Dishwasher leaking: causes and safe checks

Likely needs an engineer

Quick answer

Turn the water off first. Dishwasher leaks are often caused by foam from the wrong detergent, a large item deflecting water onto the door seal, a dirty or damaged door seal, a machine that isn’t level, or a loose or split hose. Water collecting in the base, or a leak code, can mean an internal leak for an engineer.

Also covers: water under dishwasher · dishwasher leaking from door · dishwasher leaking from bottom.

Likely causes

Why this can need an engineer

A leak from inside the dishwasher puts water near its electrical parts, under panels you shouldn’t remove. Your checks stop at what you can see without moving the dishwasher. Bosch advises against home fixes once its leak protection has triggered.

What you can safely check yourself

Stop and call a qualified engineer if:
  • Water is leaking from inside the appliance or is near the plug or socket. Don’t touch the plug with wet hands or while standing in water. Switch off at the consumer unit instead.
  • The appliance reports water in its base (an anti-flood or AquaStop-type warning). Keep the water supply off and book an engineer.
  • A hose is split, bulging, cracked or leaking at the connection. Stop using the appliance until the hose is replaced.
  • The code or problem comes back after you’ve done the safe checks on this page.
  • The next step would mean removing a cover or panel, or working on the pump, valves, heater, motor, door lock or wiring. That is a job for a qualified engineer.

Work through these in order. Stop as soon as one of the signs above applies.

Turn off the water and switch the appliance off

  1. Close the water supply tap to the appliance.
  2. Switch the appliance off. Only unplug it at the wall if the plug, socket and floor around it are dry. Otherwise switch it off at the consumer unit.
  3. Mop up water on the floor so nobody slips.

Look for a visible leak, without moving the dishwasher

  1. Look at the floor in front of and around the base of the dishwasher for water.
  2. Where you can see them without moving the appliance (often under the sink), check the inlet and drain hoses and their connections for kinks, cracks or drips.
  3. If a hose is visibly damaged, it needs replacing with the correct part before the dishwasher is used again.

Don’t tip or tilt the dishwasher to drain the base. Manufacturers advise against home fixes for this fault.

Don’t remove the kick plate or any panel.

Use dishwasher detergent only

  1. Washing-up liquid, or too much detergent, creates foam that can leak out of the door or trigger a leak warning.
  2. Use only products made for dishwashers. If foam built up, wipe out what you can and run an empty rinse.

Never put washing-up liquid in a dishwasher.

Check the loading

  1. Make sure nothing stops the spray arms turning or blocks the detergent compartment lid.
  2. Leave space between items so water and heat reach every surface.
  3. Put heavily soiled pans in the lower basket, and cups and glasses in the upper basket.
  4. Scrape food off plates before loading.

Check the spray arms turn and aren’t blocked

Before you start
  • Switch off and unplug the appliance at the wall socket before you touch hoses, filters or the back of the machine. Make sure your hands and the plug area are dry.
  1. With the dishwasher switched off, turn each spray arm by hand. It should spin freely without hitting plates, pans or utensils.
  2. Look at the nozzle holes. Clear food or limescale with a cocktail stick or tweezers.
  3. If your manual shows how to remove the spray arms, rinse them through under the tap and refit them firmly.

Check the door seal is clean and undamaged

  1. Open the door and wipe food and grease off the rubber seal and the door edge.
  2. Look for splits, gaps or a seal that has come out of its groove.
  3. A damaged seal needs replacing with the correct part. Ask the manufacturer or an engineer.

Check the dishwasher is level

  1. Put a spirit level on the open door and the front edge of the tub. Your manual shows how to adjust the feet.
  2. On integrated dishwashers, check the furniture door panel is fitted securely. AEG says built-in models must not be used without it.

Don’t pull a built-in dishwasher out of its housing to level it. Ask an installer.

Showing an error code?

These codes are related to this problem. Codes differ by brand, so pick yours:

Related problems

Questions people ask

Should I tip the dishwasher to drain the base?

No. Bosch advises against home fixes when its leak protection has triggered. Turn the water off and book an engineer if the base has water in it.

Brand guides: AEG, Bosch, Samsung. More dishwasher problems and codes, or use the fault finder.

Sources

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We write every page in our own words from manufacturer guidance and check it against the sources above. If your manual says something different, follow your manual. How we check.