Why is My Dishwasher Leaking? | Elite Bloomington Appliance Repair

Coming downstairs to find a large puddle coming from the dishwasher is no-one’s chosen way to start the day.

Luckily, most everyday sources of dishwasher leaks are comparatively easy to determine and mend by yourself. This means you could not need to wash the dishes by hand that much, wait for the repair man or need to pay a high call-out fee.

So, find the instruction manual if you have it, grab an old towel to clean up the mess and get something clean up any further leaks and see whether you can’t fix the problem. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Common Sources of Dishwasher Leaks as well as How to Fix Them

A lot of the more simple sources of dishwasher leaks are not actually a result of a broken dishwasher . Before you start getting the tools out and flicking through endless online tutorials there are a couple of problems you might want to rule out first.

Test to find out whether your dishwasher is aligned. If the dishwasher is not aligned water can quickly puddle as well as spill out regardless of whether or not the dishwasher has a fault.
Investigate you are using the right detergent. You may be aware of this issue with your washer. An excess of detergent or the incorrect type could lead to too many soap suds, the bubbles deluge and so you get a leak.
Investigate your dishwasher door closes correctly. If there’s a gap you may have an object blocking it, or you might need to adjust the door fixings.
Investigate the filter located in the base of the machine for any visible drainage issues as if your dishwasher isn’t emptying correctly this will result in fill too much and so spill.

If you have ruled out these potential problems it’s time to roll up your sleeves and really begin a thorough check.

To make your life easier start with the door as well as test for any visible problems in the interior of the machine prior to moving on to the underside. If you can identify and resolve 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 door is probably the most commonplace area for a dishwasher to leak and also one of the easiest problems to resolve.

If the leak is intermittent the issue could be as simple as an oversized dish or another object pushing into the door thus stopping the door from shutting fully.

Otherwise the door seal may have been dislodged or been damaged.

Examine the door gasket and check for any degradation, mineral deposits or other deposits, or any areas where the seal might have separated from the door.

Taking off the gasket and also allowing it a comprehensive wash might help in some instances or you could be required to acquire a new seal and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The fill valve can also be a commonly seen problem. It is generally found under the machine therefore you will most likely have to unscrew the toe board and also could need to take off the door cover.

The fill valve opens and also closes to let water into the tub at various times in the cycle. The water inlet valve may be leaking, demonstrated by a slow drip, or it may be damaged and not opening or closing properly throughout the cycle.

In the case that the water inlet valve doesn’t close correctly this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

Often these valves can’t be repaired, thus the whole valve would have to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Hoses are needed to fill, empty and redistribute water along the programme.

Two complications can present themselves when it comes to hoses.

The seals might break or the connections may work loose so it’s worth examining all the connection points first.
The alternative fault than may often develop over time is that hoses could be damaged or cracked.

Luckily damaged hoses are simple to buy and change, even for a novice.

Pumps and Gaskets

You are able to visually check the rubber seals around the pumps or motor to ascertain whether there is a leakage as well as replace them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

Either the float or the float switch might be not working correctly causing the dishwasher to overfill.

When operating correctly the float will rise as the water level goes up until the desired or maximum water level is reached. The end piece of the float will then turn on the switch. If something is blocking this or the float is broken this could be your problem.

Testing the switch would need a multi-meter but it may be obviously damaged in which case getting a new one should resolve the problem.

Other Components that May Result in Leakage

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

Broken or damaged lines might likewise cause this problem as could a cracked pump cover if your machine has one.

The motor shaft gasket might have degraded causing leakage. This generally presents as a puddle coming from underneath the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Fix Your Dishwasher

Spend less by checking the seal in place of the whole component. In plenty cases, you are able to purchase the gasket separately which saves time as well as money.
Test the simple resolutions before you get more complicated. There’s no point pulling the whole thing away from the wall if it’s the detergent that’s making the problem.
Take photos as you go. This may make your life easier when you come to put the thing back together, describe the component you are looking for to a sales person, and identify the fault to an engineer if needed.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix so turn off the power first.
If in doubt get in a professional.

The Next Steps You Should Take If Your Trouble Shooting Fails to Disclose or Mend the Leak

If the cause of the leakage is still a mystery the thing you could do is to pull the machine away from the wall to get better access underneath it and fill it with water to find out whether the leak can be seen that way.

If this doesn’t shed any light your appliance may only show a leakage when during a cycle. In this instance, you may wish to find a qualified technician to pinpoint and also fix the fault due to the safety risks of checking for faults with electrical elements exposed.