10 Reasons Your Dishwasher Is Leaking

It can become tiresome to wipe the water off the floor constantly when your dishwasher is leaking. Pools of water on your kitchen floor can be dangerous because someone could slip and get hurt. Water on the floor can also cause mould underneath, which can be a health hazard for anyone living in your home.

Diagnosing the problem behind the leak can be a challenge, which is why you should leave it to the professionals. While it is best to call a plumber so that your dishwasher dilemma gets repaired properly, it is helpful to understand some of the most common reasons behind leaking dishwashers.

10 Causes of Leaky Dishwashers

Identifying the actual cause of your leak can take some time and effort. However, it is worth doing so. We recommend that you contact a professional plumber to help you solve the problem as this can save you further expenses down the road if your DIY efforts fail.

Here are some of the most common causes of leaks in dishwashers.

1. Drainpipe. if you notice the leak only when you run the kitchen pipes, it could be a problem with the drainpipe. Most often, they are clogged, which can interfere with the dishwasher discharge hose. This is because if the sink drain is too slow, the water will drain into the dishwasher and then end up in a pool on your floor. You must raise the drain pipe higher than the sink drain level, as that can sometimes fix the problem. If the leak stops, then you can be sure that was the issue. However, if your dishwasher continues to leak, you should call your professional plumber, like the ones on our team at Brothers Plumbing, to come and look at it.
2. Gasket. When the water appears to leak largely in the front of your dishwasher, you should check to see if there is any damage to the gasket. When the machine is off and empty, examine the seal around the door. If you find any damage like rips or worn sections, it is best to have the gasket replaced before using it again.
3. Door latch. Often, when the door latch for your dishwasher becomes loose, it can lead to water leaking from the machine. Perhaps the latch is bent and cannot close properly. The door latch is what holds the door shut tight while the machine is running. A leak can happen if the latch is damaged and unable to close well enough. One way to find out if it’s closing properly is to see if the door swings open fairly easily. If so, you’ll want to replace the door latch to ensure the dishwasher door is secured during cycles.
4. Tub leak. Some parts of your dishwasher may get worn out faster than others. One of those, which could be the cause of your leak, is the dishwasher tub. Wear and tear as well as damage from the detergent can lead to corrosion in the tub. Unfortunately, in this case, you may need a whole new dishwashing machine.
5. Soap. Dish soap or laundry detergent can create a lot of soap suds. This pressure can cause water and soap to leak out the door. It is important only to use dishwasher detergent in your machine. Besides, if you rinse your dishes before you load them into the machine, avoid using soap as it can stick to the dish and bubble up in the machine, which could be the source of your leak.
6. Water hose/valve. Over the life of your dishwasher, hoses and valves can become weak or damaged. If you notice water leaking underneath the dishwasher, this may be a sign that you have a problem with the hose or valve. If this is the case, you’ll need to have the problem parts replaced before it will stop leaking.
7. Pump seal leak. Sometimes, the seal around the water pump is the problem. If you notice the water leak is coming from underneath the dishwasher, it may be that there is an issue with the pump seal.
8. Float switch. A common problem is when the dishwasher becomes too full of water, and the float switch isn’t working right. This could be because it is caught on something. The best way to repair this problem is to have your plumbing professional put a new one in.
9. Clog. Drainage issues like clogs can cause excess water in your dishwasher, which will start to leak. We recommend that you check and clean the filter regularly.
10. Slanted machine. A leak may also be a sign that your dishwasher is not level. If your machine sits on an angle, it won’t be able to work properly, and that may be causing water to leak from it. You may need to find a new place for your machine or find a way to make it level.

Before you call a plumber, make a note of the problem and any details you can remember, such as where you notice the leak is happening in the cycle. This information can help the plumber figure out what the problem is and fix it for you.

Conclusion

Having a leak from your dishwasher can be a headache. Having water pooling on your floor can also be a danger that can cause slips and falls. Moreover, too much water can cause mould and mildew to grow underneath the floor, which can be a health hazard.

With some time and effort, most of the problems that cause dishwasher leaks can be easily fixed by a plumbing professional. It is best to call a plumber as soon as you notice a problem. The quicker they can repair your machine, the less likely the problem will become bigger.

For more information about preventing dishwasher leaks in your home, call Brothers Plumbing at 1-800-742-0018 or contact us here.