Dishwasher maintenance might not be on the top of your to-do list, but it’s not time-consuming or difficult, and it could save you thousands when you count the cost of water damage that could result from a leaking appliance.
As a homeowner, maybe you’re not an expert in plumbing, but you do care about your kitchen appliances. We’re here for you when you need expert help, but we’re also here to let you know what you can do on your end to keep your dishwasher in good working order.
What Do I Do If My Dishwasher Is Leaking Water?
Taking care of the dishwasher maintenance tasks listed below can help you prevent water leaks:
- Check the Gasket: The gasket is the seal that surrounds the dishwasher — your favorite, hard-working appliance. If this tears or peels off, you could easily have a water leak next cycle. Regularly inspect the gasket to make sure it’s fully attached and isn’t torn. You can find a replacement product at most home improvement or hardware stores, and they’re relatively easy to put on yourself.
- Inspect the Spray Arm: The spray arm is the spinning part that rotates and blasts water at your food-crusted plates. In other words, it serves an important function. Make sure the spray arm isn’t stuck or clogged with food particles. Also, check that it doesn’t become warped or cracked. This will severely decrease the efficiency of your appliance.
- Examine the Drain Hose: The drain hose carries away dirty water, and if it begins to leak, you have a problem. Prevention is the best medicine, so make sure you check the drain hose periodically to check for loose connections or hose damage.
- Clean the Interior Regularly to Prevent Odors: Since your dishwasher deals with the dirty stuff, you need to proactively deodorize to keep your appliance fresh-smelling. Use detergent to scrub the inside and run a cleaning cycle with specially made dishwasher deodorizer. Clean the filter too — this can get clogged with food particles and contribute to bad smells.
- Take Care of the Dish Racks: Always repair dish racks when they break so they don’t rust or interfere with the appliance’s function. Don’t overload it! It’s tempting to try to slip one more plate in, but it could interrupt spray patterns and leave some dishes dirty.
Call in the Professionals to Fix Your Leaking Dishwasher
Looking for more helpful dishwasher maintenance tips, or maybe a fast, affordable repair? Call Connectionz Heating, Plumbing & Air today.