Water Leak at vent area in door...

Find a new repair person

Hello, Thank You for using FixYa. I will be helping you today.I would start by removing the outer door panel remove the screws around the inner door to do this.Then close the door and start a cycle. Sometimes you can see obvious signs of leaks just by removing the panel too. But if not let it run and see if you see water leaking anywhere. You will see water in the bottom corners its normal. If water is splashing over those corners the check the lower spray arm gor damage or cracks it can cause this problem also make sure the screws under the spray arm are tight. also check the upper arm.
Thank You and please rate my answer if it was helpful..

dishwasher leaking from the door or from the bottom of the door is common problem and yes its advisable to get it fixed.but if its having any other problem other then leaking then it has to be checked first.but leaking problem is common it can be solved.first from which part of the door area the leak is occuring that has to be checked.
Some common leaking trouble makers....
Leaks at the door:
Door gasket loose/torn
Corner gaskets or door baffle/vent gasket
Door lock/latch loose/broken
Split spray arm
Over filling with water...usually the level is just under the heating element is normal
Something leaking through the door...like the soap or rinse agent dispenser gasket, silverware basket button.
Door hinge(s) bent
Wrong soap was used...dish sink soap instead of dishwasher soap
Rinse aid being used with mechanically softened water ( makes foam or suds inside the dishwasher )

Leaks from under the unit:
Look for whiting or calcium stain on the motor and pump assembly = motor and pump assembly seal leak...access panel removal help
Hose for upper spray arm split
Fill hose split or fill hose spout air inlet is calcium covered
Drain hose is split
Rusted liner...metal liners only
Fill valve leaking or allowing water to fill all the time
Heating element ends....where they come out through the dishwasher liner
Float or float gasket
for parts you can get it from
www.repairclinic.com

Are you sure the water is coming from underneath the dishwasher? From the symptoms you described, this sounds like it could be caused by a worn door seal. Over time, these seals compress to the point where they no longer seal correctly, or food particles and grime get caught between the door and seal and leave small air gaps. The silverware tray (if located along the left or right side) can also cause damage to the door seal as utensils get caught on the seal surface as you roll the lower rack in and out of the tub. As water splashes up against the inner door facing it rolls out the bottom of the door, or down along the sides instead of staying in the tub. Some other items that can contribute to leaking are:

1. A dishwasher that is not level, which causes the door not to seal properly.

2. The inner door panel being warped causing the door facing not to be even for the gasket to seat properly.

3, Dish placement. If you place bowls, serving trays and large tumblers in the front row of the bottom rack on some dishwashers it can contribute to water being deflected over the front edge of the tub and out the bottom of the door (Believe it or not, I've seen it happen).

NOTE: Most dishwashers do not have a seal across the front lip of the tub. That's why it's important to have a good door seal and to load it properly.

If you've loaded the dishwasher properly and confirmed it is level (front to back and side to side), then here are your options:

1. Replace the inner door panel at a cost of about $130.

2. Replace the door seal at a cost of about $35-$40.

If the leak IS coming from underneath the dishwasher, you will need to remove the lower toe panel under the door and start the dishwasher to confirm wher eit may be coming from and at what point in the cycle it occurs (i.e., does it leak during the initial fill, during the wash cycle, or during the drain cycle). It will be much easier to determine a cause if you can narrow down the symptoms. Leaks under a dishwasher usually come from leaking hoses, or leaking grommets where the heating element is installed. In a worse case scenario, the tub could be cracked or have a hole melted through it (if plastic) from utensils that end up on the heating element during the drying cycle and heat up to melt the tub. You will need to do a thorough inspection and post back with the results, so that I may be able to advise you further if this is the case. If you need parts, they can be purchased from any of the following websites:

searspartsdirect.com
appliancepartspros.com
pcappliancerepair.com
repairclinic.com

Use whatever parts source you like, but I have found these to be the cheapest and most reliable sites to order parts from. Shop all of them for the best price.

NOTE: The inner door panel is listed under the Door Parts section. The tub gasket will be listed under the Tub Parts section.
If the model number you have this listed under is correct, the part number for the door gasket is 902894. The part number for the inner door assembly is dependent upon your serial number.
I think I would pursue the cheaper option, first. Its also the much simpler option. Since your dishwasher is 8 years old, it is highly likely the door gasket is worn and needs to be replaced. To replace the door seal, follow these steps:

1. Pull the old door seal from the groove around the wash tub facing. Take note of which surface area of the gasket is inserted in the groove and which surface is facing the door. It may not seal properly if you install the gasket the wrong way.

2. Clean the area really well to ensure there are no food debris or soap deposits. Also clean the inner door area where the door meets the gasket. You need a clean surface for the best results.

3. Locate the center mark of the new gasket. This will be a small paint spot or small groove on the gasket (this surface is the side of the gasket that will be inserted in the groove around the tub facing). If there is no center mark, fold the gasket in half and mark the location with some chalk, or hold with your fingers.

