Dishwasher air gap spitting water

[azavery]

A guest recently had put liquid soap instead of dishwasher detergent when running the dishwasher. Luckily we noticed it as soon as the dishwasher started and managed to stop it without creating too much sud in the dishwasher. Anyway after cleaning all this when we now run the dishwasher in a normal cycle then the dishwasher spits out water from the air gap. We also see water leaking below the sink whenever the water is coming our of the air gap on top of the sink.

Any ideas what is going on?

Thanks

[trader4]

If water is coming out of the air gap, then something is blocking the flow of water through the discharge line and into the drain, allowing it to back up. Is all the foam gone? If there were still some left, the foam could be backing up into the air gap and coming out, but I tend to doubt foam could cause water to make it up through the gap. Also, water should not be leaking underneath, sounds like the connection to the air gap is suspect too.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Could be a pile of suds in the and with capillary action making the water spit some. Can you pour water down the gap to clear it? What will knock downs suds quick? If anyone has suggestions on that, I'd run a cycle of the DW with it and that may flush it out enough.

[SQLit]

other posters had some good ideas,

Try a complete cycle with quart of vinegar, no dishes, no soap.

[Wayne Boatwright]

On Sat 18 Mar 2006 09:48:36a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Edwin Pawlowski?

A defoaming agent used in carpet cleaning machines might do it.