Common Causes of Dishwasher Leaks

First of all a collective thank you to Josephine Cochrane, the American woman who pioneered the invention of dishwashers as we know them today way back in the 1880s. Whilst dishwashers are almost certainly more reliable than they were back then, they’re still apt to suffer from the occasional malfunction. One of the most common is a dishwasher leaking, leaving puddles of water on your floor and you standing exasperated and wondering what’s happened. Well, to give you some idea of what might be the cause, here are what we find to be the most common causes of a dishwasher leak.

A clogged filter

This is the first thing you should check if those telltale pools are forming. If this is clogged then water won’t be able to drain out into your plumbing system and will end up on your floor instead. A clogged filter also means the dishwasher won’t clean as well, so make sure to clean it once a month at least.

Loose or damaged hoses or valves

If water is flowing out from underneath your dishwasher it is possible you have a water hose or valve issue. To check, remove the access panel from underneath your dishwasher, feel for water on the hoses, and see if there is a drip from the water inlet valve. Leakage could be as a result of a loose hose connection or damage to the hoses themselves, or the water inlet valve might be stuck. Connections can be tightened with a screwdriver or you may have to replace a damaged component.

Damaged door seals

All dishwashers have a rubber seal on the inside of the door to prevent water escaping during a wash. If water is leaking from your door then this it’s likely that one of these seals has become damaged over time and is no longer watertight.

Broken Pump

Sometimes the pump, responsible for circulating water in the dishwasher and draining the water, can be faulty or have a broken seal. The seal can be replaced easily, however replacing the pump itself is a more complex job and you’ll probably want to call in a professional.

Final thoughts

Whilst it can be relatively easy to diagnose and fix your dishwasher yourself, if no solution presents itself, or you feel the task is beyond your skills, then it could be time to call in the professionals. Feel free to get in touch and we’ll either talk you through it or send one of our experienced engineers out to fix it.