Dishwasher Gasket Leak

The Gasket

• The gasket on a dishwasher constitutes part of the unit’s door. A thin strip of rubber, the gasket runs all the way around the perimeter of the innermost part of the dishwasher door. When you close the door of your dishwasher, the gasket creates a seal with a similar rubber strip that runs around the perimeter of the inside of the dishwasher, where the walls of the unit meet the door. Gaskets usually come in white or black, sometimes matching the color of the dishwasher door, sometimes providing contrast.

Gasket Leak

• A gasket leak occurs when a gasket fails to form a watertight seal when you close the dishwasher door. This happens for numerous reasons. If a gasket becomes loose, water may leak through the seal. Some gaskets dry out and crack with age, preventing the formation of a watertight seal. Any damage to the gasket, such as holes or tears, also results in a gasket leak. Grammatically speaking gasket leak constitutes something of a misnomer, as the gasket itself does not leak, but rather causes a dishwasher leak.

Fixing Leaks

• Fixing a gasket leak proves relatively simple. If a gasket leaks because it became loose at some point, simply re-secure its bond with the dishwasher door. This generally requires nothing more than forcefully pushing the rubber back into place. If your gasket is cracked, dry, missing pieces or contains holes, remove and replace it. Obtain a new gasket from an online retailer or the store from which you purchased your dishwasher. Repairing a gasket proves impractical if not impossible, as it constitutes a single piece of material.

Replacing a Gasket

• Before working on your dishwasher, turn off its power source and remove the bottom tray. Replacing a gasket requires removing the old, damaged gasket. Use a screwdriver to pry the gasket from the door. Before installing the new gasket, soak it in warm soapy water. This makes the material more pliable, facilitating easy installation. Start at the top middle of the dishwasher door and work your way outward on either side, pushing the new gasket into place. For optimal installation, don’t allow the gasket to go slack at any point during installation.