Hey there! Ever wondered, “What causes a dishwasher to leak out the front?”
If yes (or you have a dishwasher that is leaking out from the front), then you are in luck.
This is because, in today’s repair guide, I will be telling you what causes this problem. But I will not end there… I will also share with you some troubleshooting steps that you can follow to fix your dishwasher.
So, read on to know how you can quickly fix your leaking dishwasher.
What causes a dishwasher to leak out the front – and how you can fix it
The several possible causes (and solutions) for this issue are:
The door gasket might be dirty or faulty
Bad door gaskets are the most common reason for dishwashers leaking out the front.
This is because they do not seal properly thereby creating a little space for the water to sip through.
How you can troubleshoot and fix the issue
At times, the problem is usually due to gunk buildup on the gaskets that is preventing them from fully sealing.
As such, start by wiping the door gasket – use a moist cloth and mild detergent.
Pro tip: Avoid abrasive cleaners as they are likely to damage the gaskets.
And while at it, carefully check the gasket for any signs of wearing out more so near the bottom area.
Of course, if the gasket is worn out, replacing it will be your best bet.
And to point you in the right direction, below is compiled list of where you can order a replacement gasket for the most common dishwasher models:
| Dishwasher model | Replacement door gasket |
| LG | Get it on Amazon |
| GE | Get it on Amazon |
| Samsung | Get it on Amazon |
| Whirlpool, KitchenAid | Get it on Amazon |
| Frigidaire, Electrolux | Get it on Amazon |
| Kenmore | Get it on Amazon |
| Bosch | Get it on Amazon |
| Maytag | Get it on Amazon |
The dishwasher might not be level
In this case, chances are that the front legs are a bit lower resulting in water flooding in the front region of the dishwasher.
And as the water continues to accumulate in this area, it will reach a point where it will start to leak out through the front of the dishwasher.
What you can do
Make sure that you are adhering to the proper leveling instructions – refer to the installation section of the owner’s manual of your dishwasher.
If you do not have access to the manual, you can always find these instructions on the manufacturer’s website.
You might be using too much detergent (or the wrong detergent)
As a result, the dishwasher will become overly sudsy. And, these extra suds might start flowing out of the dishwasher through the front region.
The good thing is that you can easily pinpoint if this is the culprit by opening and looking inside your dishwashers.
If you note that the dishwasher is overly sudsy, remove the dishes and run two rinse cycles – and repeat as necessary till you get all the suds out.
Next time you are washing your dishes, remember to use the right amount of the right dish detergent/soap.
The float valve assembly might be bad
Another likely culprit causing your dishwasher to leak out from the front is a bad float switch assembly.
As the name suggests, the float assembly prevents the dishwasher from overfilling… If it is bad, water will overflow and eventually start to leak out.
This water might leak through the door or beneath the dishwasher (and eventually flow to the front of the dishwasher).
How you can fix this
Start by removing any debris that might be trapped underneath the float valve.
Next, confirm that the plastic bracket holding the float bracket is not dislodged – if it is, try to push it in a bit hard to lodge it back in position.
Also, confirm that the plastic handle (in the float switch) that is holding the float bracket is not broken… If it is broken, you will need to replace it before your dishwasher’s float assembly starts working again.
The spray arm might be dirty/bad
And as a result, it will not rotate freely around the dishwasher.
This means that it will spray water to one part of the dishwasher – in this case, the front part.
In turn, this will lead to water pooling around the front area and it will eventually start to leak out.
How to troubleshoot and fix dishwasher spray arm problems
Start by confirming that the spray arms can rotate freely.
If they cannot, remove any foreign objects in the wash basket that might be preventing this free rotation.
Next, use a toothpick to dislodge any particles that might be in the spray arm jet holes.
Once done, rinse the spray arms under running tap water to wash out the clogs that you have removed.
Also, when running the water through the arms, carefully check to see if water is flowing out through the seams.
If it is, it means that the arms are bad and ought to be replaced… And to guide you in the right direction, below is where you can order a replacement spray arm for some common dishwasher names in the market:
| Dishwasher model | Replacement spray arm |
| LG | Order it on Amazon |
| GE | Order it on Amazon |
| Samsung | Order it on Amazon |
| Whirlpool, KitchenAid | Order it on Amazon |
| Frigidaire, Electrolux | Order it on Amazon |
| Kenmore | Order it on Amazon |
| Bosch | Order it on Amazon |
| Maytag | Order it on Amazon |
Causes of a dishwasher leaking out the front – some minor parts worth checking out
The drain hose might not be properly installed
Usually, the drain hose should have a high rise loop whose work is to prevent backflow of water.
If your dishwasher does not have this loop, it might result in a backflow which might lead to the water accumulating in the washtub.
With time, this water will overfill and it might start leaking out the front of your dishwasher.
Pro tip: This might be the case if you have a new dishwasher that is leaking from the bottom.
So, confirm that your drain hose has a high-rise loop as shown below:
The door latch – it might be bent or loose
And when the latch is bent or loose, it will not latch the door fully.
In turn, this will create some space in which the water might flow out through.
How you can fix the problem
Carefully inspect the latch…
If it is loose, tighten it into place using a screwdriver.
On the other hand, if it is bent, you can try straightening it out. But if this does not work, you should consider getting a replacement latch.
The door screws might be loose
In turn, this will result in the door gasket not holding tightly into place thereby leaving some space.
And, water might be flowing out through this space.
Fortunately, you can quickly fix this problem by tightening the screws until you are sure that they are in firm contact with the door surface.
What causes a dishwasher to leak out the front – parting words
When disassembling some parts (such as the door gaskets or float switch), you might want to use some YouTube videos to guide you along in case you feel a bit lost.
Good luck!