Dishwasher Overflowing With Water? 7 Possible Fixes

Stuck trying to figure out why your dishwasher is overflowing with water?

You’re not alone! This issue is actually quite common.

The good news is that if you’ve got 10 minutes and aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves, then you’ve come to the right place for answers.

If your dishwasher is overflowing with water, please reduce the soap, inspect the door gaskets, and check the hose for a leak. Replacing the water inlet valve and fixing the float assembly may also do the trick.

Read on to learn more about these fixes and get rid of the problem today!

Fixing a Dishwasher Overflowing With Water: 7 Simple Steps

An overflowing dishwasher may seem like a big daunting problem. But often, the key to fixing it is simpler than we think.

That’s why in this article, you will see 7 ways to fix your overflowing unit. Work through the steps one by one.

#1 Reduce the Soap

Let’s start with some of the easiest fixes and work our way to the more difficult.

The first thing to do is to check how much soap you are using. A dishwasher can overflow if you fill it with more detergent than it can cope with. The soap suds expand and overflow the door gaskets, spilling onto the floor.

This can also happen when you use low-quality detergent. Cheaper soap tends to create excessive suds in the dishwasher. This can cause them to overflow.

So you can fix the problem by filling your dishwasher with less detergent and changing your current detergent for one that doesn’t create excessive suds.

#2 Inspect the Door Gaskets

How good are your dishwasher’s door gaskets? If the gaskets are loose, dirty, or worn, they will not be effective at keeping water inside the washing machine.

So what can you do? Here are 2 tips.

1. If the door gaskets are cracked, torn, or show signs of wear and tear, replace them. New gaskets usually cost around $10 to $20 and installing them is very simple. You’ll just need to unscrew the old gaskets and slide them off the dishwasher. Then screw the new ones on.
2. If the door gaskets are dirty, clean them. To do this, you’ll just need soapy water and a cleaning cloth. Use one that is slim enough to get through the grooves of the gaskets. That will help you to give them a thorough clean.

#3 Unclog the Bottom

Dishwashers and their detergents are more powerful than ever before. In the past, presoaking or even prewashing some of your pots and pans was essential to get them clean during a cycle. Nowadays, you can put your cutlery into a dishwasher without even scraping it.

But all of the unscraped food from our plates has to go somewhere. And that might be your dishwasher’s problem.

You should check the bottom of your dishwasher for food scraps that are too big to pass through the waste pipe. These could be blocking the dishwasher from draining its water and thus flooding the kitchen.

What can you do to prevent this from happening? Here are a couple of tips.

1. Clear the bottom of the dishwasher after each use. Keep the filter clean.
2. Scrape your plates and pots before putting them in the dishwasher

#4 Fix the Float Assembly

Many dishwasher overflowing problems are linked to the float assembly. The float assembly is the piece that regulates the amount of water in the dishwasher.

It moves up as water enters the dishwasher. This movement relays to the water valve when to shut the water off.

This serves as a safety measure to prevent any potential flooding in your home.

You see, if the float gets stuck, the water valve will not know when to turn the water off. This will cause the dishwasher to keep filling up with water.

So, what can you do if you suspect there is a problem with your float assembly? Here are a few steps you can follow.

1. Locate the float switch. You can take a look at this quick tutorial video that will help you find it.
2. Check and see if it moves freely up and down. If it is stuck, you will have to clean it with a brush to remove any dirt or debris from the inside and outside of it. This is especially important if you live in a hard water area.
3. Reinstall the float.

#5 Check the Hose For a Leak

Your dishwasher might be overflowing because there is a leak in the drain hose or water supply hose.

If there is a leak in either of these places, the water will struggle to get to your sink drain or your garbage disposal. This is why the water ends up backing up and overflowing the dishwasher.

So how can you fix this problem? Here’s what to do.

1. If the drain hose is leaking, tighten the hose clamp screws. You can tighten the nuts and replace the thread seal tape for an extra water-tight fit.
2. If the drain hoses still leak after tightening, they may need replacing. These are model specific parts, so you can’t just buy one from a hardware store – you’ll need to order one online (or get help from a pro).

#6 Replace the Water Inlet Valve

An overflowing dishwasher could also be the result of a leaking water inlet valve. This valve is what supplies the dishwasher with water. If it is cracked, more water will flood into the dishwasher than it can handle. This could cause flooding.

But this isn’t only a problem while your dishwasher is in operation. A cracked water inlet valve could cause the dishwasher to flood with water even when it is off.

So if your dishwasher is out of action but still floods, there’s a good chance that the inlet valve is the culprit.

To solve the issue, please inspect the water inlet valve and if you find a crack or tear, please replace it.

#7 Replace a Broken Spray Arm

The spray arms in your dishwasher are what help to coat your dishes with water and detergent. Water is forced through them by the pump and motor, and the force of the water cleans the dishes.

If the spray arms in your dishwasher have split or are damaged, water can go everywhere.

For example, if the lower spray arm is cracked, instead of directing water upwards through the spray holes, it can expel water straight out. This can cause the water to hit the dishwasher door, leading to overflow and leakage.

It’s really important that your dishwasher’s spray arms work properly. If they do not, you will have to remove the spray arms and replace them with new ones.

Conclusion

Did your dishwasher just leak water all over your kitchen floor? Then that’s a problem you won’t want to have to deal with twice. I’m sure the 7 fixes in this article have helped you to pinpoint the problem and solve it.

Has this article been helpful to you? Then make sure you check out some of our other articles and free guides. You could even sign up to our email list.

Have a great day!

-Craig