Why is My Dishwasher Leaking? | Lee's Summit Appliance Repair

Getting up in the morning only to discover an ominous puddle on the floor is never the best to start the day.

Fortuitously, most common sources of dishwasher leaks are comparatively easy to determine and resolve on your own. Meaning you might not be required to hand wash the dishes for too long, wait for the repair man or have to pay a high call-out charge.

So, if you’re feeling up to it get out the manual if you know where it is, grab a towel to clean up the leak and so get something soak up any further leaks and so find out whether you can find a DIY solution. If you aren’t able to call us for local dishwasher repair.

Common Explanations of Dishwasher Leaks and How to Mend Them

A lot of the most everyday sources of dishwasher leaks are not actually because of a dishwasher fault at all. Prior to starting preparing yourself for an engineering task as well as flicking through numerous youtube videos there are a number of problems you might want to rule out first.

Investigate to find out if your dishwasher is level. If your dishwasher is not level water can easily pool and spill out even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Investigate you are using the correct soap. You might have seen this with your washing machine. Too much detergent or the wrong type may result in an excess of soap suds, the soap suds bubble over resulting in a spill.
Check your dishwasher door fully closes. If it doesn’t you could have an object blocking it, or you could have to adjust the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Investigate the filter located at the base of the machine for any visible obstructions as if your dishwasher isn’t draining properly this can result in fill too much and so spill.

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

To make your life easier start with the door and check for any visible issues inside of the machine before you move on to the underneath. If you can find as well as resolve the issue without pulling 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 most commonplace place for leakage is on the door, luckily it is also one of the simplest problems to resolve.

If the leak is periodic the problem might be as easy as a large plate or another object putting pressure into the door thus preventing the door from closing fully.

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

Inspect the door gasket and also test for any degradation, a build-up of limescale or other debris, or any areas where the gasket has separated from the door.

Taking off the seal and allowing it a thorough wash could improve the situation in some instances or you could have to purchase a new gasket and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can also be a common fault. It is usually located underneath the machine and so you may need to unscrew the kick plate and may have to remove the door cover.

The fill valve opens and also closes to let water into the tub at varying parts of the programme. The water inlet valve may be damaged, demonstrated with a slow drip, or it might be damaged and so not operating properly while the dishwasher is running.

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

In General water inlet valve can’t be fixed unless it is only the rubber seal that is faulty, and so the whole part would need to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Hoses are needed to supply, empty and redistribute water along the programme.

Two issues can arise where hoses are concerned.

The seals might break or the connections could come loose meaning it’s worth having a look at all the connection points first.
The alternative issue than might easily happen as you use the machine is that hoses might get degraded or cracked.

If you are able to identify that the leakage is a result of a faulty hose this should be simple to change and spare hoses are readily available.

Pumps and Seals

You can visually test the gaskets around the water pumps or motor to ascertain if there is a leak and also change them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

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

When operating correctly the float will go up with the water level until the desired or highest water level is reached. The tail of the float should then operate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be causing your problem.

Checking the switch would need electrical equipment but it may be noticeably broken in which case getting a new one should resolve the leak.

Other Parts that Could Cause Leakage

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

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

The motor shaft seal might have degraded causing leakage. This generally presents as a puddle coming from underneath the machine.

Top Tips to Fix Your Dishwasher

Save money by changing the gasket instead of the whole component. In most cases, you are able to acquire the gasket without the rest of the part which saves you having to replace the whole part.
Check the simple fixes first. There’s no point pulling the whole thing out if the problem is the detergent.
Take photos as you go. This may help you reverse the process, describe the component you need to a sales person, as well as identify the fault to a repair person if required.
Be careful. Water and electricity do not mix so unplug the machine first.
If you’re not sure get in a repair person.

What To Do Next If Your Initial Investigation Fails to Disclose or Fix the Leak

If the root of the problem is still a mystery the next step you may take is to pull the dishwasher away from the wall to get a clearer view of the beneath it and also fill it with water to see if the leakage presents itself.

If you don’t discover any faults with this method your machine could only show a leakage when it’s running. In this instance, you may wish to find a qualified technician to determine as well as mend the issue as there are safety risks of checking for faults with electrical components uncovered.