What to do if…
your dishwasher is leaking water onto the kitchen floor mid-cycle

What to do now

1. Get to a safer pause: Step onto a dry area, keep children and pets out of the kitchen, and avoid walking through the puddle in socks or bare feet.
2. Stop the dishwasher if you can do it from dry ground: Press Cancel, Drain, or Off once. If water starts coming out faster, the drain sounds wrong, or the controls do not respond, stop pressing buttons and move to shutting off water and power safely.
3. Shut off power only if you can do it safely:
   • If the dishwasher plug is reachable without standing in water or touching a wet surface, unplug it.
   • If it is hardwired, or the plug is not safely reachable, turn off the dishwasher circuit breaker only if the panel area is dry and safely accessible.
   • If the panel area is wet or blocked, do not try to reach it. Keep people away and call a qualified electrician. Call your utility company if the main service area, meter area, or incoming power equipment may be involved.
4. Shut off water to the dishwasher: Look under the sink for a small valve on the dishwasher supply line and turn it clockwise until it stops. Do not force a stuck valve. If you cannot find it quickly, or it will not close, shut off the main water valve only if you can reach it safely.
5. Limit the spread of water: From a dry position, use towels to slow water before it reaches cabinets, baseboards, floor vents, or nearby rooms. Mop up standing water if you can do it without touching wet electrical items.
6. Check the under-sink area without disturbing wiring: Move stored items away from wet pipes and look for an obvious dripping hose or valve. Do not pull the dishwasher out or remove panels right now.
7. Take quick photos if it is safe: Photograph the puddle, the dishwasher front, the toe-kick area, and any visible drip under the sink. Then stop handling the appliance.
8. If you rent or live in a condo: Notify your landlord, property manager, maintenance line, or condo contact right away. Say: “Dishwasher leaking mid-cycle; water and power are off if safe; water is on the kitchen floor.” Ask whether emergency maintenance should check for hidden water under cabinets or flooring.
9. If there are sparks, sizzling, burning smell, smoke, or water reached outlets or wiring: Keep everyone out of the area. Call 911 for immediate danger. Otherwise, arrange qualified electrical or appliance service before restoring power or using nearby outlets.