The dishwasher in your kitchen must not leak, as this will make it messy. It is annoying to soak water from the floor whenever you see a leakage. A puddle on the floor can also cause stains or cracks on the floor.
Despite many problems, you should not curse the dishwasher and find a solution. Most of the time, leakage is caused by a blockage at various dishwasher components. You should try diagnosing the appliance and solving the problem causing the dishwasher to leak.
We have compiled some common reasons behind water leakage from the bottom of your dishwasher. All these methods are simple to apply so that you can diagnose the problem.
The solutions to these problems are do-it-yourself. It is always better to check things and try fixing them before calling a technician.
The dishwasher is leaking from the bottom of the door
Air gaps
Problem
The air gaps are installed inside the dishwashers to ensure you can link the dishwasher drainage system to the sink. This simple yet effective component ensures that the water flows in the right direction without backward flow.
It works like the valves in your heart. An air gap ensures that the dirty water from your dishwasher to the outside does not flow back. It also prevents the water coming from the sink from entering the dishwasher.
Your dishwasher might not have an air gap installed. Even if you have one, you will need to find it. The back of your sink is the best place to find an air gap. Search for a stainless steel cylinder near the faucet.
If the air gap is blocked, then the water flow mechanism of your dishwasher will get disturbed. As a result, the water will find a way to get out, so it will find another route i.e. the door of your dishwasher.
Solution
Once you know that the air gap is faulty, you have no choice but to fix it. Fixing an air gap is pretty simple. It will include the following steps.
- Unscrew the air gap shell from the back of your sink.
- Check if any residual food particle is stuck inside the air gap or the shell.
- Also, inspect the inside of the pipe connected to the air gap.
- If you find anything stuck inside the pipe, then remove it.
- Screw the components back from where you have unscrewed them.
Door gasket
Problem
To ensure your dishwasher is watertight and leakage free, manufacturers install a rubber seal at the edges of the door. This rubber strip runs along the edges and can stop water from seeping through a small opening in the door. This rubber seal is called the door gasket.
Door gaskets tend to get damaged and torn with time. If this happens, the water will leak from your dishwasher’s door. There might be cracks in the door gasket for various reasons. One of the most common reasons is that it gets too old. You should take care of it, or else it will get brittle.
Solution
If dirt accumulates on the door gasket, you should wipe it with a soft cloth soaked in warm water. However, if the door gasket is already damaged and tearing away, you should consider replacing it with a new one.
A door gasket is inexpensive, and the installation technique is very simple. You need to perform the following steps:
- Open the door of your dishwasher to get access to the door gasket.
- Remove the gasket from the door by pulling it.
- Carefully fit the new gasket in the groove.
- Check if the door closes properly.
- Also, do a test run to see if the issue has been resolved.
Type of detergent
Problem
You must use the right detergent to ensure your dishwasher does not leak. People often do not agree with what we have just mentioned. However, using dish soap instead of dishwasher detergent will cause the water to spill out of the door.
Both dish soap and dishwasher detergent have the same purpose. You might argue that if the purpose is the same, why do we prefer one? The main difference between the two substitutes is the amount of lather produced.
Dish soap has a high lather production which is not the ideal thing to have when it comes to dishwasher consumption. However, the dishwasher detergent provides the same cleaning power at a low lather formation.
Any excess lather that the dish soap produces has nowhere to go. Considering this, it will seep through the gasket and fall on the floor.
Solution
The solution to this problem is simple. You should use dishwasher detergents that are efficient in cleaning but produce less lather. However, if you do not have dishwasher detergent at your disposal, then you should go with dish soap and try the following:
- Fill three-quarters of the detergent dispenser installed inside the dishwasher with soda.
- Add a few drops of dish soap to it.
- The dish soap will clean the dishes efficiently. On the other hand, the soda will reduce the lather formation.
- Soda does not restrict the cleansing capability of the dish soap.
Drainage system
Problem
Does your dishwasher leak regularly from the bottom of the door? If yes, the main reason behind this must be a blockage in the dishwasher drain. The dishwasher drain might be blocked with food pieces or other debris that gets accumulated over time.
As we have already mentioned, the door and the gasket can restrict the flow of water (other than through the drain). However, this restriction is not absolute. It will get overpowered by the water accumulated inside the dishwasher due to the blockage in the drain. It will explode someday, so cleaning the drain as soon as possible is better.
