A puddle in front of the dishwasher is alarming but usually simple. The location of the water, front or underneath, and the moment it appears, during fill, wash or drain, narrow the cause quickly.
Stop using the dishwasher until the leak is found. Water under a dishwasher damages the floor and the cabinet base fast.
Water at the front of the door
- Door gasket. The rubber seal around the tub hardens, splits or comes out of its channel. Check it for gaps and food debris.
- Overfilling or too much suds. Regular dish soap, or a failed float switch, raises the water above the door seal. Only use dishwasher detergent.
- Loading. A tall item can block the spray arm and send water at the door. A door that does not close square leaks at one corner.
- Dishwasher not level. A unit tilted forward leaks at the door even with a good gasket.
Water from underneath
- Pump seal or motor. A worn seal on the circulation or drain pump drips during the wash cycle.
- Hoses and clamps. The inlet and drain hoses and their clamps loosen or crack with age.
- Water inlet valve. A cracked valve body leaks during fill.
- Cracked tub or sump. Rare, and usually the point where replacement makes more sense than repair.
What to do right now
- Switch the dishwasher off at the breaker or unplug it under the sink.
- Mop up and put a towel in front of the door so you can see when it next leaks.
- Note whether the water appeared during fill, wash or drain; that tells the technician where to look.
- Check the sink drain and disposal connection, since a backed-up drain can look like a dishwasher leak.
When to call a technician
Call when the gasket looks fine and you are using the right detergent, or whenever the water is coming from underneath the dishwasher. Pump seals, hoses, valves and gaskets are routine repairs; a Bosch E15 code means water has already reached the base pan and the cause needs finding, not just the code clearing.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most about this problem.
Why does my Bosch dishwasher show E15?
E15 means water has collected in the base pan and tripped the anti-flood switch, usually from a leak. Tipping the dishwasher back clears the water temporarily but not the cause.
Can I keep using a dishwasher with a small leak?
No. Even a small leak soaks the subfloor and cabinet base. Stop using it until it is repaired.
How much does a dishwasher leak repair cost?
Gaskets, hoses, valves and pump seals are modest repairs. Our $75 diagnostic fee covers the inspection and diagnosis and is applied toward the approved repair.
Related services
Need a hand with it? Alliance Appliance Services diagnoses first and explains the repair before any work starts. Call (571) 303-8548 or request a repair online. We serve Springfield, Alexandria, Fairfax, Arlington and the surrounding Northern Virginia communities.