Don’t despair when the dishwasher leaks all over the kitchen. Call SERVPRO of Missoula

Dishwashers: a love/hate story

Although people in the USA often own dishwashers, we also use more paper plates and plastic-ware than people in other countries. We love our dishwashers even as we hate to use them. We’d rather not have any dishes to wash, either by hand or machine.

SERVPRO^® of Missoula is a leader in restoring property from water damage, so we understand. The more often we use dishwashers, the more chances there are for something to go wrong.

Go ahead and use the dishwasher. Save a tree. We’ll talk about causes of dishwasher leaks to help Missoula avoid the problems. If the worst happens, call SERVPRO of Missoula at 406-327-9500. SERVPRO of Missoula has emergency service 24/7.

Why Dishwashers Leak

Too Much/Wrong Detergent

One reason dishwasher pods are popular is that there’s no guessing about the amount of detergent to use. “A little is good, a lot is better” is bad advice for medicine, cookie binges, and detergent.

The liquid for hand-washing dishes produces more suds than the stuff that goes into dishwashers, so it is not a good substitute for dishwasher detergent. If you need to soak a dish before putting it in the dishwasher, be careful to rinse it well before putting it in the dishwasher so the by-hand dishwashing soap doesn’t cause the machine to overflow.

SERVPRO of Missoula technicians extract water from the kitchen floor and subfloor. We check the humidity to ensure that the property is dry, then go on to undo damage to the structure and its contents.

Overfilled dishwasher

It’s tempting to fit in all of the dirty dishes; no one wants to do more than one load a day, but the dishes won’t all get clean, and the dishes can block the drain.

Too much water or blocked drains

Either problem can cause dishwashers to overflow, often with impressive eruptions. Sometimes overflowing intakes or poor drainage will cause leaks even when the dishwasher isn’t running. Coming home to a dishwasher-caused flood is upsetting, but don’t panic. SERVPRO of Missoula is a leader in remediating water-damaged property.

Misalignment

The dishwasher needs to be level. If chairs slide from one end of the kitchen to the other without being pushed, the floor is tilted. Usually, misalignment is subtle, so use a level to check. Place shims to adjust the level of the dishwasher.

Loose or damaged valves, hoses, or clamps

The user manual helps you locate the parts. If you notice damage, buy replacements at a hardware store. It’s cheaper and easier than replacing the whole dishwasher.

Leaking dishwasher tub

The tub might corrode before the rest of the dishwasher fails, but it’s an expensive replacement. It might be better to replace the dishwasher. Even if you give up and use only paper plates, you’ll still need to wash the pots and pans.

Leaking dishwasher door

Causes include broken or loose gaskets, damaged latches, or corroded hinges. The user manual should explain what to look for and how to repair or replace broken parts.

Remember:

If a dishwasher causes a leak in a Missoula home or business, SERVPRO of Missoula is available to extract the water and repair the damage. Our number is 406-327-9500.