Why is My Dishwasher Leaking? | Spring Appliance Repair

Coming downstairs only to step in a large puddle on the floor is never a great to start the day.

Thankfully, most simple explanations of dishwasher leaks are comparably simple to determine and mend yourself. This means you could not need to wash the dishes by hand that much, wait for the repair man or have to pay the call-out charge.

So, grab the manual if you can, get a towel to clean up the puddle and get a towel clean up any further leaks and see whether you can’t diagnose the issue. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Simple Causes of Dishwasher Leaks and How to Fix Them

Some of the most commonplace causes of dishwasher leaks aren’t in fact a result of a broken dishwasher at all. Prior to starting preparing yourself for an engineering task as well as watching endless youtube tutorials there are a couple of issues you might want to take a look at first.

Investigate to see if your dishwasher is level. If the dishwasher is misaligned water can quickly puddle and leak even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Check you have been using the proper soap. You might be familiar with this problem with your washing machine. Too much detergent or the wrong variety may lead to too many soap suds, the bubbles overflow resulting in a spill.
Investigate your dishwasher door closes fully. If it does not there may be a blockage, or you could have to adjust the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Investigate the filter in the bottom of the tub for any easy to see obstructions as if your dishwasher isn’t draining effectively this can cause it to fill too much and so leak.

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

The easiest place to start is the door as well as test for any visible issues inside of the machine before you move on to the underneath. If you are able to identify as well as resolve the problem without pulling out the dishwasher you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle.

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

Door Gasket

The door is seemingly the most commonly seen area for a dishwasher to leak and one of the simplest problems to fix.

If the leakage is intermittent the problem might be as easy as a large plate or another object pushing into the door thus preventing it from shutting properly.

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

Check the door gasket and also check for any degradation, mineral deposits or other gunk, or any parts in which the gasket might have separated from the door.

Extracting the seal and allowing it a comprehensive clean might improve the situation in some cases or you could be required to purchase a new seal and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can also be a commonplace problem. It is in most cases found underneath the machine therefore you will have to unscrew the kick plate and also might need to take off the door cover.

The water inlet valve opens and closes to let water into the dishwasher at different times during the cycle. The water inlet valve may be showing a leak, shown by a slight drip, or it may be broken and so not operating correctly while the dishwasher is running.

In the case that the fill valve doesn’t close properly this can result in the dishwasher leaking.

In General these valves can’t be repaired unless it is just the rubber seal that is broken, thus the whole part would need to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

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

Two issues can develop where hoses are concerned.

The seals might get damaged or the connections may come loose thus it’s a good idea to check all the connection points .
The other problem than can easily develop over time is that hoses could become degraded or cracked.

If you are able to see that the leakage is coming from a hose this should be simple to change and replacement hoses are easy to procure.

Pumps and Gaskets

You are able to visually investigate the seals surrounding the water pumps or motor to see if there is a leak and also replace them if there is.

The Float Switch

Either the float or the float switch might be not working correctly resulting in the dishwasher overfilling.

When operating as it should the float will lift up as the water level goes up until it reaches the optimum fill level. The tag of the float should then activate the switch. If something is blocking this or the float is broken this could be your issues.

Testing the switch would need a multi-meter but it could be clearly damaged in which case replacing it should stop the leak.

Other Parts that May Result in a Leak

A cracked wash arm or support might build up pressure resulting in a leak. This could likewise often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or faulty lines may also cause this problem as might a cracked pump cap.

The motor shaft gasket could have cracked resulting in leakage. This generally presents as a puddle coming from the underside of the machine.

Top Tips to Mend Your Machine

Save money by checking the gasket in place of the entire part. In most situations, you are able to buy the gasket separately which saves time as well as money.
Test the easy fixes before you get more complicated. You don’t need to pull the entire dishwasher away from the wall if the problem is the detergent.
Take photos as you go along. This can assist you to put the thing back together, show the component you are looking for to a sales person, and identify the problem to a repair person if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity are not good friends so unplug the machine first.
If you’re not sure call the professionals.

The Next Steps You Should Take If Your Initial Investigation Fails to Disclose or Fix the Leakage

If the cause of the leak can’t be uncovered the thing you could do is to pull the dishwasher away from the wall to get better access beneath it and also fill it with water to find out whether the leakage can be seen that way.

If this doesn’t shed any light your appliance might only show a leakage when the pump is running. If this is the case, your best bet would be to employ a dishwasher repair person to determine and resolve the leak as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical parts uncovered.