Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Coming downstairs only to find an ominous puddle on the floor is no-one’s chosen way to start the day.

Luckily, most commonplace explanations of dishwasher faults are comparably straightforward to diagnose and resolve yourself. Meaning you could not be required to hand wash the dishes that much, wait for the repair man or need to pay the call-out fee.

So, if you’re feeling up to it get out the operating manual if you know where it is, find a towel to clean up the leak and so get a towel clean up any further leaks and see if you can’t fix the problem. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Common Explanations of Dishwasher Faults and How to Fix Them

A lot of the more commonly seen explanations of dishwasher faults are not actually a result of a dishwasher fault at all. Before you start preparing yourself for an engineering task and also flicking through numerous online tutorials there are a number of things you might want to take a look at first.

Investigate to find out if your dishwasher is level. If the dishwasher is wonky water can quickly pool and spill out even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Check you have been using the proper detergent. You may be aware of this fault with your washer. An excess of soap or using the wrong type could result in to too many soap suds, the suds bubble over and so you get a spill.
Investigate your dishwasher door fully closes. If there’s a gap there may be a blockage, or you might have to fix the door fixings.
Investigate the filter located in the base of the machine for any obvious obstructions because if your dishwasher isn’t emptying correctly this can result in overfill and spill.

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

To make your life easier start with the door as well as investigate for any visible problems within of the machine prior to moving on to the underside. If you can find and so fix the issue without pulling out the dishwasher so much the better.

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

Door Seal

The most commonly seen place for leakage is around the door, thankfully it is likewise one of the easiest problems to solve.

If the leak is periodic the problem might be as easy as a large plate or another object putting pressure against the door and preventing it from shutting properly.

On the other hand the door gasket may have come out of place or been damaged.

Inspect the door gasket and test for any degradation, mineral deposits or other debris, or any parts in which the gasket has come away from the door.

Extracting the gasket and giving it a thorough wash might help in some instances or you could be required to acquire a new seal and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The inlet valve can also be a everyday issue. The inlet is in most cases located on the underbelly of the machine so you will most likely need to unscrew the kick plate and also might have to remove the door cover.

The water inlet valve opens and closes to allow water into the dishwasher at various times in the cycle. The fill valve may be leaking, demonstrated by a slow drip, or it might be broken thus not operating correctly throughout the cycle.

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

In General fill valve are not able to be repaired unless it is just the rubber gasket that is broken, which means the whole valve would have to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to supply, empty and also recirculate water during the cycle.

Two problems may arise where hoses are the cause.

The gaskets can break or the contact points might work loose thus it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connections .
The other issue than might easily happen over time is that hoses might be damaged or get a hole in.

If you can see that the leak is coming from a hose this will be relatively simple to change and replacement hoses are readily available.

Pumps and Seals

You are able to visually test the seals surrounding the pumps or motor to see if there is a leakage and replace them if there is.

The Float Switch

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

When operating correctly the float will rise as the water level goes up until the desired or maximum water level is attained. The tail of the float would then operate the switch. If something is blocking this or the float is broken this could be causing your problem.

Checking the switch would need a multi-meter but it could be noticeably damaged in which case getting a new one should fix the problem.

Alternative Parts that May Result in a Leak

A damaged wash arm or support may causing leakage. This could likewise often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or damaged tubes may likewise cause this fault as can a loose pump cap if your machine has one.

The motor shaft seal might have degraded resulting in leakage. This generally presents as leakage coming from the underside of the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Fix Your Dishwasher

Spend less by changing the seal rather than the entire part. In most instances, you are able to purchase the gasket without the rest of the part which saves time as well as money.
Test the easy fixes before you get more complicated. You don’t need to pull the whole dishwasher away from the wall if it’s the detergent that’s causing the leak.
Take photos as you go along. This can assist you to reverse the process, explain the component you need to a sales person, as well as identify the fault to an engineer if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity are not good friends so unplug the machine first.
If you’re not sure call the professionals.

What To Do Next If Your Trouble Shooting Doesn’t Identify or Mend the Leak

If the cause of the problem can’t be uncovered the thing you can do is to pull out the dishwasher to get a better look underneath it as well as fill it with water to see if the leak presents itself.

If you are still in the dark your machine could only show a leakage when the pump is running. In this instance, you should hire a dishwasher repair person to determine and resolve the problem as there are safety risks of checking for faults with electrical components exposed.