Why is My Dishwasher Leaking? | Gilbert Appliance Repair

Coming downstairs only to step in an ominous puddle coming from the dishwasher is no-one’s favorite manner to start the day.

Fortuitously, most everyday explanations of dishwasher faults are comparatively simple to diagnose and resolve yourself. Meaning you could not have to wash the dishes by hand for too long, wait for the repair man or need to pay a high call-out fee.

So, if you’re feeling up to it get out the instruction manual if you know where it is, clean up the mess and so get a towel soak up any additional spills and see if you can’t fix the problem. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonly Seen Sources of Dishwasher Leaks as well as How to Fix Them

Many of the most commonplace causes of dishwasher leaks aren’t actually due to a broken dishwasher . Before you start getting the tools out as well as watching numerous youtube videos there are a number of issues you should troubleshoot first.

Investigate to see whether your dishwasher is level. If your dishwasher is not level water can quickly pool and so spill out even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Investigate you are using the correct soap. You might have seen this with your washer. An excess of soap or using the incorrect variety may result in an excess of suds, the bubbles spill over and you get a spill.
Investigate your dishwasher door fully closes. If it doesn’t there may be an obstruction, or you could have to adjust the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Investigate the filter located in the bottom of the tub for any obvious obstructions because if your dishwasher isn’t emptying properly this is likely to result in fill too much and leak.

When you have looked at these issues it’s time to get ready and really begin a thorough check.

The easiest place to start is the door and investigate for any visible issues inside of the machine prior to moving on to the underneath. If you are able to find and mend the problem before you need to pull 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 most commonplace place for leakage is on the door, thankfully it is likewise one of the easiest issues to resolve.

If the leakage is periodic the problem could be as straightforward as an oversized dish or another object putting pressure against the door and preventing it from sealing correctly.

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

Inspect the door gasket and test for any degradation, mineral deposits or other deposits, or any parts where the seal might have come away from the door.

Removing the gasket and giving it a good wash might help in some instances or you might be required to buy a new gasket and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The inlet valve can also be a commonly seen issue. It is usually located on the underbelly of the machine so you may have to take off the toe board and could have to remove the door cover.

The inlet valve opens and closes to allow water into the machine at different times in the cycle. The fill valve could be damaged, demonstrated by a slight drip, or it could be broken thus not opening or closing correctly while the dishwasher is running.

If the water inlet valve fails to shut properly this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

Often fill valve are not able to be repaired unless it is only the rubber seal that is broken, which means the entire component would need to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

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

Two complications could develop where hoses are involved.

The seals can break or the connections could work loose meaning it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connection points first.
The alternative problem than may easily happen as you use the machine is that hoses might be broken or cracked.

If you can identify that the leak is a result of a faulty hose this will be relatively easy to replace and spare hoses are easy to come by.

Pumps and Gaskets

You are able to visually investigate the seals surrounding the water pumps or motor to ascertain if there is a leak and also change them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

Either the float or the float switch could be damaged causing the dishwasher to overfill.

A working float will rise as the water rises until the optimum or highest water level is reached. The tail of the float should then turn on the switch. A blockage or breakage could be causing your problem.

Testing the switch would need a multi-meter although it may be clearly broken in which case getting a new one should solve the leak.

Other Components that Might Cause a Leak

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

Broken or faulty tubes can also cause this issue as may a loose pump cap.

The motor shaft seal could have degraded causing leakage. This will generally show as a leak coming from the underside of the appliance.

Top Tips to Mend Your Machine

Spend less by changing the seal in place of the whole component. In many instances, you are able to purchase the gasket without the rest of the part which saves you having to change the entire part.
Test the quick fixes first. There’s no point pulling the entire thing out if it’s the detergent that’s making the issue.
Take pictures as you go along. This might make your life easier when you come to reverse the process, describe the part you are looking for to a sales person, and also identify the problem to an engineer if needed.
Stay safe. Water and electricity are not good friends so turn off the power first.
If you’re struggling get in a professional.

What To Do Next If Your Trouble Shooting Fails to Identify or Resolve the Leakage

If the cause of the leakage is still a mystery the thing you could do is to pull out the machine to get a clearer view of the underneath it and fill it with water to see if the leakage presents itself.

If you don’t uncover any faults with this method your machine could only leak when during a cycle. In this instance, you may wish to get a service engineer to pinpoint and also resolve the problem due to the safety risks of checking for faults with electrical parts exposed.