5 Possible Causes of Dishwasher Leaks & Fixes

Dishwasher leaks should be quickly diagnosed and repaired. If left untreated, a leaky dishwasher can cause bigger issues than a puddle in your kitchen. Learn about the possible causes of dishwasher leaks, such as a water supply line leak, clogged filter, drain line issues, unlevelness or a damaged door latch or gasket.

WHY IS MY DISHWASHER LEAKING?

There are multiple reasons why your dishwasher may be leaking water. Dishwasher leaks may occur from the front, around the door or from the bottom of the unit. If you’re not sure where your leak is coming from, see the possible issues below for a good starting point.

Always check your dishwasher’s Use and Care Guide for model-specific troubleshooting instructions.

1. IS YOUR DISHWASHER LEAKING FROM THE WATER LINE UNDERNEATH?

Start by checking the water line from the household water supply to see if it is damaged or cracked. 

Do so by following these steps, though location may vary slightly depending on your dishwasher model. See this guide or check your Use and Care Guide for full instructions. Always disconnect electrical power or turn off the breaker before any inspection or repairs.

1. Remove lower toe kick panel by removing the 2 fasteners.
2. Turn the plastic fasteners 1/4 turn counterclockwise to unlock them.
3. Remove panel.
4. The water hookup is located in the front left corner of the machine.
5. Inspect water connections, check the floor and hose for dampness. Tighten hose as needed.

2. IS YOUR DISHWASHER LEAKING DUE TO A CLOGGED FILTER?

Though it’s normal for there to be a small amount of standing water in the dishwasher filter area, if you find more than an inch it may be clogged. This can lead to improper draining that may cause the water level to rise too high and leak out when overfull.

Checking your filter for clogs and cleaning it is a fairly simple and routine task. Learn how to remove, clean and replace a dishwasher filter.

3. HAVE YOU CLEANED THE FILTER, BUT YOUR DISHWASHER STILL ISN’T DRAINING CORRECTLY?

Check the drain line. If the line is not installed correctly or clogged, residual water will remain in the bottom of the tub and can cause your dishwasher to leak.

Look under your sink to make sure of the following:

1. That the drain hose comes through at the bottom of the cabinet.

2. If you don’t have an air gap, make sure the hose is looped so that it touches the underside of the counter. 

3. Check that the drain hose clamp is positioned correctly, as seen in this diagram and in your Use and Care Guide.
   

4. Have you recently installed a new sink disposer? Make sure the sink disposer knockout for the dishwasher drain has been removed before operating the dishwasher.

If the drain line appears to be installed correctly, but standing water is still gathering at the bottom of the tub, it may be clogged or the result of a broken drain motor. These are both more complex issues that should only be addressed by a service technician.

4. IS UNLEVELNESS CAUSING YOUR DISHWASHER TO LEAK?

Make sure that your dishwasher is fully level so that it can perform properly and to prevent water from collecting under it, causing a potential leak.

Place a level against the top front opening of the tub to check that your dishwasher is level from side to side. If the dishwasher is not level, adjust front legs up or down until it is square in the cabinet and flat on the floor, evenly supported by the leveling legs and rear wheels. Always reinstall the anti-tip brackets to the counter or side cabinets after making adjustments or reinstalling the dishwasher. Make sure you have the right size rough opening for your dishwasher. Learn more about how to level a dishwasher for peak performance.

5. IS YOUR DISHWASHER LEAKING FROM THE DOOR DUE TO A DAMAGED LATCH OR GASKET?

Check the door latch—if it’s loose or bent it will not close completely and may cause leakage around the door during cycles. You may be able to tighten the latch with a screwdriver if it’s simply loose, but first disconnect all electrical power or turn off the breaker before attempting to make any repairs.

Another possible cause of a leaky door is a loose, cracked or damaged gasket, which works to seal the door and keep water from escaping. If it’s loose, it can typically be secured back in place, but if it’s damaged you will need to replace it. 

Also, check for items like silverware or large food particles that may be stuck between the door seal and the tub of the dishwasher. This will cause the door to not shut or seal properly. 

If the water is below the dishwasher or on the floor and the cause still cannot be found, contact Maytag to locate an authorized service technician to perform further inspection and diagnosis of the problem.

WANT A DISHWASHER WITH BUILT-IN LEAK DETECTION?

Select Maytag^® dishwasher models offer Leak Detect, a combination of multiple features that measure and monitor the flow of water at various points. If a problem is sensed, the unit can take action by draining the tub and alerting you when necessary, helping to identify and contain most types of leaks. Learn how to troubleshoot dishwasher control panel issues.

Shop Maytag^® dishwashers for your tough meal messes

Maytag^® dishwashers provide serious cleaning strength to get through even the toughest meal messes. Features like Dual Power Filtration and the PowerBlast^® cycle will have you making quick work of kitchen clean-up.