TL;DR: dishwasher leaking
- Stop the cycle, switch the dishwasher off at the breaker, close the water valve under the sink and put towels down. Do that before you look for the cause.
- Where the water shows up points to the cause. A dishwasher leaking from the door points to the door seal, the latch or too many suds. Water at the bottom can come from a hose, the filter, the inlet valve or the pump seal.
- Safe to check yourself: the door seal, the filter, the detergent and whether the unit is level.
- Leave to a technician: a leaking inlet valve, a worn pump seal, a float switch and any hose you cannot reach without pulling the machine out.
- Still leaking after the checks? Call 647-834-4646. The service call is $89 and it is credited to the repair when you approve it.
A dishwasher leaking onto the kitchen floor comes from one of a few places. The place the water shows up is the main clue. Water at the door points to the seal, the latch or too many suds; water at the bottom can point to a hose, the filter, the inlet valve or the pump seal.
This guide takes it in the order we check it: stop the water, find the source, then decide what is safe to fix yourself and what needs a technician.
Dishwasher leaking: what to do in the first five minutes
Switch the dishwasher off at the breaker, close the water valve under the sink, and put towels down. Then dry the floor so the next run shows you where the water really comes from.
- Stop the cycle and switch the power off at the breaker. If there is a visible leak, turn the dishwasher off at the circuit breaker.
- Close the shut-off valve under the sink. That is the water supply to the dishwasher.
- Keep towels or a sponge handy. Mop up the standing water.
- Dry the area completely. Before you decide it is a leak, confirm it is not a spill: dry the floor, run the dishwasher, and see whether water comes back.
Brand new dishwasher? A leak on a newly installed dishwasher is most likely an installation problem. Call whoever installed it first rather than taking it apart yourself.
How do I find where my dishwasher is leaking from?
Run a short test cycle with the floor dry and watch. The fastest way to find the source is to run a cycle and see where the water appears, and when. A dishwasher leaking at the door during the wash points to the door side. Water that collects underneath points to a hose, the pump or a connection.
Once you have watched one cycle, use this table to match what you saw to the likely cause.
| Where the water shows | Likely cause | Safe check | Repair or call? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door edge, front of the tub | Worn or dirty door seal | Look and feel along the seal for debris, tears or cracks | Replace a damaged seal |
| Soapy water down the front | Too many suds | Dishwasher detergent only, and not too much | Your fix |
| Door will not close evenly | Loose or bent latch | Power off, then look at the latch | Tighten a loose one; replace a bent one |
| Bottom, grows while it runs | Worn pump seal | None. Watch for a slow leak while it runs | Call: a technician can confirm it with a pressure test |
| Bottom, even when idle | Faulty inlet valve | Notice whether water keeps coming in | Call: the valve is replaced, not repaired |
| Bottom, tub holds water | Clogged filter | Clean the filter | Your fix; call if it keeps happening |
| Bottom, water level rises too high | Float or float switch, which control the water level | None | Call: a defective one needs a technician |
| Under the unit or at the hoses | Supply or drain hose, loose clamp | Power and water off, then look at both ends | Call if you cannot reach it |
Dishwasher leaking from the door
Work through the three checks below with the power off. A dishwasher leaking from the door points to the door latch and the gasket first.
The door seal (gasket)
Check the rubber seal for debris, tears and cracks. Run a finger along it and look at whether the door closes evenly. If it is dirty, clean it with a damp cloth and mild soap; if it is damaged, it needs replacing.
Too many suds
Use dishwasher detergent only. Dish soap, or too much detergent, makes excess suds that push water out past the door. If you see foam on the floor, this is the first thing to rule out.
The door latch
A loose or bent latch stops the door from closing fully and can let water out around it. With the power off, a loose latch can be tightened; a bent one needs replacing. Do not bypass or defeat the door switch to keep a cycle running. That switch is there for safety.
Other door-side causes worth knowing
Food and debris in the spray nozzles can redirect water toward the door, so keep them clean. If your dishwasher has an external vent, a loose vent cap can leak water from the door; tightening it by hand is the fix.
Dishwasher leaking from the bottom
When water shows at the bottom of the dishwasher, or collects at the bottom of the tub, the cause can be a clogged filter, a faulty inlet valve, a float problem or a worn pump seal. A dishwasher leaking at the bottom is harder to diagnose by eye, because the parts sit under the tub.
A clogged filter backing water up
A clogged filter can make water back up and overfill, so the dishwasher leaks at the bottom. Clean the filter often. Maytag notes that a small amount of standing water in the filter area is normal, but more than about 2.5 cm (an inch) may mean a clog that lets the level rise and leak.
