Perhaps you’ve recently noticed a pool of water underneath your GE Dishwasher, causing you serious concern. Well, don’t worry! Although a leaky dishwasher could be a sign of more significant problems with your appliance, if you can locate the leak’s source, you can use a few DIY solutions to remedy it.

In the following article, I’ve outlined a step-by-step guide to show you how to troubleshoot this annoying problem. But first, let’s look at some of the most common causes for a leaky bottom on your GE Dishwasher.

8 Causes of GE Dishwasher Leaking From Bottom

Your GE Dishwasher is made up of lots of different parts. Each one of these components is important for the smooth operation of your appliance. However, it’s possible that any one of these parts could also be the cause of the leak under your GE Dishwasher. So, let’s take a look at some of them!

1. Damaged Door Gasket

Your door gasket circles the rim of your dishwasher door, creating an airtight seal to prevent water from escaping while your GE Dishwasher is going through its wash cycle. Although it’s usually made from high-quality rubber or silicone, it can still get damaged through regular wear and tear. If your door gasket should happen to degrade or turn brittle, a leak is almost guaranteed to happen.

Troubleshooting & Repairing a Damaged Door Gasket

Closely inspect your door gasket. Open your GE Dishwasher door and do a quick spot-check to see any signs of cracks or other damage to your door gasket. You should also pay attention to see if any food or detergent residue is lodged within its grooves. 

Clean your door gasket. Wet a soft cloth with soapy water and gently clean away any food particles or other debris lodged inside your door gasket.

Replace your door gasket. If you notice any cracks or other damage to your door gasket, replace it as soon as possible. Simply remove your old door gasket from its groove before firmly securing the new one.

2. Improper Loading

Make sure that you’re loading your GE Dishwasher correctly. This will accomplish two things. First, your dishes will get cleaner because the water in your dishwasher will be more evenly distributed. Secondly, you’ll avoid any serious damage to your appliance.

For example, when your dishwasher is overloaded, this can sometimes cause the water inside your appliance to splash around the door’s edges. If this happens too often, it can lead to leaks, which are bad for your dishwasher and a safety concern for your household.

Addressing and Preventing Loading Issues:

Perform a visual check: Ensure your loaded dishwasher looks orderly inside. As a general rule, plates should never be overlapping. Also, avoid placing larger utensils too close to the spray arms. And, of course, always tip glasses or cups upside-down to avoid any excess water collecting.

Pay attention when loading your GE Dishwasher: It’s always tempting to squeeze in that one last plate before you begin a wash cycle, but if your dishwasher is already crowded, try to avoid doing so.

Ensure your dishes are evenly spaced in their racks so the water inside your dishwasher can reach every nook and cranny during cleaning.

Finally, check to see if the spray arms inside your appliance are free from any obstructions. You might also look at the manual with your GE Dishwasher for specific guidelines. Oftentimes, manufacturers will include a loading guide as a helpful suggestion.

3. Blocked Spray Arms

Your GE Dishwasher’s spray arms circulate the water inside your appliance during its wash cycle. These spray arms have numerous tiny holes that evenly disperse water over your dishes.

Sometimes, however, these little holes can get clogged up with food debris or detergent residues, and this could lead to an uneven water flow. Over time, if left unchecked, your spray arms may even stop rotating.

To Address & Troubleshoot Blocked Spray Arms:

Visually inspect your spray arms: Open your GE Dishwasher and check for any blockages in the holes of your spray arms.

Gives your spray arms a deep clean: If you do notice any blockages, carefully detach your spray arms from their mountings. Place them in some warm water and use a soft brush to gently scrub away any food particles or detergent residues. If you’d like a visual guide to help walk you through cleaning your spray arms, you might want to check out this video:

4. Managing Excessive Detergent:

It’s important to always use the correct amount of detergent in your GE Dishwasher. Too little, of course, and your dishes won’t get clean. But there’s a danger in using too much as well. Sometimes, an excessive amount of detergent inside your dishwasher can create lots of suds, and these could lead to leaks.

Helpful Tips for Proper Detergent Use:

Measure out your detergent carefully: Don’t rely on guesswork! Always be sure to use the recommended amount as indicated on the package.

Make sure you’re using the right detergent: Dishwashers can often be finicky when it comes to detergents. Ensure the detergent you’re using is suitable for your GE Dishwasher.

5. Clogged Air Gap

The air gap, usually located next to your kitchen faucets, is an important component of your GE Dishwasher that keeps unclean water from your sink from flowing back into your dishwasher.

From time to time, even air gaps can cause problems. Like the holes in your dishwasher’s spray arms, air gaps can get clogged up with food or other debris. If a blockage gets too thick, it can stop your air gap from draining away any unclean water from your sink, and this could lead to a leak.

