Water pooling on your kitchen floor is never a welcome sight. If it's coming from your dishwasher, you need to identify and fix the leak quickly to prevent floor damage and potential mold growth.
Common Leak Locations
Front Door Leaks (Most Common)
Worn Door Gasket:
- The rubber seal around the door deteriorates over time
- Check for cracks, tears, or hardening
- Food debris stuck in gasket folds
- Fix: Clean gasket thoroughly; replace if damaged ($50-$100)
Door Latch Problems:
- Door not closing completely
- Latch mechanism worn or misaligned
- Fix: Adjust strike plate, replace latch assembly ($100-$200)
Oversudsing:
- Using regular dish soap instead of dishwasher detergent
- Too much detergent
- Wrong detergent type
- Fix: Use only dishwasher-specific detergent, reduce amount
Bottom/Underneath Leaks
Loose Hose Connections:
- Check where drain hose connects
- Inspect water supply line
- Fix: Tighten connections with screwdriver
Pump Seal Failure:
- Water leaks from pump area underneath
- Often occurs with age
- Fix: Pump seal replacement ($150-$250)
Damaged Spray Arm:
- Cracked spray arm sprays water where it shouldn't
- Fix: Replace spray arm ($50-$100)
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
Step 1: Identify leak location
- Run dishwasher and watch where water appears
- Check front, sides, and underneath
Step 2: Check door gasket
- Wipe clean and inspect for damage
- Run dollar bill test (close door on dollar bill - should have resistance)
Step 3: Verify detergent
- Make sure you're using dishwasher-specific detergent
- Check amount (usually 1-2 tablespoons)
Step 4: Inspect underneath
- Pull dishwasher out (turn off water first!)
- Look for wet spots
- Trace water to source
Quick Fixes You Can Try
- Clean door gasket - remove food debris
- Tighten hose connections
- Adjust door latch - may just need strike plate adjustment
- Verify correct detergent and amount
- Check dishwasher is level - unlevel can cause leaks
When to Call a Pro
- Leak source is internal components
- Pump seal needs replacement
- Cracked tub (rare but serious)
- Can't locate leak source
- Multiple leak points
Average repair cost: $100-$300 depending on issue
Book dishwasher repair service if you can't stop the leak.
