Why is My Dishwasher Leaking? | Las Cruces Appliance Repair

Getting up in the morning to discover a large puddle coming from the dishwasher is no-one’s favorite way to start the day.

Fortunately, most commonplace sources of dishwasher faults are relatively easy to determine and mend yourself. This means you might not be required to wash the dishes by hand that much, stay at home waiting for an repair person or need to pay a high call-out fee.

So, if you’re feeling up to it grab the manual if you know where it is, grab an old towel to clean up the mess and so get a towel soak up any further leaks and see if you can’t find a DIY solution. If you can’t call us for local dishwasher repair.

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

A lot of the most commonplace sources of dishwasher leaks are not actually due to a broken dishwasher at all. Prior to starting getting the tools out and also looking at endless youtube tutorials there are a number of issues you might want to take a look at first.

Test to find out if your dishwasher is level. If your dishwasher isn’t aligned water will easily pool and so spill out without there being anything that needs to be fixed or changed.
Test you are using the right detergent. You might be familiar with this fault with your washer. Too much soap or using the incorrect type could result in an excess of soap suds, the bubbles spill over resulting in a leak.
Test your dishwasher door closes properly. If there’s a gap you might have something blocking it such as a large plate, or you may need to fix the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Test the filter at the base of the tub for any visible drainage issues as if your dishwasher isn’t draining effectively this can result in overfill and leak.

If none of the above issues apply it’s time to get ready and really start a thorough check.

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 are able to find and so mend the leak without pulling out the dishwasher so much the better.

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

Door Gasket

The most everyday place for a dishwasher to leak is around the door, fortunately it is also one of the easiest issues to fix.

If the leak is occasional the fault could be as straightforward as an oversized dish or something else putting pressure against the door thus preventing it from shutting fully.

On the other hand the door seal could have come loose or become split.

Examine the door seal and test for any brittleness, a build-up of limescale or other gunk, or any parts in which the gasket might have come away from the door.

Taking off the seal and also allowing it a good wash can help in some instances or you may have to acquire a new seal and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can also be a common fault. This is in most cases located underneath the machine and so you will have to take off the toe board and also could need to unscrew the door cover.

The water inlet valve opens and closes to allow water into the dishwasher at various times in the programme. The water inlet valve may be damaged, shown with a slow drip, or it could be broken and not opening or closing properly while the dishwasher is running.

When the water inlet valve doesn’t close correctly this can lead to the dishwasher overflowing.

Usually these valves are not able to be repaired, thus the whole valve would have to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Hoses are needed to fill, drain as well as recirculate water within the programme.

Two problems can arise with hoses.

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

Luckily damaged hoses are easy to procure as well as change, even for a novice.

Pumps and Seals

You can visually test the rubber seals around the water pumps or motor to see whether there is a leakage as well as 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 as it should the float will lift up as the water level goes up until the optimum or maximum water level is reached. The end piece of the float should then activate the switch. A blockage or breakage could be causing your problem.

Testing the switch will require electrical equipment although it could be clearly damaged in which case replacing it should fix the problem.

Other Parts that Could Result in Leakage

A cracked wash arm or support could puch water under the door resulting in a leak. This will also often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or damaged lines might also cause this issue as can a cracked pump cover.

The motor shaft gasket may have degraded causing leakage. This generally presents as a puddle coming from the underside of the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Sort Out Your Dishwasher

Save money by checking the seal in place of the entire component. In most cases, you can acquire the seal without the rest of the part which saves time as well as money.
Test the easy fixes first. There’s no point pulling the whole thing out if the problem is the soap.
Take photos as you go. This may make your life easier when you come to put the thing back together, show the part you need in a shop, and also identify the problem to a repair person if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity are not good friends so turn off the power first.
If in doubt call a professional.

What To Do Next If Your Initial Investigation Fails to Disclose or Resolve the Leakage

If the cause of the issue can’t be discovered the next step you may take is to pull the machine away from the wall to get a clearer view of the underneath it and also add water to the tub to see whether the leakage becomes visible.

If this gives no further clues your appliance may only show a leakage if it’s running. If this is the case, your best bet would be to find a qualified technician to pinpoint and mend the issue as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical components uncovered.