Five Common Causes of Dishwasher Leaks & Tips To Fix Them!

It’s always stressful when your dishwasher is leaking, and it can be really difficult to find and repair leak issues like these ones. But just like with any other plumbing leak, dishwasher leaks can’t be neglected and have to be addressed as quickly as possible.

We’ve partnered up with the plumbing specialists at DG Plumbing to develop this list of five common causes of dishwasher leaks, and we’re also offering some pro tips on how to fix these leak causes.

So take it from the pro plumbers in that these dishwasher leak causes are some of the most common:

Your dishwasher’s door gasket is no longer maintaining its watertight seal

Malfunctioning gasket seals on dishwasher doors are undoubtedly one of the most common causes of dishwasher leaks. When these gaskets are brand new, the rubber is strong enough to keep water inside the appliance; however, over time these rubber materials can get dry and crack. This then can lead to the watertight seal losing its usefulness, which leads to subsequent leaks in your kitchen.

The main way to fix this leak is to replace your door gasket, and the good news is that this type of repair is pretty easy and straightforward.

The spray arm isn’t working correctly

A dishwasher’s spray arms are really important because they spin during both the washing and rinsing cycles. Of course we all know how unorganized and overcrowded dishwasher loads can be, which often leads to spray arms being blocked from conducting their proper rotations.

And when spray arms are severely blocked, they can even dislodge and create a serious leak problem. The best way to address this dishwasher leak is to install a new spray arm, and be careful about how you load your dishwasher.

One tip to keep in mind is to always rotate the spray arms yourself as you’re loading your dishes. If you can’t spin the spray arm, then you need to re-organize before turning on the dishwasher.

Your float switch isn’t turning off throughout cycles

Your dishwasher’s float assembly is comprised of a float switch and a float, and these are important devices that ensure proper water levels during each washing cycle. So the float will simultaneously rise with rising water levels, until it reaches a switch that tells it to turn the water supply off.

This means that float switch malfunctions can potentially cause water to continue to flow up within your dishwasher, which will always lead to really serious leaks. The only legitimate way to resolve this type of problem is to replace your malfunctioning float switch.

Your drain hose is damaged or loose

Drain hoses are of course crucial for dishwasher functionality, so when your drain hose is loose or damaged, it can cause water to build up and stay within the appliance. This often leads to serious leaks that can rather quickly pose structural damages to your kitchen floors.

You may be able to tighten up any loose hose fittings to fix this issue, but you may also need to replace the hose with a manufacturer-approved newer model.

Your water inlet valve isn’t closing properly

Your dishwasher’s water inlet valve is another crucial component that can malfunction and cause leaks. This valve is usually at the bottom of the washer and allows water to flow into the appliance, so if it’s not opening or closing correctly, you’ll inevitably experience some serious leaks and other issues.

The only way to fix this type of malfunctioning is to replace the inlet valve.

Reach Out To The Dishwasher Repair Experts At DG Plumbing To Learn More!

Dishwasher repairs simply happen every now and again for all homeowners, so it’s important to have a good understanding as to why your dishwasher may currently be on the fritz.

You can learn more dishwasher repair tips by going through the link at the top of the page to the DG Plumbing website, where their esteemed specialists will be more than happy to answer your questions and let you know why your dishwasher may need professional attention!