Troubleshooting Dishwasher Leaks and Water Flow Issues

Once you have made the transition from hand-washing dishes to a dishwasher, you never want to go back. So, when you are faced with problems with your dishwasher it is vital that you get to the bottom of the situation as soon as possible. While calling in a plumber is always an option, there are some dishwasher leaks that you may be able to identify and even repair by using the good old fashioned Do It Yourself method. 

Locating And Fixing Dishwasher Leaks

While dishwashers are purposely designed to keep all of the water locked away tight, issues can arise over time and some parts and pieces start to wear down or break. Whether it is due to malfunction or wear and tear, a leaking dishwasher is a problem that needs to be fixed right away. 

If you have noticed that your dishwasher is spraying water, or causing water to pool around the base, there are multiple areas you need to check in order to find the leak. 

The Door: The doors of dishwashers are lined with a rubber gasket. This gasket can become brittle over time and start to crack or tear. A damaged gasket can lead to a leak. 

Water source: The water source for your dishwasher is either a pipe or a hose. If the connection between your home’s plumbing and the dishwasher is loose or failing, it can cause a leak. 

The underbelly: Located underneath the dishwasher are three areas you can check for leaks. The water inlet, the drain, and the pump can all spring leaks depending on loose clamps, broken gaskets, or even a broken pump. 

If you are able to find the source of the leak in one of these locations, it can often be a very simple fix of securing a loose connection or doing a quick replacement of a gasket or a pump. However, the issue could be something more complex and you may want to call in a professional plumber, as you can sometimes make the issues worse if you mess up trying to fix things. 

A Dishwasher That Won’t Wash

Having a leaking dishwasher is not good, but having a dishwasher that cannot wash dishes is just as devastating. Much like with leaks, there are numerous things that can cause water flow issues in your dishwasher. Here are some of the most typical water flow issues a dishwasher can suffer from: 

Stuck/broken float switch: The float switch is a disc that is often made out of plastic that is attached to the bottom of the dishwasher. This float switch rises up with the water in the dishwasher and when it reaches the right level of water, it tells the machine to stop pumping in water. Sometimes this switch can get stuck in the up position thanks to a build-up of gunk. 

Door sensor: The door sensor is built to make sure that no water can run when the dishwasher door is open. If this is broken, it can result in your machine not being able to pump water because it thinks the door is open. 

The water supply: As long as you still have water in your sink, you know that the issue you are having is not because of the main water supply. However, there is a valve under your sink that diverts water towards your dishwasher, sometimes this diverted line can get kinked, clogged or damaged and it results in poor water flow to your dishwasher. 

Calling in a Professional

If identifying the issues with your dishwasher leads you to believe the problem is too large for you to solve on your own without making things worse, you can rely on a licensed, professional plumber to help you get the job done. For more information, visit clogkingllc.com.