8 Causes of Dishwasher Leaks from the Bottom & Same-Day Fixes

If your dishwasher is leaking through the bottom of the door, the most likely culprit is a worn or dirty door gasket. This rubber seal runs along the edge of the door and keeps water inside during the wash cycle. When it gets cracked, coated in debris, or pulled loose, water can easily escape — especially during high-pressure sprays. Overloading the dishwasher or blocking the spray arms can also force water toward the door and break the seal.

A dishwasher flooding at the bottom usually signals a problem with drainage. Clogged drain hoses, a defective water inlet valve, or a cracked pump seal can all cause water to build up instead of draining out. Too much detergent, a misaligned dishwasher, or even overloading it can make things worse by sending water where it’s not supposed to go.

Water at the front = door seal problem. Water on the bottom left corner = check the drain hose or pump. Standing water = drainage or leveling issue.