Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Getting up in the morning to find an ominous puddle coming from the dishwasher is never a great to start the day.

Thankfully, most everyday explanations of dishwasher faults are comparably easy to diagnose and resolve on your own. Meaning you may not be required to wash the dishes by hand for too long, call an engineer or need to pay the call-out fee.

So, grab the instruction manual if you know where it is, find an old towel to clean up the puddle and get something soak up any additional spills and find out if you can’t diagnose the fault. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonly Seen Explanations of Dishwasher Faults as well as How to Mend Them

Many of the more simple sources of dishwasher leaks are not actually because of a broken dishwasher . Before you start preparing yourself for an engineering task as well as looking at endless youtube videos there are a few issues you might want to troubleshoot first.

Investigate to see whether your dishwasher is level. If the dishwasher is misaligned water will easily pool and so spill out regardless of whether or not the dishwasher has a fault.
Test you have been using the proper detergent. You may have seen this with your washing machine. An excess of detergent or the incorrect type may lead an excess of suds, the bubbles overflow and so you get a leak.
Test your dishwasher door fully closes. If there’s a gap there may be a blockage, or you could need to fix the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Check the filter located at the bottom of the machine for any obvious drainage issues because if your dishwasher isn’t emptying properly this will cause it to overfill and so spill.

When you have ruled out these possible causes it’s time to roll up your sleeves and really begin the investigation.

To make your life easier start with the door and check for any visible damage in the interior of the machine before you move on to the underneath. If you are able to find and so resolve the issue before you have 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 door is probably the most commonplace place for leakage and one of the easiest problems to fix.

If the leak is periodic the problem may be as simple as an oversized dish or something else putting pressure into the door and preventing the door from sealing properly.

Else-ways the door seal could have been dislodged or got cracked.

Check the door gasket and also investigate for any cracks, mineral deposits or other debris, or any areas in which the seal might have come away from the door.

Taking off the gasket and giving it a thorough scrub might help in some instances or you could need to purchase a new gasket and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can also be a everyday issue. The Valve is usually situated on the underbelly of the machine which means you will most likely need to remove the toe board and could need to remove the door cover.

The water inlet valve opens and also closes to allow water into the dishwasher at different parts of the programme. The fill valve may be damaged, evidenced by a slow drip, or it could be damaged thus not operating fully throughout the cycle.

If the fill valve fails to shut properly this can lead to the dishwasher overfilling and cause a leak.

In General water inlet valve can’t be repaired, which means the entire part would have to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Hoses are needed to fill, empty as well as recirculate water within the programme.

Two complications could develop with hoses.

The gaskets may get damaged or the contact points might come loose thus it’s a good idea to check all the connection points .
The other problem than can easily develop as you use the machine is that hoses could get degraded or get a hole in.

If you are able to determine that the leakage is a result of a faulty hose this will be relatively simple to replace and new hoses are readily available.

Pumps and Gaskets

You can visually investigate the rubber gaskets around the pumps or motor to ascertain whether there is a leakage and also change them if there is.

The Float Switch

Either the float or the float switch could be damaged resulting in the dishwasher overfilling.

When operating correctly the float will lift up as the water rises until the desired or maximum water level is reached. The tag of the float would then activate the switch. If something is blocking this or the float is broken this could be causing your issues.

Checking the switch would need electrical equipment but it could be obviously damaged in which case getting a new one should resolve the issue.

Other Components that May Cause a Leak

A cracked wash arm or support may causing leakage. This can also often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or cracked tubes could also cause this issue as might a damaged pump cover.

The motor shaft gasket could have cracked causing a leak. This generally presents as leakage coming from the underside of the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Sort Out Your Dishwasher

Spend less by checking the gasket instead of the entire part. In plenty situations, you can acquire the seal separately which saves you having to replace the whole part.
Test the easy fixes first. You don’t need to pull the entire machine away from the wall if it’s the detergent that’s causing the problem.
Photograph your progress. This may make your life easier when you come to put the machine back together, explain the part you are looking for in a store, and also identify the fault to a repair person if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity are not good friends so turn off the power first.
If you’re struggling get in a professional.

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

If the root of the leak is still a mystery the next step you may take is to pull out the machine to get better access beneath it as well as add water to the tub to see whether the leakage becomes visible.

If this doesn’t shed any light your machine may only leak when it’s running. In this case, you may wish to employ a qualified technician to diagnose as well as mend the leak as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical elements uncovered.