A faulty inlet valve
The inlet valve lets water into the tub. When it fails, water can keep coming in, pooling inside or under the unit even when the dishwasher is off. A leaking inlet valve cannot be repaired, only replaced, and the leak gets worse over time.
A worn pump seal
A worn pump seal leaks slowly while the dishwasher runs, and a technician can confirm it with a pressure test. A broken water pump system shows up as water building at the bottom and is repaired or replaced by a technician. The float and float switch, which control the water level, belong on the same list: if they are defective, call a technician.
Water under the dishwasher, behind it or in the cabinet beside it
A dishwasher leaking underneath can have a hose, the pump seal or the inlet valve behind it. Switch the power off at the breaker and close the water valve before you look.
- Supply hose: check it for moisture, damage and loose connections, along its full length and at both ends. On many dishwashers the hookup sits at the front-left corner behind the lower kick panel, so check your manual.
- Drain hose: a clamp that has loosened from years of vibration, or a hose that has cracked, drips water beneath the unit. Water in the cabinet beside the dishwasher can be a loose hose clamp: with the power off first, inspect the hoses under the cabinet and tighten the clamp with a flat-head screwdriver.
- Air gap: water leaking from the air gap may mean debris is blocking it. Turn the dishwasher off, remove the chrome cover, unscrew or unsnap the plastic cap, clear the debris and put it back.
- Level: an unlevel dishwasher can let water pool and leak. Check it left to right and front to back, setting a level against the top front of the opening and adjusting the front legs.
Where a hose joins the house plumbing, or where reaching it means pulling the machine out, stop and call. If the water keeps returning after you dry the area, it is a same-day call.
If the dishwasher also leaves water standing inside after the cycle, read our guide to a dishwasher not draining; a backed-up drain is a close neighbour of a leak. A leak and an odd sound together are covered in dishwasher making strange noises.
How to fix a dishwasher leaking: what you can do and what needs a technician
What you can fix yourself depends on the part. Four jobs are safe for most people, with the power off: clean the seal, clean the filter, switch to dishwasher detergent, and check the level. The rest need a technician.
You can do
- Clean the door seal with a damp cloth and mild soap.
- Clean the filter.
- Use dishwasher detergent only, and the right amount.
- Check the dishwasher is level.
- Tighten a loose vent cap by hand, if yours has one.
Call a technician
- A leaking inlet valve, which has to be replaced.
- A defective float or float switch.
- A worn pump seal or a broken pump system.
- A damaged door seal or a bent latch.
- Any hose you cannot reach without pulling the dishwasher out.
For a closer look at what you can safely do at home, see our DIY dishwasher repair guide.
What does a dishwasher leak repair cost?
The service call is $89, and it is credited to the repair when you approve the repair. Every repair carries a written 90-day parts-and-labour warranty.
What a leak repair costs depends on the part. Our dishwasher repair vs replacement cost guide covers how to weigh it.
When to stop and call
Call when a dishwasher leaking from the bottom or the door keeps coming back after the checks above, when water is at a hose join or in the cabinet, or when anything needs the dishwasher pulled out.
We pick up the phone 24/7, 365 days a year. Our technicians are factory-trained on 25+ major brands, and Appliance Forever has 15+ years of experience and is licensed and insured. Our dishwasher repair service is same-day, with a 2-hour arrival window and a text ahead, and our vans are fully stocked with parts. We take cash, credit, debit and e-transfer.
Dishwasher leaking and the checks have not fixed it? Call a technician. The $89 service call is credited to the repair when you approve it, and the repair carries a written 90-day parts-and-labour warranty.
Dishwasher leaking: quick answers
Why is my dishwasher leaking from the bottom?
Common causes are a clogged filter backing water up, a faulty inlet valve, a worn pump seal, or a loose or cracked hose. Watch a test cycle to see where it starts.
Why is my dishwasher leaking from the door?
Check the door seal, the latch and the amount of detergent first. Look at the seal for debris, tears and cracks, make sure the door closes evenly, and use dishwasher detergent only.
Can I run a dishwasher that is leaking?
No. If there is a visible leak, switch it off at the circuit breaker and leave it off until you know the source.
Can too much detergent make a dishwasher leak?
Yes. Dish soap, or too much detergent, makes excess suds that push water out past the door. Use dishwasher detergent only.
Dishwasher leaking and not sure where from?
Call us at 647-834-4646 and book a visit. The $89 service call is credited to the repair when you approve it, and every repair carries a written 90-day parts-and-labour warranty. You can also reach us through our contact page.
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