Why Is My Dishwasher Leaking?
The most common reasons for a dishwasher leak is a broken seal, incorrect detergent, or uneven alignment. Your dishwasher should run like a well-oiled machine. When parts are breaking down, out of line, or aren’t the right fit, the whole system suffers. Here’s how to determine the cause of your leak and what you can do about it.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Like any item in your home, your dishwasher has many parts, and these can begin to break down over time. Seals wear out without proper cleaning and maintenance, and when your door seal fails to function, you may start to notice a drip from your unit or water pooling on your kitchen floor. Brittle seals can lead to holes or prevent your door from closing properly.
Detergent Dilemma
Dish soap and dishwasher detergent are not interchangeable. The thickness of dish soap causes it to bubble up more than detergent and that can put pressure on your dishwasher door seal, causing a leak. If you run out of detergent, resist the urge to use dish soap: it’s better to leave the load of dishes and run to the store for the right solution.
Alignment’s Off
Is your leaking dishwasher also leaning or loose? The machine needs to stay level to make sure the water stays where it should: A dishwasher that’s not level can cause too much water to collect and overflow at the seams, and a poorly aligned dishwasher can stop the door from closing completely (that’s another recipe for leaks).
Troubleshooting
Plumbing