5 Reasons Why Your Dishwasher Is Leaking from the Bottom

This video covers the most common causes of dishwasher leaks from the bottom of a dishwasher.

Following the troubleshooting steps in this video will likely help you find the cause of the leak.

Here are additional tips about finding and fixing the 5 most common reasons why your dishwasher is leaking from the bottom.

1. Cracked or Damaged Spray Arm

Believe it or not, a cracked, blocked or damaged spray arm is the most common cause of dishwasher leaks from the bottom of the dishwasher.

When a spray arm isn’t rotating and it’s spraying water abnormally inside the dishwasher, it often creates a wave action inside the dishwasher tub. That wave action will slosh water over the front lip of the tub and water leaks out of the bottom of the door.

This first troubleshooting step to find and fix a dishwasher leak is the easiest to complete.

Open the dishwasher door and examine the spray arms. Replace a spray arm if it’s cracked or damaged.

Take care when loading dishes not to block spray arms which can cause the same type of leak.

2. Bad Door Seal

A cracked, loose or damaged door seal will also cause the dishwasher to leak from the bottom of the door.

Carefully examine the door seal. If you see tears or pieces of the door seal missing, replace it. Here's a video that shows you how.

If you need to have a Sears Home Services technician replace the door seal for your, schedule dishwasher repair service.

3. Water Supply Leaks

When you don’t find the source of the leak by examining the spray arm and door seal, follow these steps to check the water supply underneath the dishwasher:

1. Unplug the dishwasher or shut off the house circuit breaker for the dishwasher to disconnect electrical power.
2. Take off the bottom front service panel and toe panel by removing the mounting screws and then pulling off both panels so you can see under the tub.
3. On many dishwasher models, you can also remove the front door panel and to see and reach the bottom dishwasher water supply components better.

Check the water supply line connection at the front of the dishwasher first. If you find that connection leaking, tighten the fitting to see if that stops the leak.

If that connection continues to leak after tightening the fitting, shut off the water supply and place a towel under the water supply line connection. Disconnect the water supply line and replace the water line connection seal.

If the water line connection isn’t leaking, check the water line and replace that water line if it leaks.

4. Drain Hose Leak

Check the drain hose connection to the drain pump for drips or other evidence of leaking such as a water trail or water stains. Reconnect the drain line if it’s loose.

Replace the drain hose if it’s cracked or damaged and is leaking.

Schedule dishwasher repair service if you need to have a technician replace the drain hose for you.

5. Leaking Water Seal on the Bottom of the Dishwasher Tub

If the drain hose isn't leaking, use a flashlight to look under the dishwasher for evidence of leaks.

You may see the water dripping or a water trail indicating the location of the leak. If you find the source of the leak, replace the leaking seal or component.

If you aren’t able to find the cause of the leak with the dishwasher still under the counter, you’ll need to pull it out as shown in the video at the top of this article.

Check for water trails or other evidence of leaking from the bottom components.

Heating Element

A common source for dishwasher leaks if the water seals under the heating element. Replace the heating element if its water seals are leaking.

Here’s a video that shows how to replace the heating element:

Have a service technician replace the heating element if you can’t replace it yourself.

Diverter Motor

The seal on the diverter motor is another common source of dishwasher leaks. Replace the diverter motor if it leaks.

Here’s a video that shows how to replace the diverter motor:

If you’re not completely confident that you can safely replace the diverter motor yourself, schedule appliance repair to have a service technician replace the part.

Further Checks for Leaks

If you don’t see a water trail or evidence of leaks, set the dishwasher upright.

Follow these steps to check for the source of the dishwasher leak:

1. Fill the tub with some water to see if you can find the source of the leak now that you have a better view of the bottom components. Pour a quart of water into the tub.
2. Check for water dripping from any components under the tub.
3. Continue adding water and checking for leaks until you fill the tub to the bottom of the mushroom float.

You'll likely find the source of the leak using this process.

Use a wet/dry shop vacuum to remove the water from the dishwasher once you find the source of the leak.

Replace the leaking component or water seal.

Schedule Repair Service

If you still can’t find the leak, then the faulty component may only leak when the pump sprays water.

Have a Sears Home Services technician examine the dishwasher and find this leak because the technician will likely check for leaks with the dishwasher running and with wiring and electrical components exposed.

Only a service technician should run the dishwasher in this condition because exposed wiring and components are an electrocution risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is water coming out of the bottom of my dishwasher door?

Water coming out of the bottom of a dishwasher door is often caused by wave action inside the tub that causes water to slosh over the front lip of the dishwasher tub. The wave action can be caused by a blocked or damaged spray arms, a loose water supply tube or loose screws that secure the top of the circulation pump. A bad door seal can also allow water to leak from the bottom of the dishwasher door.

Is it worth fixing a leaking dishwasher?

If you can find and fix the dishwasher leak yourself, it’s almost always worth it to fix a leaking dishwasher. If you need to replace an expensive part such as a circulation pump assembly or you’ll need to have a service technician replace an expensive part on a dishwasher that’s over 5 years old, then it may be more economical to replace the dishwasher instead of repairing it.

How much does it cost to fix a leaking dishwasher?

Fixing a leaking dishwasher won’t cost you anything if you can find and fix a simple cause that doesn’t involve replacing a part. If you can find the source of a leak and replace the leaking part yourself, the price of the replacement part is all that you’ll pay. Dishwasher parts that commonly cause leaks typically cost between $20 and $80. To have a technician replace these types of parts, you’ll typically pay $180 to $280 for the repair if you can’t replace the part yourself. If a circulation pump is leaking, you’ll typically pay between $150 and $300 for that part and you’ll usually need to have a service technician install the new pump – which will often cost you about $150 to $200 more.

What is the life expectancy of a dishwasher?

Dishwashers typically last an average of 10 to 12 years. With proper maintenance, dishwashers can last up to 15 or 20 years.