Dishwasher leaking under flooring

ClonerJams

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Sep 26, 2022
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Lately I've noticed the floor near the dishwasher will sometimes have a few wet spots. Being in the kitchen I had just assumed it was from someone spillig water or unloading the dishwasher. Tonight I realized there is some water trapped underneath the flooring and it seaps through the flooring when stepped on. Besides refraining from using the dishwasher, whats my next move here? Is there a good flooring company in the metro that can inspect to see if there is damage under the flooring?
 
Lately I've noticed the floor near the dishwasher will sometimes have a few wet spots. Being in the kitchen I had just assumed it was from someone spillig water or unloading the dishwasher. Tonight I realized there is some water trapped underneath the flooring and it seaps through the flooring when stepped on. Besides refraining from using the dishwasher, whats my next move here? Is there a good flooring company in the metro that can inspect to see if there is damage under the flooring?

You’re going to have to pull the dishwasher, figure out what’s leaking and probably pull the floor.

I’d shut off the water line going to the dishwasher until you figure out what’s going on. There should be a separate shutoff underneath the sink. I’m betting if you pull the kick panel off the bottom of the dishwasher you’ll see standing water underneath it.

Edit: Is the basement under the dishwasher finished? Can you see water marks anywhere?
 
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You’re going to have to pull the dishwasher, figure out what’s leaking and probably pull the floor.

I’d shut off the water line going to the dishwasher until you figure out what’s going on. There should be a separate shutoff underneath the sink. I’m betting if you pull the kick panel off the bottom of the dishwasher you’ll see standing water underneath it.
Do this^^^^

Check the hose running out from the washer and see if the seals are busted or its cracked anywhere. And hope that you do because that would be the easiest fix outside of replacing your floors if they are ruined. Depending on your flooring you might be able to dry them out but you'll need to probably spray any mold on your subfloor at minimum.
 
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Lately I've noticed the floor near the dishwasher will sometimes have a few wet spots. Being in the kitchen I had just assumed it was from someone spillig water or unloading the dishwasher. Tonight I realized there is some water trapped underneath the flooring and it seaps through the flooring when stepped on. Besides refraining from using the dishwasher, whats my next move here? Is there a good flooring company in the metro that can inspect to see if there is damage under the flooring?
Plumber first to find and fix the cause and then have a flooring guy look at it. Your problem depends on the type of flooring, and how long it has been leaking (potentially mold or subfloor damage). Can you look at it from underneath?
 
Check with your homeowners insurance before getting too far. If you have to replace flooring or have significant damage, that’ll cover the damage to the house.
 
what kind of flooring?
I think its laminate, but I'm not 100% sure. The dishwasher is over 10 years old so I'm not really worried about getting a new one as I had planned on that happening soon anyways. I'm just worried about any potential damage its caused; not really handy so really unsure of the best way to proceed.
 
I think its laminate, but I'm not 100% sure. The dishwasher is over 10 years old so I'm not really worried about getting a new one as I had planned on that happening soon anyways. I'm just worried about any potential damage its caused; not really handy so really unsure of the best way to proceed.
You’re probably screwed then unless you have some extra. Just shooting you straight. Dealt with a similar issue this summer and ended up installing a new floor myself which was “needed” anyway (freakin women…)
 
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I think its laminate, but I'm not 100% sure. The dishwasher is over 10 years old so I'm not really worried about getting a new one as I had planned on that happening soon anyways. I'm just worried about any potential damage its caused; not really handy so really unsure of the best way to proceed.

Can you see water marks in the basement underneath the dishwasher? Is the basement finished or unfinished?
 
You’re probably screwed then unless you have some extra. Just shooting you straight. Dealt with a similar issue this summer and ended up installing a new floor myself which was “needed” anyway (freakin women…)

Lol same here except it was my dumbass that somehow kinked the drain hose when i pushed the new dishwasher into place. I had to uninstall it, fix the floor and then reinstall the dishwasher again. Luckily I had enough flooring left in the basement to patch everything back up.
 
Finished, so cant see anything below it.

If you’re not handy there’s not much you can do besides shut the water off to it and make some calls. You’ll probably have to have someone come out and pull the old dishwasher and then call someone else to take care of the flooring. Then have a new one installed.
 
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Finished, so cant see anything below it.

Idk where you’re at but I’ve had good luck with Ware Appliance in Ankeny when I’ve needed parts.

I’ve never used them for service but they do have repair techs that can take care of the dishwasher portion. They’ll probably be able to tell you the path forward for the floors too.
 
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Last year, I had some crud built up that was causing the gasket to leak when the door was closed. I scrubbed it all so the door looked like a new door. It hasn't leaked since. Luckily, a cheap fix.
 
There is a filter in your dishwasher that can get plugged. If it is plugged, water will pool in the bottom and can leak onto the floor below the dishwasher. It should be easy to find and clean. Ours got a paper towel that plugged the filter mesh and slowed the dishwasher from draining and allowing it to leak.
 
Could also be plugged drain line, I had a nice pumpkin seed/sticky rice clog combo going on with mine.

Something else I learned after my spray arms got clogged with detergent buildup and weren't cleaning all the dishes - you should run a cycle on the highest and hottest setting once a month with a cup of vinegar in the top rack.
 
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