Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Coming downstairs to find a large puddle on the floor is no-one’s chosen way to start the day.

Thankfully, most commonly seen causes of dishwasher leaks are comparatively easy to determine and resolve on your own. This means you might not have to wash the dishes by hand that much, stay at home waiting for an engineer or have to pay the call-out fee.

So, if you’re feeling up to it find the instruction manual if you have it, clean up the puddle and get something soak up any further spills and see whether you can’t fix the problem. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Simple Causes of Dishwasher Faults as well as How to Mend Them

Some of the most common sources of dishwasher faults are not really because of a broken dishwasher . Prior to starting getting the tools out and also flicking through numerous youtube videos there are a couple of things you can take a look at first.

Check to see whether your dishwasher is level. If your dishwasher is not aligned water will easily puddle as well as leak without there being anything that needs to be mended or changed.
Test you have been using the proper soap. You might be aware of this fault with your washing machine. An excess of detergent or the incorrect type may lead an excess of soap suds, the suds deluge resulting in a spill.
Investigate your dishwasher door closes properly. If it doesn’t you might have something blocking it such as a large plate, or you could need to replace the door fixings.
Test the filter located in the base of the tub for any visible obstructions because if your dishwasher isn’t draining properly this will result in overfill and leak.

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

To make your life easier start with the door as well as investigate for any visible issues within of the machine prior to moving on to the underside. If you are able to identify as well as mend the problem 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 seemingly the most everyday place for a dishwasher to leak as well as one of the simplest problems to resolve.

If the leakage is intermittent the issue may be as simple as an oversized dish or something else putting pressure against the door and stopping the door from shutting fully.

Else-ways the door seal might have come out of place or become cracked.

Check the door gasket and check for any brittleness, a build-up of limescale or other gunk, or any tracts where the gasket has come away from the door.

Removing the gasket and also giving it a thorough scrub might help in some instances or you might need to acquire a new gasket and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The inlet valve can be another everyday fault. The Valve is usually located on the underbelly of the machine therefore you may need to remove the kick plate and also might need to unscrew the door cover.

The water inlet valve opens and closes to let water into the tub at various parts of the programme. The water inlet valve could be damaged, evidenced with a slight drip, or it may be damaged and not functioning properly while the dishwasher is running.

In the case that the fill valve fails to shut correctly this can lead to the dishwasher leaking.

Generally water inlet valve cannot be fixed unless it is only the rubber seal that is faulty, and so the entire component would need to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Hoses are needed to supply, empty and recirculate water within the cycle.

Two issues could arise when it comes to hoses.

The gaskets can go or the connections could come loose thus it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connections first.
The other issue than could often happen as you use the machine is that hoses might be degraded or cracked.

Luckily broken hoses are relatively easy to procure and also change, even for a novice.

Pumps and Gaskets

You can visually test the rubber gaskets surrounding the pumps or motor to determine 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 faulty causing the dishwasher to overfill.

When working correctly the float will rise as the water rises until the desired or highest water level is reached. The tag of the float will then operate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be causing your issues.

Checking the switch will require a multi-meter but it could be noticeably damaged in which case replacing it should resolve the problem.

Other Components that Might Lead to a Leak

A cracked wash arm or support might force water under the door causing leakage. This will also often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or cracked tubes could also result in this problem as could a loose pump cover if your machine has one.

The motor shaft gasket might have degraded resulting in leakage. This will generally show as a puddle coming from underneath the machine.

Top Tips to Sort Out Your Dishwasher

Spend less by checking the seal in place of the entire component. In most instances, you can purchase the gasket without the rest of the part which saves you having to change the whole part.
Test the simple fixes first. You don’t need to pull the whole dishwasher away from the wall if the problem is the detergent.
Take pictures as you go. This could help you put the machine back together, show the part you are looking for to a sales person, and identify the fault to a repair person if needed.
Stay safe. Water and electricity are not good friends so unplug the machine first.
If you’re not sure get in a professional.

The Next Steps You Should Take If Your Trouble Shooting Fails to Identify or Resolve the Leak

If the cause of the leakage can’t be uncovered the next step you can take is to pull the dishwasher away from the wall to get a better look underneath it as well as fill it with water to find out whether the leakage can be seen that way.

If you are still in the dark your dishwasher could only leak when it’s running. In this instance, your best bet would be to find a appliance repair person to diagnose as well as mend the problem as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical components exposed.