1am...dishwasher...oh no

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blacktail

Minister of Fire
Sep 18, 2011
1,419
Western WA
I was about to go to bed around 1am and noticed my dishwasher sounded different. Took a look and noticed water on the floor. Water has gone under the cabinets and under the flooring. The leak was coming from a corner of the door. With no way to vent under the cabinets I got out a paddle bit, a couple of fans, and have the Lopi cranking. I also called work to say I won't be there tomorrow.
Just venting. Ug.
 
water leaks are always fun.......and in the middle of the night.
good luck, get it dried out and you should be ok.
 
Hope it's something simple
Good Luck
 
Didnt turn out too bad. Pretty sure it was a one time thing and it wasn't as much water as I feared.
 
I've had this unpleasant experience as well. In fact, I am not confident that the leak has "gone away" so I still have the bottom panel of the dishwasher removed for inspection. The fun fact about dishwashers is that when they leak the water will most likely run to the sides under cabinets or worse, to the rear where it will slowly rot the wall and/or sneak under the underlayment and rot out your whole subfloor. Your first clue will be a spongy floor. Blacktail is lucky he noticed it.

They make three sided drain pans for dishwashers that channel the leak out the front so you are more likely to notice. Has anybody used these?
 
My bottom rack has a spot on the right hand side for the silverware basket. It's right over the float! Like most, my basket has a couple of holes in the bottom that can let utensils fall through. Fork slips through the basket, pins the float down, and the float switch never tells the washer its time to pump water out. I'm 90% sure that was it. Drain lines were clear, the float switch tested fine, and when I hit the cancel/drain button it pumped the remaining water out. After two test runs it didn't leak.
I'll be leaving the access panels off for now just in case. And the utensil basket has been wedged into the other side.
 
Need make, model, serial # and age to give more input.

It might need a new inner door liner. Those bottom gaskets fail often on many units (25+ years in appliance repair service).
 
I had a 20 year old Roper dishwasher do that in my first house. In my case, just an old door gasket. $13 and five minutes to repair, and I believe the old girl is still going.

Any chance of flipping your rack around, or otherwise relocating silverware basket?
 
I already moved the basket. I was able to bend some prongs and wedge it in the other side.
The door gaskets looked OK but it's worth further inspection. The unit is a Kenmore elite. Guessing at the age I'd say its around 5 years old.
 
There is usually a gasket at the bottom of the inner door liner. Some times it's a separate part, sometimes not.

Sears doesn't make their own appliances. They rebrand from different manufacturers, and add a few flourishes to make it their own. The model number will tell the real manufacturer. The serial number the age.They are coded.
 
I had a nearly identical situation. I ended up calling the local repair man. In my case, there was not a proper seal due to the door hinges being bent. How did this happen? I am 99% certain while the door was open one time, a 2 year old or a 4 year old child put their body weight on it. He ended up straightning the door, charged me $30 cash and that was that. No leaks since. I still don't trust the darn thing though. lol

Andrew
 
Speaking of dishwashers . . . anyone have a preference on brands? Thinking about replacing our dishwasher at some point.
 
Speaking of dishwashers . . . anyone have a preference on brands? Thinking about replacing our dishwasher at some point.
We have a couple of GE's installed here, purchased by prior owner, and they seem like solid units. Definitely very quiet. One is badged "QuietPower 3", the other has no model badge. They clean at least as well as any other dishwasher I've owned. Unlike Andrew's, one of mine has been tested under the full weight of a toddler numerous times, without failure.
 
Speaking of dishwashers . . . anyone have a preference on brands? Thinking about replacing our dishwasher at some point.

I'd go with LG. BUT check warranty terms. Some components have extended warranties on tubs, sumps, control boards, etc.

As an FYI, Samsung is getting ready to make a HUGE push into LG's territory. HUGE.

Did I mention HUGE?

As of right now, I wouldn't buy a Samsung, but something to keep in mind.
 
Hand washed..as long as it's not with my hands ;)

Bosch make a nice appliance..

Andrew
We have a Bosch, seems OK. I'm probably the only person on the planet that Iikes hand washing dishes, I find it relaxing.
 
We have a Bosch, seems OK. I'm probably the only person on the planet that Iikes hand washing dishes, I find it relaxing.
I feel the same way about splitting far'wood. Call me strange...
 
We've had an LG for about five years now, it's pretty quiet and works well. I've wired a few Miele units, they're great but not cheap.
 
I just ordered a new a Bosch 800 series dishwasher.
 
My first Bosch dishwasher lasted 15 years, my second and last one ill buy lasted, 3 Yrs.
 
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I replaced the Bosch with a whirlpool, so far it has lasted twice as long at half the cost of the Bosch.
 
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