Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

You don't want leaks anywhere in your home. A leaking dishwasher can be pretty alarming considering how much water runs through it when it's in use. A leak can get out of control fast and one that's not handled can lead to slip and fall danger, potential build-up of bacteria and mold, or even attract indoor pests. If you've noticed a build-up of standing water beneath your dishwasher, you need to hunt down the source and get it repaired sooner rather than later.

Your dishwasher is complicated and deals with a lot of water. That means a leak could be coming from multiple different places and it all could become quite technical and complicated before you know it. There are a few ways to troubleshoot the problem though.

The door of your dishwasher is an easy first place to look. It's a point where water can easily escape if the seal or lock is not properly working. Take a look at where the water is accumulating and see if it happens to be directly under the door. Then take a screwdriver and tighten the latch. If that doesn't work and the door is still leaking, it may be a problem with the gasket—the rubber liner that seals the door. It may need to be replaced.

A lot of leaky dishwashers can actually be solved by looking at some user error causes. You could be overfilling the dishwasher which will prevent the water from draining properly. You could be using the wrong dishwasher detergent—often regular dish soap which foams and causes leaking from the overflow. It's also possible your dishwasher was installed with improper alignment which causes water to spill out. Make sure you rule out these simple fixes before calling a professional.

If you've got an older dishwasher, that increases the likelihood of a leak coming from inside the dishwasher tub itself. The tub gets worn down, like anything else, with the more uses it goes through and it can corrode to the point that it begins to leak water. While you may be able to fix this issue if you catch it early, it's possible you need to replace the dishwasher entirely if the tub is too compromised. Other places to look are wears on the valves which could be the source of leaks.