional the fault might be as simple as a large plate or another object putting pressure against the door thus stopping it from sealing properly.

On the other hand the door gasket could have been dislodged or become split.

Check the door gasket and check for any brittleness, a build-up of limescale or other gunk, or any tracts in which the gasket has separated from the door.

Extracting the seal and giving it a thorough scrub has been known to improve the situation in some cases or you could need to purchase a new seal and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The fill valve can be a further commonly seen issue. It is usually located underneath the machine therefore you may have to remove the kick plate and might need to remove the door cover.

The fill valve opens and closes to allow water into the dishwasher at different times during the cycle. The water inlet valve could be leaking, shown with a slow drip, or it may be damaged thus not functioning properly while the dishwasher is running.

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

Generally fill valve cannot be fixed, thus the whole component would need to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, drain as well as redistribute water along the programme.

Two issues might present themselves when it comes to hoses.

The gaskets may get damaged or the contact points could work loose thus it’s worth examining all the connections first.
The alternative issue than could easily happen over time is that hoses could be damaged or cracked.

Luckily faulty hoses are easy to procure as well as replace, even for a novice.

Pumps and Seals

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

The Float Switch

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

A working float will go up as the water rises until it reaches the optimum fill level. The tag 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 will require electrical equipment although it may be obviously damaged in which case replacing it should fix the issue.

Alternative Parts that Might Result in Leakage

A damaged wash arm or support can build up pressure resulting in a leak. This can likewise often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or cracked lines can likewise cause this fault as can a broken pump cap if your machine has one.

The motor shaft seal might have degraded resulting in a leak. This generally presents as a leak coming from the underside of the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Fix Your Machine

Spend less by checking the seal in place of the whole component. In plenty cases, you can purchase the gasket separately which saves time as well as money.
Check the quick fixes first. You don’t need to pull the whole machine out if the problem is the soap.
Take photos at each step. This might help you put the machine back together, show the component you are looking for in a shop, and also explain the fault to a repair person if needed.
Be careful. Water and electricity do not mix so turn off the power first.
If you’re not sure call a professional.

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

If the root of the leak remains a mystery the next step you can take is to pull the machine away from the wall to get better access beneath it as well as add water to the tub to see whether the leak presents itself.

If you are still in the dark your appliance could only leak when the pump is running. If this is the case, your best bet would be to hire a appliance repair person to pinpoint and also mend the leak as there are safety risks of checking for faults with electrical parts exposed.