Why is My Dishwasher Leaking? | Alhambra Appliance Repair

Getting up in the morning only to discover a large puddle on the floor is no-one’s chosen way to start the day.

Fortunately, most everyday explanations of dishwasher leaks are relatively simple to pinpoint and mend yourself. Meaning you may not have to wash the dishes by hand for more than a day or two, stay at home waiting for an repair person or have to pay the call-out fee.

So, if you’re feeling up to it grab the operating manual if you can, clean up the mess and so get something soak up any further leaks and so see if you can’t diagnose the problem. If you cannot call us for local dishwasher repair.

Common Explanations of Dishwasher Faults and How to Mend Them

Many of the most commonplace causes of dishwasher faults are not in fact due to a dishwasher fault at all. Before you start preparing yourself for an engineering task as well as looking at numerous online videos there are a number of problems you might want to troubleshoot first.

Check to find out whether your dishwasher is aligned. If the dishwasher is not aligned water will easily puddle as well as leak even if the dishwasher is working perfectly.
Check you are using the correct detergent. You might be aware of this fault with your washing machine. Too much detergent or using the incorrect type could lead an excess of soap suds, the suds bubble over resulting in a leak.
Test your dishwasher door fully closes. If there’s a gap there may be an obstruction, or you may have to fix the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Test the filter located in the base of the machine for any obvious obstructions because if your dishwasher isn’t emptying correctly this can cause it to fill too much and leak.

When you have ruled out these potential problems it’s time to roll up your sleeves and begin the inspection.

The easiest place to start is the door and investigate for any visible damage inside of the machine before you move on to the underside. If you are able to identify and so fix the issue before you have to pull out the dishwasher so much the better.

Before you do anything else make sure you unplug the dishwasher.

Door Seal

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

If the leakage is intermittent the issue might be as easy as a large plate or another object pushing against the door thus stopping it from closing properly.

Else-ways the door gasket may have been dislodged or got damaged.

Examine the door gasket and check for any brittleness, a build-up of limescale or other deposits, or any parts in which the seal has separated from the door.

Taking off the gasket and giving it a thorough clean can help in some cases or you may need to purchase a new seal and replace it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can also be a commonly seen issue. This is generally situated under the machine therefore you will most likely have to unscrew the toe board and also might need to unscrew the door cover.

The water inlet valve opens and also closes to let water into the tub at various times during the programme. The inlet valve might be leaking, demonstrated by a slight drip, or it could be broken and so not operating correctly while the dishwasher is running.

When the fill valve fails to close fully this can result in the dishwasher overflowing.

Often these valves are not able to be repaired, which means the whole valve would have to be changed.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, empty as well as redistribute water along the programme.

Two problems may develop when it comes to hoses.

The gaskets may break or the connections can work loose so it’s a good idea to check all the connection points .
The other problem than may easily develop as you use the machine is that hoses could become degraded or get a hole in.

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

Pumps and Gaskets

You are able to visually check the rubber seals that are part of the pumps or motor to ascertain whether there is a leak and change them if that’s the case.

The Float Switch

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

When operating as it should the float will lift up as the water rises until the desired or maximum water level is reached. The tag of the float should then turn on the switch. A blockage or breakage could be your problem.

Testing the switch will require a multi-meter although it might be clearly damaged in which case getting a new one should solve the problem.

Other Parts that Might Cause a Leak

A cracked wash arm or support could build up pressure causing leakage. This will also often affect how well your dishes are being cleaned.

Broken or faulty tubes could likewise cause this issue as may a broken pump cover if your dishwasher has one.

The motor shaft seal might have degraded causing leakage. This generally presents as a puddle coming from the underside of the machine.

Top Tips to Fix Your Dishwasher

Save money by changing the seal instead of the whole component. In plenty situations, you can acquire the gasket without the rest of the part which saves you having to change the whole part.
Check the quick solutions before you get more complicated. There’s no point pulling the entire dishwasher out if it’s the soap that’s causing the leak.
Take pictures as you go. This might help you reverse the process, show the part you need in a shop, and explain the issue to an engineer if needed.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix so turn off the power first.
If you’re not sure get in a repair person.

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

If the cause of the leak can’t be discovered the next step you could take is to pull out the machine to get better access beneath it and fill it with water to find out if the leak can be seen that way.

If you don’t discover any leaks with this method your machine might only show a leakage when the pump is running. If this is the case, you may wish to hire a qualified technician to diagnose and mend the problem as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical components uncovered.