Are you having problems with your dishwasher? Most homeowners are.
Now, remember that this list is in no way intended to be exhaustive; it’s just meant to give you a few ideas.
The internet is full of tips on how to find the problem and repair it yourself, but I will warn you — some guides are for the old models of dishwashers.
If yours is too old for these solutions, consult a professional appliance repairman.
The door is poorly fitted
If you have an older model of dishwasher, one of the most common reasons for leakage is an improperly fitted door.
The gasket around the door may have been damaged or cut during installation and this can allow water to enter into the dishwasher tub while it’s running.
This is especially true of older models with manual doors that don’t seal well against the frame of the unit.
There’s a hole in the sealing gasket
This is the most common cause of leaks and usually easy to fix. The gasket (the rubber seal around the door) keeps water from leaking out of your dishwasher while it’s running.
If this seal gets damaged or worn down over time, water will escape through it while you’re cleaning dishes.
To repair this problem, simply replace the gasket with a new one (if you can find one). If not, try using silicone caulking or another type of waterproof sealant to make sure there are no leaks between the door frame and machine body.
The drain hose is leaking
Check the strainer beneath the sink to make sure it’s properly attached to the drainpipe and there aren’t any clogs in it.
If everything looks good, tighten up any loose connections between the sink and dishwasher drainpipes and run some hot water down them to check for leaks.
There’s a leak in the pump housing
Dishwashers use a pump to circulate water through the unit and into the spray arms and washing chamber.
The pump housing is located at the bottom of your dishwasher, where it connects to the drain tube.
If there’s a leak here, it usually means that the gasket around this connection has worn out from use or age.
If so, it only takes a few minutes to replace this gasket and stop any leaks that might be occurring from this area.
Your floor is sloping
This is a common installation mistake.
If your floor is sloping away from the sink, water may pool in front of the door and leak out when you open it.
If you have a slope in your floor, you may want to consider installing a small sloped drain that can handle the extra water.
This will help prevent leaks and flooding in your kitchen.
Sooner or later this will happen to you, and the good news is that it’s usually a fairly easy issue to fix.
All you need to do is determine what has gone wrong with your dishwasher and get it fixed as soon as possible.
Keeping on top of your dishwasher maintenance can save you a lot of headaches in the future, but once you’ve got a leaky appliance on your hands, there are some quick fixes that need to be taken care of right away.
