Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Coming downstairs to find an ominous puddle coming from the dishwasher is never a great to start the day.

Luckily, most commonplace sources of dishwasher faults are relatively straightforward to determine and mend by yourself. Meaning you could not have to wash the dishes by hand for more than a day or two, call an engineer or have to pay a high call-out fee.

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

Everyday Sources of Dishwasher Leaks as well as How to Mend Them

A lot of the most simple causes of dishwasher leaks aren’t actually due to a dishwasher issue at all. Prior to starting preparing yourself for an engineering task and also flicking through endless youtube videos there are a few issues you can troubleshoot first.

Test to see if your dishwasher is level. If the dishwasher is wonky water will easily pool and leak without there being anything that needs to be resolved or replaced.
Investigate you have been using the proper detergent. You could be familiar with this problem with your washing machine. Too much soap or the incorrect type may lead an excess of bubbles, the suds overflow resulting in a leak.
Investigate your dishwasher door closes fully. If it doesn’t there may be an obstruction, or you might need to replace the door fixings.
Investigate the filter located at the bottom of the machine for any easy to see drainage issues as if your dishwasher isn’t emptying properly this can result in fill too much and so leak.

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

The easiest place to start is the door as well as investigate for any visible damage inside of the machine prior to moving on to the underneath. If you can identify as well as mend the leak before you need to pull out the dishwasher so much the better.

Also make sure you disconnect the appliance first by either unplugging it or turning off the circuit breaker for the dishwasher.

Door Gasket

The most usual place for a dishwasher to leak is around the door, fortunately it is also one of the quickest problems to solve.

If the leak is occasional the fault may be as straightforward as a large plate or another object pushing into the door and preventing it from shutting correctly.

Otherwise the door seal might have come out of place or been damaged.

Inspect the door gasket and also investigate for any degradation, a build-up of limescale or other gunk, or any tracts where the gasket might have come away from the door.

Extracting the seal and also giving it a thorough wash can improve the situation in some cases or you may have to purchase a new gasket and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The fill valve can be another everyday problem. The inlet is usually found under the machine which means you will have to remove the kick plate and could need to unscrew the door cover.

The fill valve opens and closes to allow water into the dishwasher at various times during the cycle. The water inlet valve could be leaking, evidenced by a slow drip, or it may be damaged and not functioning properly during the cycle.

When the water inlet valve doesn’t shut properly this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

Often these valves cannot be refurbished unless it is only the rubber gasket that is damaged, thus the whole part would need to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, drain and also redistribute water during the programme.

Two problems could present themselves when it comes to hoses.

The gaskets can get damaged or the connections may come loose thus it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connection points first.
The other problem than may often develop as you use the machine is that hoses might become damaged or cracked.

If you are able to identify that the leak is coming from a hose this will be relatively easy to replace and replacement hoses are easy to procure.

Pumps and Gaskets

You can visually check the rubber seals that are part of the water 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 might be damaged causing the dishwasher to overfill.

A working float will rise with the water level until the desired or highest water level is reached. The tail of the float will then operate the switch. If something is blocking this or the float is broken this could be causing your issues.

Testing the switch will require electrical equipment although it may be noticeably damaged in which case replacing it should resolve the issue.

Other Parts that Could Lead to a Leak

A broken wash arm or support can causing leakage. This can also often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or cracked tubes could likewise result in this problem as may a cracked pump cap.

The motor shaft gasket could have degraded resulting in leakage. This will generally show as a leak coming from the underside of the appliance.

Top Tips to Fix Your Dishwasher

Spend less by changing the gasket rather than the whole component. In plenty instances, you are able to buy the gasket separately which saves time as well as money.
Check the quick resolutions first. You don’t need to pull the whole machine away from the wall if it’s the detergent that’s making the issue.
Take pictures at each step. This could make your life easier when you come to reverse the process, describe the component you need to a sales person, and also explain the issue to a repair person if required.
Be careful. Water and electricity do not mix so unplug the machine first.
If you’re struggling call a professional.

The Next Steps You Should Take If Your Initial Investigation Fails to Disclose or Fix the Leak

If the root of the leakage remains a mystery the thing you can do is to pull out the dishwasher to get a better look underneath it and fill it with water to find out if the leak becomes visible.

If you don’t find any leakages with this method your appliance might only leak if it’s running. If this is the case, you should employ a appliance repair person to determine and also fix the leak due to the safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical components exposed.