Why is My Dishwasher Leaking? | Vista Appliance Repair

Entering the kitchen only to step in a large puddle on the floor is never the best to start the day.

Luckily, most commonplace causes of dishwasher leaks are comparatively simple to determine and mend yourself. This means you may not have to wash the dishes by hand that much, call an engineer or have to pay a high call-out charge.

So, if you’re feeling up to it grab the instruction manual if you know where it is, clean up the puddle and get a towel clean up any further leaks and see whether you can’t fix the problem. If you cannot call us for local dishwasher repair.

Everyday Explanations of Dishwasher Leaks as well as How to Fix Them

Many of the more commonplace causes of dishwasher leaks are not actually a result of a broken dishwasher at all. Prior to starting getting the tools out and also looking at numerous online tutorials there are a few issues you should take a look at first.

Investigate to see whether your dishwasher is aligned. If your dishwasher is misaligned water can easily puddle and so spill out without there being anything that needs to be mended or replaced.
Test you have been using the right soap. You could have seen this with your washing machine. An excess of soap or the wrong type may lead an excess of suds, the bubbles overflow resulting in a spill.
Investigate your dishwasher door fully closes. If there’s a gap there may be a blockage, or you may have to adjust the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Investigate the filter located at the base of the tub for any easy to see obstructions because 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 check for any visible problems in the interior of the machine before you move on to the underneath. If you are able to identify as well as fix the leak before you have to pull out the dishwasher so much the better.

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

Door Seal

The most commonplace place for leakage is around the door, fortunately it is also one of the quickest issues to resolve.

If the leak is occasional the fault might be as straightforward as a large plate or something else pushing against the door and preventing it from closing correctly.

On the other hand the door gasket might have come out of place or got cracked.

Check the door gasket and check for any degradation, a build-up of limescale or other debris, or any tracts in which the gasket might have separated from the door.

Removing the gasket and allowing it a comprehensive clean has been known to improve the situation in some instances or you might need to purchase a new gasket and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The inlet valve can also be a simple fault. It is usually situated on the underbelly of the machine so you may need to take off the kick plate and also may need to remove the door cover.

The fill valve opens and closes to allow water into the tub at different parts of the cycle. The water inlet valve might be leaking, demonstrated with a slight drip, or it might be damaged and not functioning fully during the cycle.

When the water inlet valve fails to close fully this can mean that the dishwasher overfills, causing a leak.

Generally these valves are not able to be refurbished unless it is only the rubber gasket that is damaged, and so the entire part would need to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, drain and also recirculate water along the cycle.

Two problems could develop where hoses are concerned.

The gaskets may go or the contact points could come loose so it’s a good idea to check all the connection points .
The alternative problem than can easily happen as time goes by is that hoses can get broken or get a hole in.

If you are able to identify that the leak is coming from a hose this will be easy to replace and new hoses are readily available.

Pumps and Gaskets

You are able to visually investigate the rubber seals around the water pumps or motor to ascertain if there is a leakage as well as change them if there is.

The Float Switch

The float itself or the float switch may be not working correctly resulting in the dishwasher overfilling.

When operating as it should the float will rise as the water rises until the desired or maximum water level is reached. The end piece of the float will then turn on the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your issues.

Checking the switch would need a multi-meter although it might be obviously damaged in which case replacing it should stop the leak.

Other Components that Might Result in Leakage

A broken wash arm or support might force water under the door resulting in leakage. This will also often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or cracked lines may likewise cause this fault as can a loose pump cover if your dishwasher has one.

The motor shaft gasket might have degraded causing leakage. This will generally show as a leak coming from underneath the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Sort Out Your Machine

Save money by changing the gasket instead of the entire component. In most instances, you are able to purchase the seal separately which saves time as well as money.
Investigate the quick resolutions before you get more complicated. You don’t need to pull the entire thing away from the wall if it’s the detergent that’s making the issue.
Photograph your progress. This can make your life easier when you come to put the machine back together, describe the part you need to a sales person, as well as identify the issue to a repair person if required.
Stay safe. Water and electricity are not good friends so turn off the power first.
If you’re struggling call the professionals.

The Next Steps You Should Take If Your Initial Investigation Fails to Disclose or Resolve the Leakage

If the cause of the issue can’t be uncovered the next step you might take is to pull out the machine to get a clearer view of the underneath it and add water to the tub to see if the leak presents itself.

If this doesn’t shed any light your appliance might only show a leakage if during a cycle. In this case, your best bet would be to find a qualified technician to pinpoint and mend the leak as there are safety risks of checking for faults with electrical components uncovered.