You’re all done with cleaning up the kitchen after a big messy dinner, and now you’re ready to kick back and relax on the couch. Then you notice your dishwasher leaking through the front door.
A leaking dishwasher can usually be traced back to a few problems:
- Food obstruction in the dishwasher air gap
- Clogs in the dishwasher drain and filter
- Old or damaged dishwasher gasket
DO NOT attempt to fix a leaking dishwasher on your own unless you have the technical expertise. A leaking dishwasher can result in serious damage to your floors and walls. Please contact Cody’s for assistance if you are uncertain how to proceed.
Common Causes of a
Dishwasher Leaking Through Front Door
Use this list to troubleshoot why there’s water coming out of the dishwasher door.
Dishwasher Air Gap Obstruction
First things first… what the heck is a dishwasher air gap? It’s that thing that pokes up beside the faucet on your sink.
Now, back to that leaky dishwasher door. The air gap might have some type of obstruction like food particles or grimy build up. This can cause a restriction in water flow, leading to water leaking through the front door of the dishwasher.
How to Fix an Obstructed Dishwasher Air Gap:
What you’ll need – a damp rag
- Remove the metal air gap cover
- Take off the plastic cap
- Clear any food or other debris
- Check the hose for any clogs
- Reassemble
Clogged Dishwasher Drain
The drain is located at the bottom center of your dishwasher. Sometimes this drain or the drain filter gets clogged with food debris, soap residue, or labels that have come off of your dishes. If the clog is bad enough, the water has nowhere to go but out the door.
How to Fix a Clogged Dishwasher Drain:
What you’ll need – screwdriver, damp rag, wire hanger, baking soda, vinegar
- Disconnect the power supply to your dishwasher
- Remove the bottom rack
- Unscrew the drain filters
- Rinse or wipe down the filter to clear away particles
- Remove the drain clog with a wire
- Flush the drain with vinegar and baking soda
- Mix 1 Tbs baking soda with 2 Tbs vinegar
- Pour mixture down dishwasher drain
Damaged Dishwasher Door Gasket
A gasket lines the edge of a dishwasher door, interior or both. This gasket tightly seals the dishwasher door so no water seeps out. However, the gasket can become damaged by chlorinated water or plain old wear and tear. When it’s damaged and not able to create a good seal, you guessed it, you may have a dishwasher leaking through the front door.
Before you replace your gasket, use a damp cloth to wipe down the gasket. Sticky residue or food particles can prevent a good seal, which will lead to leaks.
How to Replace a Dishwasher Gasket:
What you’ll need – new dishwasher gasket, scissors, *soapy water
- Open dishwasher & remove bottom rack
- Gently pull old gasket out of groove in door or body
- Push new gasket into groove
- Cut off excess rubber & discard
*If the new dishwasher gasket is too stiff, dip it in soapy water to lubricate it.
If you’ve run through this list and find that your air gap is clear, your drain is unobstructed and your dishwasher gasket is fine, call a dishwasher repair service to help fix the problem. At Cody’s Appliance Repair, we service a variety of dishwasher brands in Idaho’s Treasure Valley area. We’d be happy to help you figure out why your dishwasher is leaking through the front door!
