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Your Maytag dishwasher leaking from bottom of door? We share some practical troubleshooting ideas in this article
So, how do you fix a Maytag dishwasher that is leaking from the bottom of the door?
Soapy, grimy water spilling out through the door is no fun and it can be very distressing – you may have a big mopping up job to do- so below is how to fix the issue.
Maytag dishwasher leaking from bottom of door – fixes to try
Is it level?
Your dishwasher must be level otherwise there will be standing water and leakage.
Adjust the leveling legs until the dishwasher is perfectly leveled if you have observed that it’s leaning forward/backward.
Here is a great article by Maytag explaining how to level their dishwashers properly. Read it if seems that your unit is not level.
Check for clogging
Many times, a clogged drainage system causes the problem.
Why?
Food particles, residual detergent, built-up grease, and other debris usually clog the dishwasher drainage system preventing water from properly draining and backing up.
Solution
You should check and remove any clogs from the drain hose.
Also, be sure to clean the drain filter (sometimes it will be clogged).
Steps:
Be sure to disconnect the machine from power first and to dry the standing water – use a towel- before starting the unclogging job.
How to unclog the filter (for models with a filter)
- Using a damp cloth, clean the entire area around the filter (and remove debris).
- Remove the filter and wash it in your sink (wash it thoroughly to clear grease or debris sticking to the filter).
Quick Tip: The filter is usually found at the bottom (of the dishwasher) either in the back-corner or around the base (of its bottom spray arm).
- Reattach the filter.
Unclogging the drain hose
First access, remove (the drain line should be disconnected either at the air gap or where it is connecting to the garbage disposal), and check your dishwasher drain hose for clogs.
If you see any, you will need to unclog it.
To do that:
- Prepare and pour a solution of vinegar and baking soda (use equal parts) down the hose.
- Allow it to sit for approximately 15 minutes to break up the clogging.
- Next, pour in some boiling hot water down the line- hot water clears away any remaining clogs and residual mixture.
- Reconnect the hose securely and try to run a cycle to see if the problem is gone.
Also, make sure you inspect the hose for any kinks/cracks- These cause blockages (and potential water pooling inside the machine) and the hose should be replaced if kinked/cracked.
Quick Tip: Instead of the vinegar and baking soda solution, you can use a quality commercial drain cleaner to unclog.
What else to check
- Garbage disposal
If your dishwasher has garbage disposal hooked-up, then the disposal may as well be clogged leading to drainage glitches.
So check it and clear any garbage off the garbage disposal too.
- The drain motor
If the drain motor is broken, water may stop draining properly eventually leading to leaks.
This needs to be replaced.
Maytag dishwasher leaking from bottom of door – further troubleshooting steps
Check the door gasket
Check the gasket for accumulated dirt/food particles and wipe it with a damp cloth (dirt and stuck food particles can prevent the gasket from sealing the door tight).
You should replace the gasket if you notice any tears or other signs of damage.
Check the door latch
There is a chance that the door latch (that rubber sealing on your dishwasher door) is bent or loose, making it not latch properly and causing the door to leak from the bottom.
If loose, you can try to tighten the latch (with a screwdriver) and see if the door will start closing properly.
If that doesn’t work – and the latch is clearly ruined- try installing a new latch system.
This door latch installs very easily and works just fine on many Maytag dishwasher models.
Plus, there are countless YouTube videos that demonstrate how to install a new door latch on most Maytag dishwashers and they can help you perform the job quickly (here is a good Video to guide you).
Check the Dishwasher Tub
If your dishwasher is old, a hole may have developed over the years (for example, due to corrosion) through which water is seeping through and finally leaking through the bottom of the door.
Some tubs can be repaired (if not too worn) though sometimes it’s better to buy a new dishwasher.
Maytag dishwasher leaking from bottom of door – useful tips
The issue of your Maytag dishwasher leaking water from bottom of door could be occurring because of simple mistakes like using the wrong detergent or overloading the dishwasher.
That being so, keep the following in mind:
Always load the dishwasher properly
In order for your appliance to run flawlessly, be sure to load dirty dishes correctly.
Why?
If overloaded or not loaded properly, the dishwasher is likely to use way more water -and the resultant added pressure could push up against your dishwasher’s door and bring about leaks.
So check if everything is loaded properly and re-arrange, if necessary.
Always use correct detergent
Like other dishwashers, only detergents made specifically for automatic dishwashers should be used with Maytag.
While tempting, it is especially important to stay away from regular dish soap – it creates excess suds that will overflow the tub in due course (and leak onto the kitchen floor).
Bottom line
A dishwasher that is leaking from the door is the worst thing that can happen when you want to wash dishes.
But by good fortune, the solution could be as simple as unclogging it, switching to the recommended detergent, loading dishes differently, or swapping the door gasket.
If you have run through these fixes and the door still leaks, it may be time to schedule that dreaded service call.
Remember you can call Maytag® dishwasher customer service at 1-800-344-1274 if your machine is still under warranty.
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