Dishwasher leaking
Urgent Even a small leak under a dishwasher soaks the cabinet base and subfloor before it shows at the front, so stop using it and shut the supply valve until it is found.
What this symptom might mean
Where the water appears tells you a lot. Water at the front, below the door, usually comes from the door itself: a gasket that is torn, hardened or has food stuck to it, a door that is not aligned because the unit is not level, a spray arm throwing water at the door because a utensil is deflecting it, or suds from the wrong detergent forcing water past the seal. GE also notes that a new gasket can take several cycles to seat.
Water from underneath or behind is a different set of causes: a loose or split supply line, a drain hose clamp that has let go, a cracked pump housing or a worn pump seal, an inlet valve that keeps filling because it sticks or the float is jammed, or a tub that has cracked. Any of those means water is escaping inside the cabinet space, where it can go a long time without being noticed. The checks below help you tell which case you have without pulling the dishwasher out.
Safe checks you can do first
- Stop and shut the water. Turn off the dishwasher's supply valve (usually under the sink) and do not run another cycle. Mop up and put a towel under the front edge so you can see where new water comes from.
- Inspect the door gasket. Run a finger along the rubber seal around the tub opening and the bottom edge of the door. Look for tears, flattened sections, hardening or food debris. Wipe it clean with warm soapy water.
- Check the level. Put a level on the top edge of the open door and across the tub. A dishwasher that leans forward will leak from the door. Adjusting the front feet is a safe check if they are accessible.
- Loading and spray arms. Make sure nothing in the lower rack is pointing at the door or stopping the lower arm from turning. A ladle handle deflecting the spray can flood the door lip.
- Detergent. Confirm only automatic dishwasher detergent has been used. Hand soap, even a trace on a pre-rinsed dish, produces suds that escape the door.
- Look under the sink. With the dishwasher off, look at the supply line and the drain hose connection under the sink for drips or a wet cabinet floor. Tighten nothing beyond hand-snug; report what you see.
Nothing above involves gas, wiring, refrigerant or removing panels. Those are technician-only: Pulling the dishwasher out to inspect pump seals, hoses and the tub underside; Replacing the inlet valve, float switch or pump; Any work on the household water supply or drain plumbing.
Repairs a technician may recommend
After inspection, not from the symptom alone.
- Door gasket replacement. When the seal is torn, hardened or flattened and water shows at the door only.
- Door alignment or hinge and spring repair. When the door sits crooked, drops, or does not compress the gasket evenly.
- Water inlet valve replacement. When the tub overfills, or fills when the dishwasher is off.
- Float switch cleaning or replacement. When the float is stuck and the dishwasher fills past its normal level.
- Pump seal or wash pump assembly replacement. When water appears under the dishwasher during the wash phase and the hoses are dry.
- Supply line or drain hose replacement. When a hose is split or a fitting is leaking. A leaking household shut-off valve is a plumber's job.
- Tub repair or replacement assessment. When the tub is cracked; on most dishwashers this means replacement, and the finding says so plainly.
When to book
Book as soon as you have shut the supply valve, and say whether the water is at the front only or from underneath. Front-only leaks with a visibly damaged gasket are a straightforward visit; anything from underneath needs the dishwasher pulled out, so let us know if it is hard-wired or the countertop is stone. The diagnostic is $89 and waived when you go ahead with the repair. If water has reached the cabinet base or a ceiling below, photograph it for your insurer before we move anything. See dishwasher repair.
Questions
Can I keep using the dishwasher if it only leaks a little?
No. A small leak under a dishwasher is the one that rots the subfloor. Shut the supply valve and have it found.
The leak started right after the dishwasher was installed. What is likely?
A new gasket that has not seated, a unit that is not level, or a supply or drain connection that was not tightened. Whoever installed it should return first; if that is us, the callback is covered under our warranty: 90 days on labour and on parts we install, and a return visit for the same fault costs nothing.
Why does it leak only on some cycles?
Heavier cycles fill higher and spray harder, which finds a weak gasket or a marginal float level that a light cycle does not. It still needs fixing.
Does home insurance cover a dishwasher leak?
Policies vary. Sudden leaks are often covered, slow ones often not. Photograph the damage and call your insurer; we provide a written finding of the cause on request.
Related
Sources
- Whirlpool Product Help: Dishwasher leaking troubleshooting guide
- GE Appliances: Dishwasher leaks from door
Reviewed 2026-09-24.
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