Is Your Dishwasher Leaking? 5 Most Common Causes

Having a dishwasher leak in your home can be a significant problem for a number of reasons. Not only can it be inconvenient, but it could also cause water damage to your property requiring significant repairs to be carried out, so as with all water leaks, if you suspect you have a dishwasher leak it is best to act fast.

In this guide we will discuss some of the top common causes of dishwasher leaks, explain them step by step and give you help on how to identify them, just like our guide to having a washing machine leaking underneath.

As water leak detection and water damage experts, we come across dishwasher leaks regularly!

What are the Signs of a Dishwasher Leak?

Like other types of water leak, dishwasher leaks can happen suddenly or slowly but neither of them are desirable. Sometimes the water damage caused by slow dishwasher leaks can be more than fast ones.

The leaks can go unnoticed for weeks months or even years, causing hidden water damage gradually but possibly over a large area and in concealed locations.

Here are some of the things to look out for that could indicate you have a dishwasher leak:

• The most obvious sign of a dishwasher leak there’s water pooling on the floor in front of or underneath the dishwasher in small or large amounts, making it look like your dishwasher is leaking from underneath
• Linked to the previous point, you may notice small drips or trickles coming from your dishwasher, perhaps around the dishwasher door seal area.
• Another sign of a dishwasher leaking is the presence of mould on walls in areas around the dishwasher (or even stains / water marks), such as on kitchen cabinets are on plasterboard walls etc.
• Similarly, you may notice an unusual or bad odour smell which can be linked to mould too – maybe even akin to a unpleasant sewage smell or drain type smell..
• Another sign to look out for, which is linked to the first point, is soft or spongy flooring around your dishwasher. Clearly this is not likely to be the case for concrete floors but if you have wooden flooring at the top or lower level, then water damage can make it softer and spongy.
• A less common sign of a dishwasher leak can be a higher than anticipated water bill. However, if it is a very small dishwasher leak, this may not be noticeable on your bill.
• Finally as we’ve said before, if you notice more than one of these things above, that can increase the chances of you having a dishwasher leak in your property.

Regarding the point around concrete above see or related guide to a leak in concrete floor.

Why is it important to deal with a dishwasher leak promptly?

Addressing and dealing with a dishwasher leak quickly it’s crucial to help avoid further water damage to your home. Dishwasher leaks can lead to damage to floors (including laminate floors), walls And also damage to kitchen cabinets in the surrounding area, which can become costly.

In some instances, it can also cause damage to the appliance itself or other kitchen appliances in the vicinity. Taking positive action immediately will help too prevent such damage, and potentially greatly reduced the cost of remedying that damage.

As we have said with other guides, there are also health and safety things to consider. Clearly, caution is needed when water and electrical appliances are involved answer professional help can be essential, water damage management experts like ourselves, plus plumbers and electricians.

On top of this, remember that water on flooring can lead to slips trips and falls. So take caution on that front too. Next we are going to go through some of the most common causes of dishwasher leaks, explaining each one by one. Each is different, but all have the potential to cause issues.

Cause 1: Damaged Door Seals

The first thing that can cause dishwasher leaks is damage to the door seal. As you would expect, if a door seal on the dishwasher becomes compromised, this can cause water to leak out. Depending on how bad the damage is, it could be a slow or fast leak.

What are door seals and why do they matter?

Dishwasher door seals which are sometimes known as gaskets rubber components running along the edges of dishwasher doors. They create a watertight barrier preventing water from leaking out during the dishwasher cycle. If they become damaged, then water can leak out.

How can you tell if the door seals are damaged?

To see if your dishwasher seals are damaged, visually check and inspect them closely for cracks or tears. At the same time, carefully check to make sure they are not coming loose or not making proper contact with the dishwasher door or frame. Similarly, and as mentioned earlier, if you notice water leaking from the dishwasher at the front / underneath this can be a sign of a damaged seal.

Cause 2: Clogged or Damaged Drain Hose

Clearly, clean water comes into your dishwasher via an inlet valve and also exits the dishwasher via the drain. In some situations, dishwasher leaks can be caused by a leak from the drain or drainage pipe, so we will discuss that further now.

