The Right of the Front Door Leaks on My Kenmore Dishwasher

Soap Suds

• Excessive soap suds may be causing the Kenmore dishwasher to leak. Soap suds higher than 1/2 inch indicate that too much detergent has been used. Liquid hand soap or dishwashing soaps designed for hand washing are too sudsy to use in the dishwasher, and, according to the Appliance Repair It website, even one drop will cause the appliance to overflow. Three-in-one dishwashing tablets may produce an excessive amount of suds and should also be avoided; use only liquids and powders that are formulated for dishwashing use.

Door Latch/Switch

• A faulty door latch or switch may be the cause of the dishwasher’s leak. The door latch ensures that the dishwasher’s door is firmly closed, thereby preventing any water from escaping out of the machine. The door latch works in sync with the door switch. The switch recognizes when the door is not closed, and will not start the dishwashing cycle. However, if either the latch or the door switch is defective, the machine will start filling with water whether the door is firmly closed or not. Both parts should be replaced if they are malfunctioning.

Door Seal

• A leak visible on the right side of the Kenmore dishwasher’s front door may be the result of a worn door seal. During the dishwashing cycles, water is vigorously sprayed throughout the machine. A good door seal guarantees that none of the splashing escapes from the appliance, but a worn-out seal will not be able to stop water from leaking out, and should be replaced. If your dishwasher is new, it may need to run through several complete cycles before the door will seal.

Considerations

• A defective dishwasher soap cup or a faulty rinse aid dispenser may be the source of the leak; a hole in the washer arm or the washer arm assembly may cause water to leak from the front of the dishwasher’s door. If this is the case, replacing the faulty part should solve the problem.