Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Getting up in the morning to find a large puddle coming from the dishwasher is never a great to start the day.

Thankfully, most commonplace sources of dishwasher faults are comparatively straightforward to diagnose and mend on your own. This means you might not need to wash the dishes by hand for more than a day or two, stay at home waiting for an engineer or need to pay a high call-out fee.

So, find the operating manual if you have it, find a towel to clean up the mess and so get something clean up any additional spills and so see whether you can’t fix the problem. If you cannot call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonplace Causes of Dishwasher Faults as well as How to Resolve Them

A lot of the more commonly seen explanations of dishwasher faults are not actually because of a broken dishwasher . Before you start preparing yourself for an engineering task as well as watching endless youtube videos there are a few issues you should rule out first.

Investigate to find out if your dishwasher is level. If the dishwasher isn’t aligned water can easily puddle and spill out even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Check you have been using the correct soap. You could have seen this with your washing machine. Too much soap or using the incorrect variety could result in an excess of soap suds, the soap suds spill over resulting in a leak.
Investigate your dishwasher door fully closes. If there’s a gap there may be a blockage, or you might need to adjust the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Test the filter in the base of the tub for any visible drainage issues as if your dishwasher isn’t emptying effectively this is likely to result in overfill and so leak.

If none of the above issues apply it’s time to get ready and really start the investigation.

The easiest place to start is the door as well as check for any obvious issues within of the machine prior to moving on to the underside. If you can identify and fix the issue without pulling out the dishwasher so much the better.

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 no doubt the most commonplace area for a dishwasher to leak and one of the easiest problems to resolve.

If the leak is periodic the fault may be as straightforward as a large plate or another object putting pressure against the door and preventing the door from sealing fully.

Else-ways the door gasket may have been dislodged or become cracked.

Inspect the door gasket and investigate for any brittleness, mineral deposits or other gunk, or any tracts where the gasket has come away from the door.

Removing the gasket and allowing it a good wash has been known to help in some cases or you may have to buy a new gasket and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The inlet valve can also be a commonplace problem. This is in most cases situated underneath the machine therefore you will need to unscrew the toe board and could need to unscrew the door cover.

The fill valve opens and also closes to let water into the dishwasher at varying times during the cycle. The fill valve might be damaged, shown by a slight drip, or it might be broken and so not opening or closing correctly while the dishwasher is running.

When the water inlet valve doesn’t shut correctly this can lead to the dishwasher overfilling and cause a leak.

Usually inlet valve cannot be refurbished unless it is just the rubber seal that is faulty, and so the whole component would need to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

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

Two issues could present themselves when it comes to hoses.

The seals may get damaged or the contact points might work loose meaning it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connection points first.
The other problem than can often happen as you use the machine is that hoses can be broken or cracked.

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

Pumps and Seals

You can visually check the seals that are part of the pumps or motor to determine if there is a leak and replace them if there is.

The Float Switch

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

A working float will go up as the water level goes up until the desired or highest water level is attained. The end piece of the float should then operate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your problem.

Checking the switch will require a multi-meter but it might be noticeably broken in which case getting a new one should fix the issue.

Other Parts that Might Result in Leakage

A damaged wash arm or support may causing leakage. This will also often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or faulty lines might also cause this problem as could a cracked pump cap if your dishwasher has one.

The motor shaft gasket may have cracked causing a leak. This generally presents as leakage coming from underneath the appliance.

Top Tips to Mend Your Machine

Spend less by checking the gasket rather than the whole part. In many situations, you can purchase the gasket separately which saves you having to change the entire part.
Investigate the quick solutions first. You don’t need to pull the whole thing out if the problem is the soap.
Photograph your progress. This can assist you to reverse the process, describe the component you need in a store, and also explain the issue to an engineer if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix so turn off the power first.
If you’re not sure call the professionals.

What To Do Next If Your Initial Investigation Fails to Disclose or Resolve the Leakage

If the cause of the issue is still a mystery the thing you could do is to pull the dishwasher away from the wall to get a better look beneath it as well as fill it with water to find out if the leakage becomes visible.

If you don’t discover any leaks with this method your appliance may only show a leakage if it’s running. In this case, you may wish to find a qualified technician to pinpoint as well as resolve the fault as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical parts uncovered.