Dishwasher leaking: causes and solutions
A puddle in front of your kitchen cabinets or under your dishwasher is a shock, especially with a wooden floor or skirting that cannot take moisture. Fortunately, where the water appears often points straight to the cause.
Safety first, then check
Why is my dishwasher leaking?
First unplug the machine, or switch off the fuse, and turn off the water tap before you mop up. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination.
A leak does not mean your dishwasher belongs at the recycling centre. Below you can read where the water comes from, what you can check yourself and when you are better off booking a technician.
How it works, in 3 steps
Prices
How much does dishwasher repair cost?
Whether your dishwasher won't drain, doesn't dry or shows an error code: you pay the same fixed price, whatever the brand.
A technician finds out at your home why your dishwasher isn't working properly. If you don't go ahead with the repair, you only pay for the diagnosis.
If the technician can repair your dishwasher, you pay €110. No time limit: even if it takes long or a second visit is needed.
Spare parts are not included. The technician tells you in advance if a part is needed and what it costs.
Chrono surcharge for a visit in the evening, at the weekend or just a few hours after your request.
Second appliance during the same visit? The technician can check and repair it too for €80.
Maintenance as well? The technician can also clean and check your appliance thoroughly, for €50 per appliance on top of the diagnosis and repair.
Prefer remote help first? A video repair costs €49. See all our prices →
What can you check yourself first?
These three causes are often harmless and you can sort them out yourself before booking a repair.
Water at the front: the door seal
A rubber rim runs around the opening of the dishwasher. If it holds food scraps, a toothpick or dried-on grease, the door no longer closes properly and water runs down the door during the wash. Wipe the rubber with a damp cloth and feel whether it is torn anywhere. If it is damaged, it has to be replaced.
The spray arm is stuck or cracked
If the lower spray arm cannot rotate, for example because it hits a large plate, it fires a hard jet at one spot, often towards the bottom of the door. A hairline crack in the arm also sends water the wrong way. Make sure the arm turns freely and check that the plastic seam has not split.
Too much foam
Did you put ordinary washing-up liquid in the dishwasher by mistake, or load a pan full of suds? That makes a mountain of foam that is pushed out through the seals and the vent. It looks like a serious leak, but it is foam. Scoop out the foam and run a rinse programme without detergent.
When do you need a technician?
Have you checked the seals, not used the wrong detergent, and is it still leaking? Then something is wrong inside. With a built-in dishwasher the appliance has to come out of the kitchen to reach the parts, which is best left to a technician. These are the four usual causes.
Worn bottom door seal
At the bottom of the door sits a thick seal that you cannot see from outside. Because of the heat and the door opening and closing, it wears faster than the side seals. Replacing it takes precision.
Porous hoses or loose clamps
After years of vibration and hot water, the internal hoses between the pumps can become porous, or a hose clamp can come loose.
Leaking circulation pump
The main pump that sprays the water around can start to leak after years at the shaft seal.
Faulty AquaStop or inlet hose
Sometimes the leak is already at the tap. The thick inlet hose with its safety block, the AquaStop, can fail and drip continuously.
What does the error code on your dishwasher display mean?
Modern dishwashers have an anti-flood system. If the machine detects an internal leak, it stops, pumps the water away and shows an error code.
| Brand | Error code or message for a leak |
|---|---|
| Bosch and Siemens | E15: there is water in the base tray and the float has been triggered |
| AEG, Electrolux and Zanussi | i30 (or 3 flashes): the anti-flood system has switched on, the pump often keeps running |
| Samsung | LC or LE (Leakage Error): the moisture sensor has detected water |
| Miele | "Waterproof" message: water has been detected in the base tray |
Is your code not listed? Check the manual for your brand or book a diagnosis, and the technician reads the fault on site.
How does a dishwasher know it is leaking?
Under the tub sits a closed plastic tray, the base tray, just above the floor. In that tray is a piece of polystyrene with a small switch above it.
If a hose or pump drips inside, the water falls into that tray. The polystyrene floats up like a float and trips the switch. The machine shuts off the water supply at once and keeps pumping out so your kitchen does not flood.
That explains why a machine can show E15 or i30 while you see no water on the floor: the protection has done its job.
Repair or replace: what does a technician advise?
A leak sounds like the end, but most of the time repairing is the best and cheapest choice.
When is repairing the smartest choice?
The cause is often a cheap part, such as a seal, a gasket or a small hose. Even with a leaking circulation pump, the cost usually stays below that of a new dishwasher. If your appliance is not very old, repairing is the logical choice, for your wallet and for the environment.
When is replacing better?
If the stainless steel tub itself has rusted through or cracked, repair is no longer possible. That mostly happens on older appliances. The technician will tell you honestly.
How do you find out which it is?
After the diagnosis at your home you know the cause and whether repairing pays off. You then pay a maximum of €179 for diagnosis and repair together, parts extra. A new dishwasher costs €400 to €800.
How do you stop your dishwasher from leaking?
Three habits greatly reduce the risk of a leak.
Use the funnel for salt
If you spill salt grains on the bottom of the machine while topping up the salt reservoir, start a short rinse programme straight away. If the grains stay, they can attack the stainless steel and cause tiny holes. That cannot be repaired.
Clean the seals every month
Wipe the door seals with a soft, damp cloth with a little cleaning vinegar. That keeps the rubber supple and slows down drying out.
Do not slam the door shut
If the lower rack is not pushed in properly or a plate sticks out, never force the door closed. You bend the hinges or the door, and the seals no longer fit watertight.
Where do we repair dishwashers at home?
Our technicians work in Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region, East Flanders, West Flanders, Flemish Brabant, Limburg, Liège, Namur, Hainaut and Walloon Brabant.
Do your technicians have to travel from Vilvoorde every morning?
No. Our technicians live all over Belgium and set off every morning from their own municipality. The parts they need are delivered straight to their homes. That way we get to you quickly, without long drives and often as soon as the next working day.
Is your dishwasher broken?
Our dishwasher repair page covers all symptoms, error codes and brands. Want to give your appliance a thorough clean? Read dishwasher cleaning. The diagnosis at your home costs €69, a repair €179 in total at most, parts extra. See also all our prices.
Frequently asked questions about a leaking dishwasher
Because the float in the base tray is triggered, the machine keeps pumping out for safety, even when it is empty. Unplug it or switch off the fuse until the technician arrives.
No. Tilting lets the water run out of the base tray, the float drops and the error code disappears. But the faulty part is still leaking: on the next wash the tray fills up again and the fault returns.
No. Tape, glue or silicone sealant cannot withstand water at 70 degrees with dishwasher detergent. It lets go after one wash, with possible water damage in your kitchen cabinet. Always replace the part.
Better not. Unplug it and turn off the tap. If you keep washing up, water damage to cabinets and floor can quickly cost more than the repair itself.
The diagnosis at your home costs €69. If the technician can repair it, you pay €179 in total at most, parts extra, with a 3-month warranty on the repair.
No. If your dishwasher is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, contact the manufacturer or the shop where you bought it.
Use the button on this page to choose a day and a time slot yourself. You can also call 02 615 45 20. Give the brand, the model number and where the water comes from.