Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Coming downstairs only to step in a large puddle coming from the dishwasher is no-one’s chosen way to start the day.

Fortunately, most everyday sources of dishwasher leaks are relatively straightforward to pinpoint and mend by yourself. Meaning you might not need to hand wash the dishes that much, call an engineer or need to pay a high call-out charge.

So, find the operating manual if you know where it is, grab an old towel to clean up the puddle and get a towel soak up any further leaks and see whether you can’t fix the problem. If you cannot call us for local dishwasher repair.

Everyday Causes of Dishwasher Leaks and How to Fix Them

Many of the more common causes of dishwasher leaks aren’t really because of a broken dishwasher at all. Prior to starting getting the tools out as well as looking at numerous youtube tutorials there are a few things you should troubleshoot first.

Investigate to see whether your dishwasher is aligned. If the dishwasher is misaligned water will easily pool and so leak even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Test you are using the right soap. You could have seen this with your washing machine. Too much soap or using the wrong variety can result in an excess of suds, the suds spill over resulting in a leak.
Check your dishwasher door closes properly. If there’s a gap there may be an obstruction, or you might need to adjust the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Test the filter located in the base of the machine for any obvious drainage issues because if your dishwasher isn’t draining effectively this is likely to result in fill too much and leak.

When you have ruled out these issues it’s time to get ready and really start the investigation.

To make your life easier start with the door as well as investigate for any obvious problems in the interior of the machine before you move on to the underside. If you are able to find and so fix the issue without pulling out the dishwasher you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle.

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

Door Seal

The most commonly seen place for a dishwasher to leak is around the door, luckily it is also one of the simplest issues to solve.

If the leak is occasional the issue might be as straightforward as a big pan or another object pushing against the door thus preventing the door from shutting fully.

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

Examine the door seal and also investigate for any cracks, a build-up of limescale or other gunk, or any parts where the seal might have separated from the door.

Taking off the seal and also allowing it a thorough scrub can improve the situation in some instances or you may need to acquire a new seal and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can also be a common issue. The Valve is generally located underneath the machine which means you will have to remove the toe board and may need to remove the door cover.

The water inlet valve opens and closes to allow water into the machine at different parts of the programme. The water inlet valve could be leaking, demonstrated with a slow drip, or it may be broken thus not functioning properly while the dishwasher is running.

In the case that the water inlet valve fails to close properly this can lead to the dishwasher overfilling and cause a leak.

In General these valves cannot be refurbished unless it is only the rubber gasket that is broken, and so the entire valve would have to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Hoses are needed to supply, empty and recirculate water within the programme.

Two problems might develop when it comes to hoses.

The gaskets could get damaged or the contact points can work loose meaning it’s a good idea to check all the connection points first.
The other problem than could easily develop as time goes by is that hoses may be broken or cracked.

Luckily broken hoses are relatively simple to buy as well as replace.

Pumps and Seals

You can visually investigate the rubber gaskets around the pumps or motor to see whether there is a leak as well as change them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

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

A working float will lift up as the water level goes up until the optimum or maximum water level is attained. The end piece of the float will then operate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be causing your issues.

Testing the switch would need electrical equipment but it might be noticeably broken in which case getting a new one should stop the leak.

Alternative Components that May Cause Leakage

A broken wash arm or support may build up pressure causing a leak. This will likewise often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or cracked tubes may also result in this problem as may a damaged pump cap if your dishwasher has one.

The motor shaft seal might have come loose causing leakage. This generally presents as a puddle coming from underneath the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Sort Out Your Dishwasher

Save money by changing the seal rather than the entire part. In plenty situations, you are able to buy the seal without the rest of the part which saves time as well as money.
Investigate the easy resolutions first. You don’t need to pull the whole dishwasher out if the problem is the detergent.
Take photos as you go. This could help you reverse the process, explain the part you are looking for to a sales person, as well as explain the fault to a repair person if needed.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix so turn off the power first.
If in doubt get in the professionals.

What To Do Next If Your Trouble Shooting Doesn’t Identify or Fix the Leakage

If the cause of the problem remains a mystery the next step you may take is to pull out the dishwasher to get better access underneath it as well as add water to the tub to find out if the leak presents itself.

If this gives no further clues your appliance could only show a leakage if it’s running. In this case, you may wish to get a service engineer to diagnose and also resolve the problem as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical components uncovered.