How to Spot and Correct a Clogged Air Gap:

Perform a quick spot-check: Carefully examine your air gap to ensure there aren’t any blockages that might prevent a smooth water flow from your dishwasher to your sink.

Thoroughly Clean Your Air Gap: If you notice any large debris buildups in your air gap, you should immediately remove them. You can use a small, narrow brush or even your fingers to clear any obstructions. This could help resolve any drainage problems your GE Dishwasher might be experiencing.

6. Clogged Drain Hose

Your drain hose is an important component in your GE Dishwasher because it pushes out any dirty water after a wash cycle into your household drainage system. Without a working drain hose, your dishes wouldn’t get clean. Even worse, if your drain hose gets clogged with food particles or other debris, water could back up inside your appliance, and you might end up with serious leaks.

How to Spot and Fix a Clogged Drain Hose:

Thoroughly Examine Your Drain Hose: First, carefully detach your drain hose from your GE Dishwasher and your sink or garbage disposal unit. Next, gently straighten the drain hose to check for any blockages and remove any kinks.

Thoroughly Clean Your Drain Hose: If you spot any clogs in your drain hose, you must remove them immediately. There are a few options for doing this. You could flush out your drain hose with a strong jet of water. If this doesn’t work, you might consider using a long, flexible brush to scrub inside the drain hose, clearing any particularly stubborn clogs. If you check this component for blockages regularly, you’ll extend the life of your drain hose and your GE Dishwasher.

7. Faulty Water Inlet Valve

The water inlet valve on your GE Dishwasher is the component that regulates the flow of water into your appliance. Every time you begin a wash cycle, your water inlet valve opens to supply the water needed. Once your dishwasher has enough water to begin its cycle, the water inlet valve will automatically close.

Like all dishwasher components, your water inlet valve can also suffer from too much wear and tear. For example, a buildup of mineral deposits might prevent it from sealing properly. If this happens, water could leak back into your GE Dishwasher even when you’re not using it. This might be the cause of that unsightly puddle underneath your appliance.

How to Spot and Correct a Faulty Water Inlet Valve:

Carefully Inspect the Area around the Water Inlet Valve: Closely examine the area surrounding your water inlet valve. If you detect any signs of moisture, perhaps your water inlet valve isn’t properly closing.

Test Your Water Inlet Valve: If you’re still unsure if your water inlet valve has a fault, shut off the water supply to your GE Dishwasher. Leave the water supply off for a few hours, checking to see if water is still accumulating. If it is, you most likely have a faulty water inlet valve.

Replace Your Water Inlet Valve: Once you’ve determined your water inlet valve is faulty, you’ll need to replace it as soon as possible. You may be able to do this yourself, but if you’re unsure, it’s best to rely on the services of a professional repairperson. A new water inlet valve could take care of any leaks and improve the performance of your GE Dishwasher.

8. Defective Drain Pump

Your Drain Pump is one of the most important components in your GE Dishwasher. Any dirty water left in your appliance after a wash cycle is pushed into your household drainage system through your drain pump. If a drain pump should happen to malfunction, you won’t just have unclean dishes; you’ll also have a dishwasher that won’t drain properly which can ultimately lead to a leaking dishwasher.

How to Spot and Correct a Drain Pump Issue:

• Listen to Your Drain Pump: Start your GE Dishwasher’s drain cycle and listen closely for unusual sounds.  If your drain pump is working correctly, you should hear a steady humming or whirring sound. If you hear any other noises, these could be a sign that there’s a fault with the drain pump.
• Carefully Inspect Your Drain Pump: Always remember that safety comes first! Carefully switch off your GE Dishwasher and disconnect it from its main power source. Check your drain pump for any obstructions or other signs of damage.
• Test Your Drain Pump: On most modern kitchen appliances, like your GE Dishwasher, you can select a diagnostic mode to test individual components like your drain pump. If your model comes equipped with this feature, you might consider using it to help narrow down the problem.
• Replace Your Drain Pump: A fully working drain pump is an extremely important component, so if you’ve determined that your GE Dishwasher’s drain pump is damaged beyond repair, you’ll have to replace it immediately. Make sure to closely follow any instruction manuals with your new drain pump before installing it. Otherwise, it might be a good idea to consult the service of a professional technician.

When To Call In A Professional

Although fixing your kitchen appliances can be both convenient and cost-effective, certain repairs can sometimes be tricky on your own.

If you don’t have the experience or the know-how for more complex repairs, you might want to consider calling in a trained professional or the GE helpline. They’ve got the tools and the knowledge to get the job done swiftly and safely. It may cost a little more, but you’ll save in the long run regarding peace of mind.

Here’s another article that you may find useful about Dishwasher’s Leaking from the Bottom of the door.