My Kenmore Ultra Wash Leaks Around the Door

Door Seal

• The primary source of potential leaks from the Ultra Wash door is a faulty seal on the door. If the seal is cracked, splitting, folded or broken, water is more likely to seep or leak out. Sears, the company that manufactures Kenmore appliances, offers a full warranty on most Ultra Wash dishwasher models for the inner door panel and will repair any leak that is caused by the door or the seal. If the gasket is not damaged or broken, wipe it clean with a damp cloth to help ensure a proper seal when the door is closed.

Door Panel

• As with the door seal, the dishwasher door may crack or become damaged over time. If this occurs, water may leak when the dishwasher is in use and the tub is filling with water. Open the dishwasher door, and look for signs of damage such as peeling, chipping or cracks on the inner door panel; contact Sears or Kenmore for assistance if problems are found. Always shut the dishwasher door firmly before running the dishwasher as water can leak out if the door is even slightly ajar.

Rinse Aid

• Some less serious problems may also cause water to leak from around the door, such as the rinse aid detergent spilling. This detergent foams easily and may leak out of the door during the wash cycle if the spill is not cleaned up promptly. Always wipe up any detergent spills before running the dishwasher.

Over-sudsing

• Other causes of leaking include over-sudsing from different types of detergent as well, such as hand soap or liquid dish soap. Only automatic dishwasher detergent is designed for use in a dishwasher; other types typically create too many suds during the wash cycle, creating a leak. To remove excess suds and water from the Ultra Wash dishwasher, open the dishwasher door and let the air dissipate some of the bubbles. Add 1 gallon of water to the dishwasher tub, and start a new drain cycle to finish eliminating the soap and draining the water.