Dishwasher Leaking

HI,

If your dishwasher leaks, check these:

Main tub seal
Door gasket or seal
Water-inlet valve
Hoses
Main tub seal Note… If the main motor of your dishwasher is mounted vertically, beneath the center bottom of the dishwasher, the following instructions probably apply to you. But if your motor is mounted horizontally, the pump isn't serviceable--you need to replace the entire pump and motor assembly.

The main tub seal is beneath the drain impeller. It prevents the water in the dishwasher from leaking out near the shaft of the motor. To get to the seal, which is inside the dishwasher, remove the:

• Lower rack



• Spray arm



• Spray arm support



• Wash/drain impellers

Then pry the seal out of its housing and replace it.

Door gasket or seal Over time, door gaskets and seals harden and lose their ability to seal properly. You can't repair the seals. You need to replace them if they've begun to leak.

Water-inlet valve The water-inlet valve, itself, seldom leaks. But, the water-supply line from the house and the rubber tube leading from the valve to the inside of the dishwasher may leak. Tighten or repair/replace these as necessary.

The water-inlet valve could mechanically stick open. When that happens, the water continues to flow into the dishwasher, which then floods your kitchen. Turn off the water supply to the dishwasher, and replace the valve.

Hoses Behind the lower access panel on your dishwasher are several rubber or plastic hoses. If the leak appears at a connection, try a new clamp. If that doesn't work, replace the hose.

One (or possibly both) of your door seals needsreplacing. It's more likely to be the lower door seal as these usually go first. This seal isn't visible like the goalpost seal that runs around the sides and top of the wash compartment. If you open the door, you can feel this rubber seal when you run your fingers along the bottom of the door on the inside. Be careful though, as there is often a build up of dirt down there!

I don't advise buying any parts until you are certain of where the leak is coming from. Identifying the source of the leak (and therefore which seal to replace) is relatively easy but the best way is to run a wash cycle with the front panel of the door removed. It's quite easy to remove, but you might need a T20 T-Star screwdriver to remove it. Sorry, I can't remember exactly what the fixings are on this model.

A simpler - but not always accurate method - is to check by look and feel. If the water seems to be coming from the sides of the door panel at the bottom when you run a wash cycle, it's the "goalpost" seal that needs replacing. These are easy to obtain and replace - they simply push into a slot.

To test the bottom door seal, run any wash cycle and, when it's finished, stand to the side of the washer and open the door. There is a white plastic panel under the door. Have a feel around on top of this. If it's wet you probably need a new lower door seal. These are much harder to replace as it involves removing the door panel and partially releasing the hinges. I don't recommend this as a DIY fix unless you are competent, confident and have good instructions - i.e a service manual!

Whichever seal you need, they cost around $30 / £20 each.

Please rate this solution if you find it helpful. Thanks.

Make sure the dishwasher is level. If the water is leaking from the door, you should replace the door gasket.
Water under the dishwasher could be from a leaking hose or loose hose connection. Check these by removing the bottom front panel.
The pump seal may need to be replaced. If you are not real handy, call a repairman for this replacement.

Problem #1 solution.  Make sure that you are using a rinse aid.  All dishwashers require a rinse aid to assist in drying the dishes.
Problem #2 and #3 suggestion.  Possible that the door is either warped or not closing properly.  Make sure that the cabinetry is not obstructing the door from closing properly.  Another possibility is if the side mounting holes are used to screw the top half of the dishwasher to the cabinetry, they may be screwed so tightly that they are pulling the frame of the dishwasher away from the door causing the steam to leak out the sides.  Recommend loosening the screws slightly to allow the dishwasher frame to return to it's normal position.  Hopefully, the frame hasn't deformed.
Problem #4 solution.  You may need to replace the sump assembly as the wash motor may have a problem pump enough pressure to wash the dishes properly. The sump assembly comes as one with the drain pump included in it.