Why is My Dishwasher Leaking? | Boston Appliance Repair

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

Fortuitously, most commonplace causes of dishwasher faults are comparably straightforward to determine and fix by yourself. This means you might not be required to hand wash the dishes for more than a day or two, call an engineer or have to pay a high call-out fee.

So, find the operating manual if you have it, get a towel to clean up the leak and so get something clean up any further leaks and see whether you can’t fix the problem. If you aren’t able to call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonplace Causes of Dishwasher Faults and How to Fix Them

Many of the more commonly seen explanations of dishwasher faults are not in fact because of a dishwasher fault at all. Before you start preparing yourself for an engineering task as well as watching numerous online videos there are a couple of issues you might want to troubleshoot first.

Check to see whether your dishwasher is level. If your dishwasher is not level water will quickly puddle and spill out even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Check you have been using the proper soap. You might be aware of this issue with your washing machine. An excess of soap or the incorrect variety can lead to too many soap suds, the bubbles deluge resulting in a leak.
Check your dishwasher door fully closes. If there’s a gap there may be a blockage, or you could need to replace the door fixings.
Check the filter located in the base of the tub for any visible obstructions as if your dishwasher isn’t emptying effectively this can cause it to overfill and so spill.

If you have eliminated these possible causes it’s time to get ready and really begin the investigation.

To make your life easier start with the door and investigate for any visible issues in the interior of the machine before you move on to the underside. If you are able to identify as well as mend the leak before you have to pull out the dishwasher you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle.

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

Door Gasket

The door is probably the most everyday place for a dishwasher to leak and one of the simplest issues to resolve.

If the leakage is occasional the issue might be as straightforward as an oversized dish or another object pushing into the door thus preventing it from sealing properly.

Otherwise the door seal might have come loose or become damaged.

Examine the door gasket and also check for any degradation, mineral deposits or other deposits, or any parts where the gasket has come away from the door.

Taking off the seal and also allowing it a good clean can help in some instances or you could have to buy a new seal and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The inlet valve can be a further commonly seen fault. This is in most cases found under the machine and so you will most likely have to unscrew the kick plate and also might have to unscrew the door cover.

The water inlet valve opens and closes to allow water into the tub at various times in the programme. The water inlet valve could be damaged, demonstrated by a slight drip, or it might be damaged and not operating fully during the cycle.

In the case that the fill valve doesn’t close fully this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

Usually these valves cannot be repaired, which means the entire part would need to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to supply, drain as well as recirculate water during the cycle.

Two problems could develop when it comes to hoses.

The gaskets can break or the contact points can come loose so it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connections first.
The alternative issue than might often happen over time is that hoses could get damaged or cracked.

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

Pumps and Seals

You are able to visually check the rubber gaskets around the pumps or motor to ascertain whether there is a leak and also replace them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

The float itself or the float switch might be broken resulting in the dishwasher overfilling.

A working float will go up as the water rises until the desired or maximum water level is reached. The tag of the float would then turn on the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your issues.

Checking the switch would need electrical equipment but it may be noticeably damaged in which case replacing it should resolve the problem.

Other Parts that Could Lead to a Leak

A broken wash arm or support can build up pressure resulting in a leak. This can also often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or cracked lines can also result in this problem as could a cracked pump cap if your dishwasher has one.

The motor shaft gasket may have degraded resulting in leakage. This generally presents as a leak coming from underneath the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Fix Your Machine

Spend less by checking the seal rather than the whole part. In most cases, you are able to acquire the seal without the rest of the part which saves you having to replace the whole component.
Test the easy fixes first. You don’t need to pull the whole thing away from the wall if it’s the detergent that’s causing the problem.
Take photos as you go along. This can assist you to put the thing back together, show the part you are looking for to a sales person, and also explain the fault to a repair person if required.
Be careful. Water and electricity do not mix so turn off the power first.
If you’re struggling get in a professional.

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

If the root of the leak can’t be discovered the next step you might take is to pull out the machine to get better access underneath it as well as fill it with water to find out if the leakage becomes visible.

If you are still in the dark your machine may only leak if the pump is running. In this case, you should hire a service engineer to pinpoint and fix the issue as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical components exposed.