In this article, we’ll be looking at what causes your dishwasher to leak water.
The main causes of dishwasher leaking water are:
- the door seal is damaged
- using a wrong detergent
- the water valve is damaged
- the pump seal is leaking
- recirculation hose or drain hose is blocked or damaged
- the float switch doesn’t work
- cracked case
- faulty drain pump
- door Hinge/door latch
- other cracked parts or miscellaneous broken parts
First, you will need to identify the part which is causing the leak. Here is how to check each one:
1. DOOR SEAL
If the leak is coming from the front of the dishwasher the door seal may be responsible for the issue. The door has a seal that keeps the water from leaking outside the dishwasher. This is made of rubber and arranged around the door.
Action: Check if the rubber seal is worn or damaged in any way
Solution: Replace the door seal with an identical one. You can find it online to match your specific dishwasher model or you could buy a generic one.
Here is a video explaining the process of replacing the door seal:
2. USING A WRONG DETERGENT
Although it’s not a common problem on most dishwashers, it may be worth to verify that you are using a compliant detergent or capsule before starting to replace any dishwasher parts or disassemble parts of the dishwasher. A bad detergent can cause too much froth/foam and so putting too much pressure on the door seal or other components.
Action: Check the recommended detergents or capsules for your dishwasher in the dishwasher’s user manual or online. Also, you can start a washing cycle and stop the dishwasher after a few minutes (after the first rinse part). Now you can see if there is too much froth in there.
Solution: Try changing the detergent with the detergent recommended by the manufacturer.
3. THE WATER VALVE IS DAMAGED
If the intake water valve is damaged water is leaking from behind the dishwasher. Usually, the leaking is continuous, even if the dishwasher is stopped, but it may worsen during a wash cycle. It shouldn’t be a lot of water leaking because the intake valve cracks just a bit before anyone noticing.
Action: Check the intake valve for any cracks or corrosions. You can put a dry paper towel near the valve and see if it’s leaking. Expect a bit of condensation caused by cold water.
Solution: You will need to close the water supply for the dishwasher circuit and replace the leaking valve with an identical one. These are typically generic and can be found online or at a local home depot store
This operation is a bit complicated so feel free to call a plumber. But, here is a video explaining how to do it:
4. THE PUMP SEAL IS LEAKING
There is a compartment in the bottom of the dishwasher where the water pump is placed. Water pumps have one or more seals that can wear out in time. If this is the case, water leaks from the bottom of the dishwasher. But it can also leak from other places if the water pressure causes any cracks.
Action: Check if the water is leaking from the water pump housing. It’s worth checking the other points before this operation as the solution is harder than in other situations.
Solution: You will need to access the water pump and replace the worn seals.
Again, it’s a complicated process for a newbie. Here is a video explaining the process.
5. RECIRCULATION HOSE OR DRAIN HOSE IS BLOCKED OR DAMAGED
Your dishwasher has multiple hoses responsible for carrying water from one place to another. The intake hose is usually made of some kind of metal, usually stainless steel. This hose supports higher pressure from the water supply. The other one is the drain hose which is typically made of rubber. This is used to evacuate the dirty water from the dishwasher.
These hoses can wear out and cause a leak. Inspect them carefully and replace them if needed. This is a simple operation even for a newbie, but you will need to seal the hoses to prevent leaking.
To replace the water intake hose you will need to stop the water supply. I didn’t find a video specifically for the process of replacing the intake hose. Though, I found one with the process of installing the dishwasher so it includes connecting it to the water supply. You’ll just need to take out the hose and then it’s the same as in the video (skip to that part):
The process of replacing the drain hose is described in this video:
6. THE FLOAT SWITCH DOESN’T WORK
The dishwasher has an overfill float switch that limits the amount of water that enters the dishwasher. This system has two elements: the float and the switch(relay). The float is placed inside the dishwasher, at the bottom. The relay is situated in the pump case so to access it you will need to open the small front panel at the bottom of the dishwasher.
If the float or switch fails, the system won’t be able to tell the intake valve to shut off and water keeps coming into the dishwasher finally causing a leak.
Action: You can manually check the float to see if it’s stuck. Find the float and rise it up with your hand. You should hear a relay switch which sounds like a click. If you hear the sound and the float is not stuck there’s a big chance that this is not causing your leak problem. However, there are cases when the switch fails.
Solution: replace the float or the switch with an identical one
Here is the process of checking the float and accessing the switch. It’s easy:
7. CRACKED CASE
The case can crack from too much corrosion caused by “hard” water. It ultimately causes leaks. If you have a new dishwasher I don’t think you will have this problem. But if you have an old one, especially one made of bad materials you may experience this problem. Also, the case can be physically damaged.
Action: Inspect the case for cracks and corrosion
Solution: you can try fixing it with J-B Weld 50133 Plastic Bonder (link to Amazon), but if your dishwasher is old consider replacing it with a new and more energy-efficient one.
8. DOOR HINGE/ DOOR LATCH PROBLEM
Door hinge
If you feel the dishwasher door a bit loose after closing it the door hinge may have a problem. The door has a spring that keeps the door closed during a wash cycle.
Action: Inspect the door hinge for damage or cracks
Solution: Replace the door hinge if the door doesn’t close properly
Here is how to replace a dishwasher door hinge:
Door latch
A common problem when talking about leaking from the front of the dishwasher is that the door hinge is faulty or the door latch has a problem.
If the door seal is not damaged or worn-out but the dishwasher is still leaking check to see if the door latch is damaged or not closing properly. This latch should keep the door closed and seal the water from leaking outside.
Action: Check the door latch for cracks or damage
Solution: Replace the door latch
Video explaining the process of replacing the door latch:
9. FAULTY DRAIN PUMP
The drain pump is responsible for sending the dirty water outside the dishwasher into the drain. If the pump is malfunctioning the water will be kept inside. This will finally cause a leak because the water stays inside. Though, the float should prevent a flood.
You should always check that the drain hose is not blocked before considering the drain pump. Make sure the drain path and the drain are clear and there isn’t something blocking the water from getting out.
Action: Inspect the drain pump for any visible signs of damage, cracks or dents.
Solution: If the pump has failed the only viable solution is to replace it.
10. OTHER CRACKED PARTS OR MISCELLANEOUS BROKEN PARTS
If none of the solutions above worked, the only things that can cause a leak are inside the pump case. You will need to get the dishwasher out, open it and inspect all the parts for damage or water drops.
Here is a video with some tips on inspecting the dishwasher for leaks:
Conclusion
Hopefully, you know how to solve the dishwasher leaking problem by now. If you still don’t know what the cause of the leak may be, don’t be afraid to call a professional.
Also, if your dishwasher is still in the warranty period, don’t try to fix something by yourself. This will void the warranty and you will have to pay money from your pocket instead of taking advantage of the warranty. Most manufacturers have a local service so you don’t need to take the dishwasher out and send it for warranty. Someone will come to your place and inspect the dishwasher for faults.