Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Entering the kitchen to step in a large puddle coming from the dishwasher is never a great to start the day.

Thankfully, most common explanations of dishwasher faults are comparably easy to determine and fix 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, if you’re feeling up to it grab the instruction manual if you have it, grab an old towel to clean up the puddle and so get a towel clean up any further spills and so see if you can’t fix the problem. If you aren’t able to call us for local dishwasher repair.

Common Causes of Dishwasher Faults and How to Mend Them

Some of the most commonly seen sources of dishwasher leaks aren’t in fact a result of a broken dishwasher . Before you start getting the tools out and flicking through numerous YouTube videos there are a couple of problems you might want to take a look at first.

Investigate to find out whether your dishwasher is aligned. If the dishwasher is wonky water can easily pool and spill out regardless of whether or not the dishwasher has a fault.
Check you are using the right soap. You might have seen this with your washer. Too much detergent or using the incorrect variety could lead an excess of soap suds, the suds spill over resulting in a spill.
Test your dishwasher door fully closes. If it does not there may be a blockage, or you may have to adjust the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Investigate the filter in the bottom of the tub for any obvious obstructions as if your dishwasher isn’t emptying effectively this will result in fill too much and so spill.

If you have looked at these potential problems it’s time to get ready and start the investigation.

To make your life easier start with the door and check for any visible issues inside of the machine before you move on to the underneath. If you can find and resolve the issue without pulling out the dishwasher you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle.

And make sure you disconnect the appliance first by either unplugging it or turning off the circuit breaker for the dishwasher.

Door Seal

The door is probably the most everyday place for a dishwasher to leak as well as one of the easiest issues to fix.

If the leakage is intermittent the issue might be as straightforward as a large plate or something else pushing against the door thus preventing the door from closing correctly.

On the other hand the door seal may have been dislodged or been damaged.

Examine the door seal and investigate for any brittleness, a build-up of limescale or other debris, or any areas where the gasket might have separated from the door.

Removing the gasket and also giving it a comprehensive wash might improve the situation in some cases or you may have to purchase a new seal and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The fill valve can be another commonplace problem. This is in most cases found underneath the machine which means you will most likely need to remove the kick plate and may need to remove the door cover.

The fill valve opens and closes to allow water into the machine at different parts of the cycle. The water inlet valve could be showing a leak, evidenced by a slow drip, or it might be damaged and not operating correctly while the dishwasher is running.

When the water inlet valve doesn’t close fully this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

Usually these valves can’t be repaired, and so the whole part would have to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Hoses are needed to fill, drain and also recirculate water within the program.

Two complications could present themselves with hoses.

The gaskets may get damaged or the contact points can come loose thus it’s worth having a look at all the connections .
The alternative problem than might often develop over time is that hoses can get damaged or get a hole in.

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

Pumps and Seals

You are able to visually test the gaskets around the water 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 could be not working correctly causing the dishwasher to overfill.

A working float will lift up as the water rises until the optimum or maximum water level is attained. The end piece of the float will then turn on the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your problem.

Testing the switch would need electrical equipment but it might be noticeably damaged in which case getting a new one should resolve the problem.

Alternative Parts that May Cause a Leak

A cracked wash arm or support might resulting in a leak. This will also often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or faulty tubes might likewise cause this issue as could a broken pump cap.

The motor shaft seal could have cracked resulting in leakage. This will generally show as a leak coming from the underside of the machine.

Top Tips to Sort Out Your Machine

Spend less by checking the seal instead of the entire component. In most instances, you can buy the seal without the rest of the part which saves you having to change the whole part.
Test the easy fixes before you get more complicated. There’s no point pulling the entire machine out if it’s the detergent that’s making the issue.
Take photos as you go along. This can help you put the machine back together, describe the component you need in a shop, and identify the problem to an engineer if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity are not good friends so unplug the machine first.
If you’re struggling get in a repair person.

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

If the root of the leakage can’t be uncovered the thing you may do is to pull out the machine to get a better look beneath it as well as fill it with water to see whether the leak can be seen that way.

If this gives no further clues your appliance may only show a leakage if the pump is running. In this case, you may wish to employ a appliance repair person to determine and resolve the issue as there are safety risks of checking for faults with electrical elements exposed.