Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

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

Thankfully, most commonly seen sources of dishwasher faults are relatively straightforward to diagnose and mend on your own. Meaning you could not need to wash the dishes by hand for too long, call an engineer or have to pay a high call-out charge.

So, if you’re feeling up to it find the instruction manual if you have it, get an old towel to clean up the puddle and get something clean up any further leaks and so see whether you can diagnose the problem. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Simple Explanations of Dishwasher Faults and How to Resolve Them

A lot of the most common causes of dishwasher leaks are not in fact due to a broken dishwasher . Before you start preparing yourself for an engineering task and also watching numerous youtube tutorials there are a few things you should rule out first.

Test to find out whether your dishwasher is aligned. If the dishwasher is not level water can quickly pool and so spill out even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Test you have been using the correct detergent. You may have seen this with your washer. Too much soap or the wrong type can lead an excess of bubbles, the suds overflow resulting in a leak.
Test your dishwasher door closes correctly. If there’s a gap you may have an object obstructing it such as a large plate, or you may have to replace the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Investigate the filter at the base of the tub for any easy to see drainage issues because if your dishwasher isn’t draining properly this will cause it to fill too much and so leak.

If you have looked at these issues it’s time to roll up your sleeves and really begin the inspection.

To make your life easier start with the door as well as test for any obvious problems within of the machine prior to moving on to the underneath. If you can identify and so fix the leak 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 Seal

The door is probably the most simple area for leakage as well as one of the easiest problems to solve.

If the leakage is occasional the problem could be as straightforward as an oversized dish or something else pushing against the door and stopping it from closing properly.

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

Inspect the door gasket and investigate for any brittleness, a build-up of limescale or other gunk, or any parts where the gasket has come away from the door.

Extracting the seal and giving it a comprehensive scrub has been known to help in some cases or you could need to buy a new seal and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

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

The inlet valve opens and closes to let water into the dishwasher at various times during the cycle. The inlet valve could be damaged, shown by a slight drip, or it might be broken thus not operating fully throughout the cycle.

In the case that the inlet valve fails to shut properly this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

Generally these valves cannot be refurbished, thus the entire component would have to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, drain as well as recirculate water within the cycle.

Two problems might present themselves where hoses are the cause.

The seals could get damaged or the contact points may work loose meaning it’s worth having a look at all the connections .
The alternative fault than can often develop as you use the machine is that hoses may become broken or get a hole in.

Luckily damaged hoses are relatively easy to get hold of and change.

Pumps and Gaskets

You can visually investigate the rubber gaskets surrounding the water pumps or motor to ascertain if there is a leak and also replace them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

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

A working float will lift up with the water level until it reaches the optimum fill level. The tag of the float will then activate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your issues.

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

Alternative Components that May Cause a Leak

A broken wash arm or support might puch water under the door causing leakage. This can also often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or damaged tubes may likewise cause this fault as may a cracked pump cap.

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

Top Tips to Mend Your Machine

Spend less by checking the seal rather than the whole part. In most cases, you can acquire 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 machine out if the problem is the soap.
Photograph your progress. This might assist you to reverse the process, explain the part you are looking for to a sales person, and identify the problem to a repair person if needed.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix so turn off the power first.
If you’re not sure get in a professional.

What To Do Next If Your Trouble Shooting Fails to Disclose or Fix the Leakage

If the cause of the issue remains a mystery the next step you can take is to pull out the dishwasher to get a better look beneath it and also add water to the tub to see whether the leakage becomes visible.

If this gives no further clues your machine may only show a leakage when the pump is running. If this is the case, you should hire a appliance repair person to diagnose and resolve the problem due to the safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical parts uncovered.