Dishwasher leaking: causes and what to do

Likely causes

• hand dish soap got into the machine — Samsung warns that its foam breaks the door seal and pushes water out;
• the door seal has slipped out of place, is dirty or is damaged;
• the machine tilts forward — according to Samsung, water then pools against the lower door seal;
• blocked spray arm nozzles, so the jets hit the door gaps directly;
• loose or damaged inlet and drain hoses or connections — Bosch advises checking the hoses for kinks and damage;
• an internal leak: the pump, internal hoses or the heater — according to Bosch, if the leak is not visible, it needs a technician.

Safe steps you can try

1. Switch the machine off, unplug it and close the water tap. Wipe up the water.
2. Think about which detergent you used: if hand dish soap got in, remove the foam and use only dishwasher detergent.
3. Check the door seal: push any parts that have slipped back into the channel and clean it with a soft cloth and mild soap.
4. Level the machine front to back and side to side by adjusting the feet.
5. Clear the spray arm nozzles with a toothpick.
6. Check the hoses and connections under the sink: tighten any loose ones and look for cracks. A damaged hose must be replaced.
7. Run a short programme and watch whether water appears again.

When to call a technician

Call a technician if the leak is not visible from outside, water appears again after checking the seal, the levelling and the hoses, or the leak protection code keeps coming back. Bosch recommends calling a specialist in that case.

The technician will find the source — the pump, internal hoses, the heater or the seals — and fix it. Keep the water tap closed until the repair.

Book a technician