Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Coming downstairs only to discover a large puddle on the floor is no-one’s favorite manner to start the day.

Luckily, most commonly seen causes of dishwasher leaks are comparably easy to pinpoint and fix yourself. Meaning you might not need to hand wash the dishes for more than a day or two, call an engineer or have to pay a high call-out charge.

So, if you’re feeling up to it get out the instruction manual if you have it, get an old towel to clean up the leak and get something clean up any additional leaks and so see if you can’t fix the problem. If you aren’t able to call us for local dishwasher repair.

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

A lot of the most everyday explanations of dishwasher faults are not in fact a result of a broken dishwasher . Prior to starting preparing yourself for an engineering task as well as flicking through endless youtube videos there are a number of problems you should rule out first.

Investigate to find out whether your dishwasher is aligned. If your dishwasher is wonky water can quickly pool and so leak without there being anything that needs to be mended or changed.
Investigate you have been using the right soap. You might be aware of this problem with your washer. Too much soap or the wrong type may result in to too many suds, the bubbles bubble over and so you get a spill.
Check your dishwasher door closes properly. If it does not there may be a blockage, or you could need to replace the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Check the filter at the base of the machine for any visible drainage issues as if your dishwasher isn’t emptying properly this will cause it to fill too much and so leak.

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

The easiest place to start is the door as well as test for any visible problems in the interior of the machine prior to moving on to the underneath. If you are able to identify as well as mend the issue without pulling out the dishwasher you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle.

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

Door Gasket

The most commonly seen place for a dishwasher to leak is on the door, luckily it is likewise one of the simplest issues to resolve.

If the leak is intermittent the problem might be as simple as a large plate or another object putting pressure into the door and preventing the door from closing fully.

Else-ways the door seal might have come loose or become split.

Inspect the door gasket and also investigate for any brittleness, a build-up of limescale or other deposits, or any parts in which the gasket might have separated from the door.

Taking off the seal and allowing it a thorough clean might improve the situation in some instances or you might have to acquire a new gasket and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The fill valve can also be a commonplace problem. The inlet is in most cases found on the underbelly of the machine so you will have to remove the kick plate and might need to remove the door cover.

The inlet valve opens and also closes to let water into the dishwasher at different times in the programme. The water inlet valve could be leaking, evidenced by a slight drip, or it could be broken and so not functioning fully while the dishwasher is running.

When the fill valve doesn’t close properly this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

Often fill valve cannot be repaired, and so the whole part would have to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, drain and also recirculate water along the cycle.

Two complications can present themselves where hoses are concerned.

The gaskets could go or the connections can work loose so it’s worth examining all the connection points first.
The other fault than may easily happen over time is that hoses could be damaged or get a hole in.

Luckily broken hoses are simple to buy and also replace, even for a novice.

Pumps and Gaskets

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

The Float Switch

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

When working correctly the float will go up as the water level goes up until it reaches the highest fill level. The end piece of the float will then turn on the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your issues.

Testing the switch would need a multi-meter although it may be clearly broken in which case replacing it should resolve the leak.

Alternative Components that Could Result in a Leak

A broken wash arm or support can causing a leak. This will likewise often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or faulty lines might also cause this issue as could a damaged pump cover if your machine has one.

The motor shaft seal may have degraded resulting in a leak. This will generally show as a leak coming from underneath the appliance.

Top Tips to Fix Your Machine

Spend less by checking the gasket rather than the entire component. In most cases, you can purchase the gasket separately which saves time as well as money.
Check the easy solutions first. You don’t need to pull the whole machine out if it’s the soap that’s causing the issue.
Take pictures as you go. This can assist you to put the machine back together, show the part you need to a sales person, and also explain the fault to an engineer if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix so unplug the machine first.
If in doubt get in a professional.

The Next Steps You Should Take If Your Initial Investigation Doesn’t Identify or Fix the Leakage

If the cause of the leak remains a mystery the thing you could do is to pull the dishwasher away from the wall to get a better look underneath it and add water to the tub to find out if the leak presents itself.

If you don’t uncover any faults with this method your machine may only show a leakage when it’s running. If this is the case, you may wish to get a qualified technician to diagnose and fix the leak as there are safety risks of checking for faults with electrical components uncovered.