Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Entering the kitchen only to discover a large puddle coming from the dishwasher is no-one’s chosen manner to start the day.

Fortuitously, most simple causes of dishwasher faults are relatively easy to determine and resolve by yourself. This means you could not have to wash the dishes by hand for too long, call an engineer or need to pay the call-out charge.

So, grab the instruction manual if you have it, grab an old towel to clean up the leak and so get a towel soak up any further spills and see whether you can find a do it yourself solution. If you aren’t able to call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonly Seen Causes of Dishwasher Faults and How to Fix Them

Some of the more commonly seen sources of dishwasher faults aren’t in fact because of a dishwasher fault . Before you start preparing yourself for an engineering task and flicking through numerous online tutorials there are a couple of things you should rule out first.

Test to find out if your dishwasher is aligned. If the dishwasher is misaligned water can easily puddle and so spill out regardless of whether or not the dishwasher has a fault.
Test you have been using the right soap. You may have seen this with your washing machine. Too much soap or the incorrect variety could lead an excess of suds, the bubbles spill over resulting in a spill.
Investigate your dishwasher door fully closes. If it doesn’t there may be an obstruction, or you might have to replace the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Check the filter in the base of the tub for any visible obstructions as if your dishwasher isn’t emptying properly this is likely to result in fill too much and spill.

When you have eliminated these possible causes it’s time to get ready and start a thorough check.

The easiest place to start is the door as well as check for any visible problems inside of the machine prior to moving on to the underside. If you can find and so mend the issue before you have to pull out the dishwasher so much the better.

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

Door Seal

The door is probably the most common area for a dishwasher to leak and also one of the simplest problems to fix.

If the leakage is intermittent the fault might be as straightforward as an oversize dish or another object pushing into the door thus stopping the door from closing fully.

Else-ways the door seal could have come loose or got cracked.

Check the door seal and also test for any cracks, a build-up of limescale or other deposits, or any parts in which the gasket has come away from the door.

Extracting the gasket and also allowing it a good wash might help in some instances or you might need to acquire a new gasket and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can also be a common fault. The inlet is generally located underneath the machine which means you may have to take off the kick plate and also may have to take off the door cover.

The water inlet valve opens and closes to allow water into the machine at different times in the cycle. The inlet valve could be damaged, evidenced by a slight drip, or it might be damaged thus not operating fully while the dishwasher is running.

If the water inlet valve doesn’t shut correctly this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

Generally these valves cannot be refurbished unless it is only the rubber seal that is faulty, thus the entire part would have to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to supply, empty and redistribute water along the program.

Two complications can arise when it comes to hoses.

The seals might get damaged or the connections can work loose thus it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connection points first.
The alternative problem than can easily happen as time goes by is that hoses can become degraded or get a hole in.

If you can determine that the leak is coming from a hose this should be simple to replace and replacement hoses are easy to procure.

Pumps and Gaskets

You can visually test the rubber seals that are part of the pumps or motor to ascertain whether there is a leakage and also replace them if there is.

The Float Switch

Either the float or the float switch may be broken causing the dishwasher to overfill.

When working correctly the float will rise with the water level until it reaches the maximum fill level. The end piece of the float should then activate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your problem.

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

Alternative Components that Could Result in a Leak

A broken wash arm or support may resulting in a leak. This will also often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or cracked tubes might likewise result in this problem as might a cracked pump cover.

The motor shaft seal might have cracked resulting in a leak. This generally presents as leakage coming from underneath the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Fix Your Machine

Save money by replacing the gasket in place of the entire part. In plenty situations, you can acquire the seal separately which saves you having to change the whole part.
Investigate the easy solutions before you get more complicated. There’s no point pulling the whole dishwasher away from the wall if it’s the detergent that’s making the leak.
Take pictures as you go. This may assist you to put the thing back together, show the part you are looking for to a sales person, as well as explain the issue to a repair person if required.
Be careful. Water and electricity do not mix so turn off the power first.
If you’re struggling call the professionals.

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

If the root of the problem is still a mystery the next step you might take is to pull out the dishwasher to get better access beneath it and also add water to the tub to see whether the leak becomes visible.

If this gives no further clues your dishwasher could only show a leakage if during a cycle. In this instance, you should find a appliance repair person to pinpoint and resolve the problem as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical components exposed.