What role does the drain hose play in your dishwasher?

The dishwasher drain removes dirty water from your dishwasher into wastewater pipes and plumbing in your property, allowing it to flow away effectively. If the holes on the train becomes blocked, clogged all damaged it can either cause a leak directly or back water up into the appliance causing a leak there. Making sure that you’re drain these operating effectively can help prevent leaks.

How can clogs or damage to the drain hose lead to leaks?

When dishwasher drain hoses become blocked or kinked, it can put additional pressure and strain which in turn can cause damage and / or a leak. If you have a damaged dishwasher drain hose, then a plumber or dishwasher repair person will be able to assist. As with the next cause too!

Cause 3: Faulty Water Inlet Valves and Connections

Very much following on from the previous point, another source of dishwasher leaks can be the mains water feed into the appliance, In proximity to the inlet valve. If this pipe, connection or valve are damage (or installed badly) then this can cause a dishwasher leak.

The thing is with inlet dishwasher leaks is that, unlike some of the other leaks on this list, the leak can persist in some instances even when the dishwasher is not running.

How can you identify if the water inlet valves or connections are faulty?

Identifying if water inlet valves or connections are faulty can be challenging, in the main because commonly these connections are hidden away behind the device. This makes accessing and noticing any issues more challenging.

That said some of the things we said earlier about looking for the signs of a dishwasher leak are very relevant, and in some instances, you may even hear a water leak – such as a dripping or hissing / spray sound if it is bad.

Cause 4: Overloading the Dishwasher

Although not necessarily a direct cause of dishwasher leaks, having an overloaded dishwasher can contribute to them. Overloaded dishwashers may not function correctly. In some instances water can accumulate or potentially overflow as well as additionally putting strain on the device unnecessarily. It may even contribute to some of the other things earlier on this list.

What are the signs of an overloaded dishwasher?

The signs of an overloaded dishwasher can be many but can include things such as – pooling of water in the device, dishes coming out of the wash cycle still dirty, the dishwasher making unusual noises during the wash cycle and linked to that possibly, spray arms not having enough room to rotate.

To prevent this avoid overloading your dishwasher and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines

Cause 5: Other Causes of Dishwasher Leaks Underneath

There are other things that cause your dishwasher to leak from underneath, including:

• Damage to a door latch, not closing the dishwasher door properly
• Faulty or broken dishwasher pump, which may leak
• Damaged or cracked dishwasher tub / frame (including wear and tear)
• Poor installation, especially around connections etc.

Plus, don’t forget that there may be instances where something that may look like a dishwasher leak may not actually be from the dishwasher! For more see our guide to plumbing leaks.

What are the key conclusions for preventing or spotting dishwasher leaks?

Hopefully the advice we’ve given above will help you to prevent dishwasher leaks in your home, but the number one tip is to be vigilant in spotting dishwasher leak signs early. And when you do spot them, do not ignore them as it can cause water damage to your property.

When should you consider calling a professional for help?

We identified earlier on some situations where you may need the assistance of a plumber or dishwasher repair person, but on top of that, if you have a leak around your dishwasher and are struggling to find it our team of leak detection experts can help. We use specialist equipment to help locate leaks – such as thermal imaging leak detection and borescope cameras to locate leaks.

Remember, there are also situations where you may have a leak near a dishwasher, but she is not actually caused by the dishwasher leaking itself. Dishwashers are commonly kept in kitchens and naturally there are a number of other appliances and plumbing pipes that can leak too.

So if you need help with a leak near your dishwasher, contact us today

We have a wide variety of other helpful articles linked to water leak tips.

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Some Other Services Also Offered Locally:

• Asbestos Testing
• Crime Scene Cleaning
• Flood Damage Services
• Damp and Mould Surveys
• Specialist Cleaning Services

We’re experts in dealing with many types of water damage, so if you need help with these, contact our friendly team to arrange for help and guidance. We also deal with water leaks in Yorkshire homes and businesses locally, including water leak detection in York.

At Rainbow Restoration – York & Yorkshire Coast we’re experts in Water Damage Restoration, so if you need help getting your property back to normal after a leak or flood, get in touch with our team.