Some people still like to handwash dishes because they enjoy the warm water on their hands and the peace that hand washing gives them. However, the majority of our customers prefer the convenience of their dishwashers. That’s why when dishwashers show signs of problems, our customers want to know what they need to do to fix the problem. While we’re not dishwasher technicians, we do handle dishwasher leaks because of plumbing issues.

In this article, we discuss common dishwasher problems and what to do to repair them.

Finding and Fixing Leaks

Dishwashers are amazing because they hold a lot of water but designed to never spill a drop. However, if certain parts of the unit become damaged and malfunction, leaks occur. It’s not uncommon for older dishwashers to leak as they age. However, if you have a new dishwasher, leaks aren’t so likely. When they occur, water damage and other problems follow closely behind.
If you notice your dishwasher leaking, the problems could originate from one of the following three areas:

• Underneath the dishwasher: In this area, there are three places where leaks often develop: the drain, the pump seal, and the water inlet. Often when leaks happen in one of these three places, it’s because of a broken pump, a broken hose clamp, or a cracked gasket.
• Around the door: All dishwasher doors are lined with a rubber gasket. This rubber lining is similar to your refrigerator’s lining. Over time, the lining becomes brittle and cracks. When this happens, your dishwasher isn’t watertight anymore.
• The water source: All dishwashers have a hose that brings water from the household plumbing to the water inlet. When the inlet connection loosens or a gasket cracks, water will leak from this area.

To figure out exactly what you’re dealing with, you need to remove the front kick plate of your dishwasher. Grab a flashlight and begin looking for the source of the leak. For dishwashers not mounted to a countertop, scoot the dishwasher out and away from the wall to help you see better. As you’re pulling out the dishwasher, try not to pull too hard to prevent breaking hoses.

When it’s obvious what the problem is, most people can make that determination in less than a minute, especially if it’s a loose connection. In this instance, reconnect the hose, replace the dishwasher or kick plate, and test the appliance.

Many dishwasher repairs are simple for homeowners to fix on their own. Unless they’re mechanical repairs. These types of repair are trickier and require the expertise of an appliance repair technician.

When to Call a Plumber?

The best time to call a plumber for dishwasher repair service is when you have a leak that you can’t figure out how to fix. At San Francisco Plumbing & Rooter Pros, we don’t fix mechanical issues with dishwashers. However, we fix leaky hoses and replace broken gaskets. If you’re experiencing dishwasher leaks or any other plumbing leak, give us a call.

We offer residential plumbing service in San Francisco and the Bay area. Give us a call today to get a local plumber to your home for all plumbing repair, replacement, and installation needs.