Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Entering the kitchen only to discover an ominous puddle coming from the dishwasher is no-one’s chosen manner to start the day.

Fortunately, most simple explanations of dishwasher faults are relatively straightforward to determine and fix by yourself. Meaning you might not have to wash the dishes by hand for too long, call an engineer or need to pay a high call-out charge.

So, grab the instruction manual if you know where it is, clean up the mess and get a towel soak up any additional spills and see if you can’t fix the problem. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Common Sources of Dishwasher Leaks as well as How to Fix Them

A lot of the most simple explanations of dishwasher leaks are not actually a result of a dishwasher fault at all. Prior to starting getting the tools out and flicking through endless online tutorials there are a number of issues you can troubleshoot first.

Check to see whether your dishwasher is aligned. If the dishwasher is not aligned water will quickly pool as well as spill out even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Investigate you have been using the right detergent. You could have seen this with your washer. Too much detergent or the incorrect type may lead to too many suds, the soap suds deluge and so you get a spill.
Test your dishwasher door closes correctly. If there’s a gap there may be an obstruction, or you could need to fix the door fixings.
Check the filter located in the bottom of the tub for any obvious drainage issues as if your dishwasher isn’t emptying properly this will 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 as well as investigate for any obvious issues inside of the machine prior to moving on to the underneath. If you are able to find and mend the leak before you have to pull out the dishwasher you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle.

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

Door Seal

The door is probably the most commonly seen place for leakage and one of the simplest problems to solve.

If the leakage is intermittent the issue could be as simple as a big pan or something else putting pressure into the door and preventing the door from shutting fully.

Otherwise the door seal may have been dislodged or been cracked.

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

Extracting the gasket and also allowing it a thorough wash could improve the situation in some instances or you may be required to purchase a new seal and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The fill valve can be a further everyday problem. The inlet is in most cases situated underneath the machine so you will most likely have to take off the toe board and also might have to unscrew the door cover.

The fill valve opens and also closes to allow water into the tub at varying times during the programme. The fill valve might be leaking, shown with a slow drip, or it could be damaged and not opening or closing properly throughout the programme.

If the inlet valve fails to close correctly this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

Often fill valve can’t be repaired, thus the entire part would have to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, empty and recirculate water during the cycle.

Two complications can present themselves when it comes to hoses.

The seals might get damaged or the connections may work loose thus it’s worth checking all the connection points first.
The alternative problem than can often develop over time is that hoses might get degraded or cracked.

If you are able to see that the leakage is a result of a faulty hose this will be relatively easy to replace and replacement hoses are easy to procure.

Pumps and Gaskets

You can visually investigate the rubber gaskets around the pumps or motor to see if there is a leakage and also replace them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

The float itself or the float switch may be damaged causing the dishwasher to overfill.

When operating as it should the float will lift up with the water level until it reaches the optimum fill level. The tail of the float would then turn on 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 although it might be obviously broken in which case replacing it should stop the leak.

Other Components that May Lead to Leakage

A broken wash arm or support can resulting in leakage. This will likewise often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or damaged tubes may also result in this problem as can a damaged pump cover.

The motor shaft gasket may have degraded causing a leak. This will generally show as leakage coming from the underside of the machine.

Top Tips to Fix Your Dishwasher

Spend less by replacing the seal rather than the whole component. In most cases, you can purchase the gasket separately which saves time as well as money.
Investigate the quick resolutions first. You don’t need to pull the whole thing away from the wall if the problem is the soap.
Take pictures at each step. This may make your life easier when you come to reverse the process, explain the component you are looking for to a sales person, and also explain the problem to a repair person if needed.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix so unplug the machine first.
If in doubt call the professionals.

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

If the cause of the issue remains a mystery the thing you may do is to pull out the machine to get a better look underneath it and also fill it with water to see if the leak presents itself.

If you are still in the dark your appliance could only leak if during a cycle. In this case, your best bet would be to employ a service engineer to determine and also mend the problem as there are safety risks of checking for faults with electrical components exposed.