Why Is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Leaking from the door or bottom front

If water is coming from the bottom of the door or pooling on the floor in front of the machine, start with the door seal. Open the door and run a finger around the rubber gasket, feeling for food debris, grease, or any section that has gone flat or cracked.

• Wipe the seal clean with a damp cloth and remove any trapped food or grit
• Check that the seal sits flush all the way around when the door is closed
• Look for cracking, splitting, or a section that has come loose from its channel

A seal that is simply dirty can often be cleaned and reused. A seal that is cracked, torn, or permanently flattened will keep leaking until it is replaced, and fitting a new one is a job for a technician.

Using the wrong detergent or too much of it

Oversudsing is one of the most common causes of leaks from the door. Regular dish soap, or too much dishwasher detergent, creates foam that pushes past the seal during the wash.

• Check that only dishwasher-specific detergent is being used, not hand dish soap
• Check the amount against the line on the detergent cup or the manufacturer's guide
• If a rinse aid dispenser is overfilled or leaking, wipe it down and reduce the amount used next cycle

If a wash with the correct detergent and amount runs without foam or leaking, the issue was the detergent, not the machine.

Leaking from underneath or the bottom of the machine

A leak that shows up as a puddle directly under the dishwasher, rather than at the front door, usually points to the filter, the drain, or how the machine is sitting.

• Pull out the lower rack and remove the filter assembly at the bottom of the tub, then rinse away any trapped food, grease, or grit
• Check the drain area in the tub floor for debris blocking water from draining properly
• Check that the machine sits level by placing a spirit level on the open door or the bottom rack, and adjust the front feet if it rocks or tilts

A blocked filter or drain can cause water to overflow during the wash or sit in the tub after the cycle ends, both of which can appear as a leak underneath.

Checking the water supply connection

With the dishwasher unplugged and the water supply to it turned off, open the lower access panel at the front kickplate if one is fitted, and look for moisture around the inlet hose fitting where it connects to the machine.

• Check that the kickplate panel, if removed before, was refitted correctly, since a loose panel can let water run out onto the floor instead of staying contained
• Check the floor around and under the machine for standing water that appears even when the dishwasher has not been run recently, which points to a slow drip rather than a wash-cycle leak

Any leak coming from the hose fitting itself, rather than condensation or splashed water, involves the plumbing connection and should be left to a technician.

Signs the leak is inside the machine

• The leak continues after the door seal is clean and the detergent amount is correct
• Water pools underneath even after the filter and drain are clear and the machine is level
• The leak appears partway through the cycle rather than at the door or the base
• There is visible water damage or rust on the base of the tub or underneath the machine

These point to an internal fault such as a pump, hose, or seal failure inside the unit, and need a technician to open the machine safely.

When it needs a technician

If these checks have not sorted it, the fault is inside the machine. See Dishwasher Repair Kingston for repairs in Kingston, Amherstview, Bath, or call (343) 305-5417.