Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Entering the kitchen to step in an ominous puddle on the floor is never the best to start the day.

Fortunately, most simple causes of dishwasher faults are comparably straightforward to diagnose and fix yourself. This means you could not be required to wash the dishes by hand that much, call an engineer or have to pay the call-out charge.

So, grab the operating manual if you can, clean up the mess and so get a towel soak up any further leaks and see whether you can find a DIY solution. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Simple Sources of Dishwasher Faults and How to Resolve Them

Many of the most commonly seen causes of dishwasher faults aren’t really a result of a broken dishwasher at all. Prior to starting preparing yourself for an engineering task and flicking through numerous youtube videos there are a number of problems you should take a look at first.

Check to see whether your dishwasher is aligned. If your dishwasher is misaligned water will easily puddle and so spill out even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Investigate you have been using the right detergent. You may be aware of this problem with your washer. Too much detergent or using the wrong variety can result in an excess of suds, the bubbles spill over and so you get a leak.
Test your dishwasher door closes properly. If it doesn’t there may be a blockage, or you may have to adjust the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Test the filter at the base of the tub for any obvious drainage issues because if your dishwasher isn’t emptying correctly this is likely to result in overfill and spill.

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

The easiest place to start is the door as well as test for any obvious issues in the interior of the machine prior to moving on to the underside. If you are able to identify as well as fix the problem without pulling out the dishwasher so much the better.

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

Door Gasket

The door is no doubt the most commonly seen area for leakage and one of the simplest problems to resolve.

If the leakage is periodic the fault may be as easy as an oversized dish or something else pushing against the door and preventing the door from sealing correctly.

On the other hand the door gasket could have come out of place or been damaged.

Check the door gasket and also investigate for any degradation, a build-up of limescale or other gunk, or any areas where the seal has come away from the door.

Extracting the seal and allowing it a good wash has been known to improve the situation in some cases or you may need to purchase a new seal and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The fill valve can also be a everyday problem. It is usually situated under the machine which means you will have to remove the toe board and could have to take off the door cover.

The fill valve opens and closes to let water into the dishwasher at different times during the cycle. The water inlet valve could be damaged, evidenced with a slow drip, or it could be broken and not functioning correctly while the dishwasher is running.

If the fill valve doesn’t shut fully this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

Usually these valves cannot be repaired unless it is only the rubber seal that is damaged, which means the entire part would need to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

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

Two problems may arise with hoses.

The seals can break or the contact points could work loose so it’s a good idea to check all the connections first.
The alternative issue than may often develop as you use the machine is that hoses may be degraded or get a hole in.

If you are able to determine that the leak is a result of a faulty hose this should be relatively simple to replace and spare hoses are easy to procure.

Pumps and Gaskets

You are able to visually check the rubber gaskets that are part of the water pumps or motor to determine whether there is a leakage and replace them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

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

A working float will rise with the water level until the optimum or maximum water level is reached. The end piece of the float would then operate 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 may be clearly damaged in which case replacing it should fix the leak.

Alternative Components that Could Lead to Leakage

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

Broken or damaged lines can likewise result in this issue as can a loose pump cover if your dishwasher has one.

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

Top Tips to Fix Your Dishwasher

Spend less by changing the seal rather than the entire component. In most situations, you can buy the seal separately which saves you having to change the entire part.
Test the easy fixes before you get more complicated. You don’t need to pull the entire dishwasher out if the problem is the soap.
Photograph your progress. This could help you reverse the process, describe the component you need in a shop, as well as identify the fault to an engineer if needed.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix so turn off the power first.
If you’re not sure call a repair person.

What To Do Next If Your Trouble Shooting Fails to Identify or Mend the Leakage

If the cause of the issue remains a mystery the next step you might take is to pull out the machine to get a better look underneath it as well as add water to the tub to find out if the leakage can be seen that way.

If you are still in the dark your appliance may only leak if during a cycle. In this case, you may wish to find a dishwasher repair person to diagnose and also fix the leak as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical components uncovered.