Solution
To clean the drain of the dishwasher, you should perform the following steps:
- Turn off the dishwasher to ensure you remain safe during the process.
- Remove the bottom rack to inspect the drain.
- Remove the cylinder and check it for any debris.
- Use tools like a drain snake or other hooked wires to pull a large chunk of food from the pipe or the portion where your fingers would not reach.
- Going further to the places where even the wire would not reach, you should add soda and vinegar solution to eliminate the blockage. A couple of tablespoons of both chemicals will be enough.
- Vinegar is an active chemical substance that will eliminate all the blockages quickly.
Inlet valve
Problem
The inlet valve is a critical component in all those electric appliances that run on a water supply. This valve allows the water to enter, and the flow is automatically or manually controlled.
In most dishwashers, the inlet valves automatically pour water into the washing compartment. If the inlet valve gets loose or damaged, the water supply will not stop.
This will increase the water in the dishwashing compartment, making the gasket vulnerable to seepage. A puddle will then be formed on the floor.
Solution
An inlet valve is pretty simple to check, but the installation and repair are very technical. Following these steps to solve the problem:
- To check the inlet valve, start a wash cycle on your dishwasher.
- Open the door amidst the session.
- The inlet valve should stop the inflow of water when the door is open. However, if you see the water flowing, then the valve is damaged.
- You will need to either repair or replace the inlet valve.
- Replacement or repair of an inlet valve is not easy. You should hire a technician to help you with it.
Float and float switch
Problem
An important component inside most modern dishwashers is the float. Float is a piece of equipment installed inside the dishwasher that regulates water levels inside the washing compartment. A float and float switch assembly governs the whole mechanism.
When water fills inside a dishwasher, the flood rises with a rise in water level. When the float reaches the maximum level, it will hit the float switch. Once the float switch is hit, it transfers signals to the inlet valve to prevent more water from inside the dishwasher.
A faulty float will cause a lot of trouble. When the float or the float switch is damaged, the water level will increase, but the float mechanism cannot generate the relevant signal to stop the water inflow. This will cause the water overflowing, and a puddle will ultimately form below the door.
Solution
You should first start by checking if the float mechanism is working. Connect a multimeter on either side of the float. If the multimeter beeps, then the float is operating. If it does not, then it is useless.
Once you have determined that the float is not functioning, replace it with a new one. Hire a technician to make life easier for you. The float replacement is tricky, so you should not do it yourself.
Spray arm
Problem
The spray arm is located at the base of the washing compartment inside the dishwasher. It has several tiny holes through which the water is ejected and sprayed on the dishes. A blocked spray arm can cause a lot of problems.
One of the main issues it can cause is water leakage from the door. A spray arm can be blocked by food particles or detergent lather.
Solution
If the openings on the spray arm are blocked, then the solution is pretty simple. You should clean them with the help of a toothpick or a pin. However, you should turn the dishwasher off for safety.
Other than this, if the whole spray arm is not operating, you should replace it. It is a simple exercise to perform. Unscrew the old spray valve from the dishwasher. Screw the new one in its place. You will not need a technician in this case.
Avoid the dishwasher door leakage.
Anything that is done is done. However, you should take steps to avoid dishwasher door leakage in the near future. These steps are simple but not taken care of at the right time.
- Ensure you check the drain, air gap, and other components weekly for debris accumulation.
- Remove bigger chunks of food from the crockery before loading them in the dishwasher.
- Pay attention to the door alignment and the condition of the door gasket.
- Use detergents specifically made for dishwashers.
- Check the dishwater regularly for a consistent water flow.
Conclusion
Everything we have mentioned in our article is enough to let you know what the problem is with your dishwasher. Moreover, we have tried to keep the solution to these problems precise and simple to ensure you can easily perform them.
It is always better to check everything and try solving the problem independently. If it does not work, then comes the time to call a technician.
This article is a complete package that will remove the fear of dishwasher leakage from your heart. Make sure you follow each step and pay attention to the hints the leakage gives.
We can assure you that your dishwasher will need fewer repairs after you act on what we have advised. A dry kitchen is always the most hygienic and neat place to prepare food.
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