My GE Nautilus Dishwasher Is Leaking From the Housing

Door Gasket

• The door gasket is the rubber or foam seal that runs along the outer portion of the wash chamber. The dishwasher door nestles tightly into this gasket when it is closed. The gasket is the first place most people probably think to check when there's a leak, with good reason. Over time, gaskets become cracked, dry and fall apart. Water leaking from the gasket often looks like it's leaking from the housing, but in reality it's just a broken seal. One obvious symptom of a leaking gasket is a wet door. In this case, check the gasket for breaks, protrusions or missing pieces. A professional can easily repair this for you, or you can replace the damaged gasket yourself if you are comfortable doing so. Simply pull it off, measure the space, cut a gasket to fit and press it into place around the opening after you've thoroughly cleaned the area of all residue.

Main Tub Seal

• A motor sits below the wash chamber of your dishwasher. The motor runs a pump, which pushes water up and out through the spray arms. A tight seal surrounds the shaft of the motor, protecting it from draining water. Over time, this seal can break down and leak. If water is collecting underneath your dishwasher, it may be leaking from this seal. To replace the main tub seal, you must pull out the lower rack and dismantle the spray arm. If you are not handy with basic tools or lack a diagram of your dishwasher, call a professional to do it for you.

Water Inlet System

• You dishwasher has a water input or inlet hose that leads from your water source to the bottom of the dishwasher. A valve controls the flow of water. Once the water reaches a high enough level, a float triggers the valve to close. A number of issues in this system can cause flooding and leaks. If the valve itself is broken or the float trigger malfunctions, flooding can occur, although these things are rare. More common is a leak in the inlet hose itself, which will probably require a professional to replace.

Hoses

• GE Nautilus dishwashers, like all dishwashers, have a system of hoses tucked behind the lower access panel below the wash chamber. Remove this lower panel and take a look at where the hoses are connected to the dishwasher. If one of them has broken free of the connection, secure it with a clamp and see if that solves the leaking problem. If it doesn't, you will likely have to call in a professional to diagnose the source of the leak.