Leaking dishwasher

[Mark Corbelli]

I am troubleshooting a dishwasher I installed about six years ago. I decided to look under it last week when a friend told me he had a leak under his. Lo and behold I had major mush in the wood underneath it. I am waiting for things to dry out before I pull it out so I am using a pie plate to catch the water and to also try to observe when and why it's happening. So far, the plumbing connections look good. It only leaks when it fills to wash, and then for a while after the dishes are done. I think that this could mean that the water that the pump can't totally remove is leaking out until it's dry. So this could mean some kind of pump seal gasket? Can anyone point me in the right direction? The washer works fine otherwise.

[MLD]

Had a similar leak and it turned out to be the pump seal. Estimate was about $350 to remove and replace. On line the pump assembly was about $135. Dishwasher was 12 yrs old so went for a new one. MLD

[Mark Corbelli]

[Dave Martindale]

What make of dishwasher? Was it one where the motor shaft is vertical or horizontal?

GE dishwashers (sold under many names) have a horizontal motor shaft. When the pump seal starts leaking, water creeps out of the pump along the motor shaft and then gets slung all around by the rotating shaft, but it stays out of the motor and bearings (which is good).

Our dishwasher started doing that a year ago. Fortunately, it's a portable so we knew about it immediately - it started leaving a puddle on the floor where it had been running. You can buy a kit of replacement parts that include the pump seal and impeller, the food chopping blade on the end of the shaft, and a few other pump parts, for about $20 or $30. I replaced it myself and the dishwasher runs like new again. There was no need to replace the motor or the pump housing.

On the other hand, Whirlpool-type dishwashers have a vertical motor shaft, with the motor mounted under the pump. Apparently when the pump seal leaks, you get alkaline water running down into the motor windings and bearings, slowly destroying the motor if you don't catch it. And it's a reversible motor, so I imagine replacing motor and pump might get expensive.

Dave

[Mark Corbelli]

I apologize for not having that info. I'm at work now and I'll bring the owners manual to work with me tomorrow and post what kind it is.

[Cshenk]

Let me know what yoi find out. Mine just started leaking this morning.

[Cshenk]

...

Ouch, ok. This one is about 10 years old. I'll call the repair folks and see what they think over the phone. xxcarol

[MLD]

Mine was a GE. To repair you had to buy the whole pump assembly, Looked easy to replace-a couple of clamps seemed to be holding the whole assembly together. As long as I had to take the dishwasher out I figured that at 12 yrs I had my use out of it, so I went new. Actually, you don't realize just how poor the old one was performing until you see the new one do its thing. MLD

[Mark Corbelli]

The Brand is KitchenAid and the Model is KUD124SE. Unfortunately the owners manual didn't come with any schematics.