4. Locate the top center part of the wash tub facing and align the center mark of the door gasket at that point. Begin pushing the gasket into the groove with your hands and work your way around and down along each side.

5. Make sure the gasket is inserted all the way around the tub facing to the point where it meets the wash tub bottom. You can pull the gasket out and readjust as necessary.

This repair should take you about 30 minutes or less to complete. Its simple and requires no tools. The door will be tough the shut for a while until the gasket compresses and takes the door shape. Do not slam the door if it becomes difficult to shut. Simply close the door and the push firmly at the point just above the door latch until the latch clicks. Slamming the door can damage the control panel components, the door latch and/or the hinges. NOTE: I personally own a Maytag model such as yours and experienced the same problem. Replacing the door gasket solved the problem for me. It may for you, too. If you have questions, or require additional assistance, please let me know. I hope this helps you.

this are the possibilities for the leak :-----
Door gasket loose/torn
Corner gaskets or door baffle/vent gasket
Door lock/latch loose/broken
Split spray arm
Over filling with water...usually the level is just under the heating element is normal
Something leaking through the door...like the soap or rinse agent dispenser gasket, silverware basket button.
Door hinge(s) bent
Wrong soap was used...dish sink soap instead of dishwasher soap
Rinse aid being used with mechanically softened water ( makes foam or suds inside the dishwasher )

Leaks from under the unit:
Look for whiting or calcium stain on the motor and pump assembly = motor and pump assembly seal leak...access panel removal help
Hose for upper spray arm split
Fill hose split or fill hose spout air inlet is calcium covered
Drain hose is split
Rusted liner...metal liners only
Fill valve leaking or allowing water to fill all the time
Heating element ends....where they come out through the dishwasher liner
Float or float gasket.

After further inspection of my dishwasher I found a bad gasket under the lower wash arm. Over the years it finally gave up and was shooting a torrent of water through the water in the bottom of the wash tub. When all that water hit the door liner it went up into the lower door vents, into to wire harness, and onto the floor.

i have had mine leak (usually out of the left side) I can see it coming off the black rubber seal that ends about 2/3 of the way down the side. ( I have also replaced the inner seal around the tub- that helped as the bottom of the seal would stick to the door when closed and make a gap for water to come out) I also notice that water and moisture comes out at the top of the dishwasher (then it leaks down the side and front) I have heard of many problems with the latch...and I can push mine closed tighter but it doesnt close completely with just the latch, but enough for the wash cycle to work. also just make sure there are no crumbs or something stuck around the liner. good luck mine has been a lemon and i cant wait to get a different brand.

I had exactly the same problem with my Kenmore Ultrawash. I thought the leaking might be coming from the seals around the door, but found that it was leaking from the top as described. I removed the air vent cover on the inside of the door and found that it and the vent area had a great deal of what appeared to be dissolved paper. At first I thought perhaps this was somehow remenents of some kind of air filter, but after reading the post here, came to conclude this was foreign matter. I believe what happended is we at some time washed jars or something with lables on it and this stuff accummulated inside the air vent area. I think in a normal case, when the washer is running, water is mostly stopped from going into the air vent area by the hatched cover, but inevitably some water would get thru. This would be ok normally, because the water would just hit the vent area and probably just fall back into the washer. With all the debris stuck in the vent area and on the cover, I suspect the water was not able to exit the vent area or was hitting the debris and causing the water to jet out the opening to the front - hence the water coming out the vent and pouring down the front. Once I cleaned out the vent area and the cover from the debris, I replaced the cover and ran the washer with no water leaking anymore.

I'm so glad you posted your finding - it gave something to look into, and turned out to be the same source of the problem. You saved me a service call.

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.

1. A common leaking trouble maker
   
2. Another common leaking trouble maker - especially for leaking out of the door area
   
3. Can I use a rubber or plastic hose for the hot water on my built in dishwasher ??
   
4. Some common pump assembly pictures...
   
5. Dishwasher Basics
   
6. Dishwasher child lock help 
   
7. Dishwasher soap notice
   
8. Draining and washing help
   
9. Help for storing an appliance
   
10. How to remove the access panels
    
11. I just installed my food waste disposal, now my dishwasher will not drain, what could be wrong??
    
12. I moved and lost the tap adaptor for my portable d/w, help!!
    
13. Important disclaimer
    
14. I would like to try to install my own dishwasher
    
15. Loading your dishwasher help
    
16. Motor and pump assembly screw and impellor help
    
17. My dishes are not as clean as they used to be, what might be wrong?
    
18. My dishwasher racks have rusted.
    
19. My dishwasher will not fill with water
    
20. My dishwasher will not start
    
21. My soap dispenser will not open
    
22. Sand like deposits inside the glasses and d/w
    
23. Some common soap door dispensers breakdowns
    

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:

1. Lower rack
2. Spray arm
3. Spray arm support
4. 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.
thanks for using FixYa