The short answer
On a Cafe freestanding dishwasher the likeliest sources are the door gasket and over-dosed detergent, both visible without opening the machine. Water only while it drains points at the drain path. Supply-side weeps come from the fittings behind the machine. Stop using it until you know which.
What you observe
- Water at the door bottom during the wash — A gasket leak spills at the lowest point of the opening.
- Suds on the floor as well as water — Over-dosing, which pushes foam past the door.
- Water only while it drains — A hose or clamp leaking under pump pressure.
- Water behind the machine that does not stop — A supply-side leak. Close the valve.
- NEAR MISS - a little water when the door opens after a hot cycle — Condensation running off the door.
Causes, most likely first on this brand
- A fouled or damaged door gasket — First on any dishwasher. Debris in the seal, or a split at a bottom corner, lets water escape while the arms are spraying.
- Detergent overdosing or the wrong product — Second, and easy to dismiss. Excess foam leaves by the shortest route, and hand-washing liquid in a dishwasher floods a kitchen very effectively.
- A drain hose or clamp leaking under pressure — Third. The timing is the clue: nothing during fill or wash, water at the drain.
- A supply connection weeping behind the machine — Fourth. It does not stop when the cycle ends, which distinguishes it from everything else on this list.
- A sump, seal or tub fault — Last. Not an owner check, and it means the machine comes apart.
Check in this order, and why
- Dry the floor and run one cycle with a torch — Watching the leak start answers it in one cycle.
- Wipe right around the door gasket — Debris and splits are both found by hand.
- Halve the detergent and repeat the same load — If the leak goes, it was foam rather than a fault.
- Pull the machine forward and dry-tissue the fittings — A tissue finds a weep that a hand will not.
What an owner can safely check
- Dry everything and identify the phase — Paper towel under the machine, then note which phase wets it.
Tools: paper towel, torchAbout 25 min
- Clean and inspect the door gasket — Open the seal all the way round, clear debris and look for splits at the corners.
Tools: clothAbout 20 min
- Use the correct detergent at a lower dose — Never hand-washing liquid, and less than you think in a soft-water area.
About 10 min
- Check the connections behind the machine — Close the supply valve first, then dry-tissue each fitting.
Tools: dry tissueAbout 25 min
- STOP HERE if water comes from under the machine with a clean gasket — That means opening it up.
Before you open anything
Safety
Switch the dishwasher off at its breaker and close its supply valve before investigating a leak - you are working with water beside an electrical appliance. Never run another cycle to see whether it leaks again once you know it does. If the machine trips a breaker or a residual current device, leave it off and call, because water has already reached something electrical.
When to call a technician
Call when the gasket is clean and sound, the detergent is correct and dosed low, the connections are dry and water still reaches the floor. Call immediately, with the supply valve closed, for a supply-side leak you cannot stop or any leak that trips the electrical protection. Say which phase produced the water, because it points a technician straight at the area.
Nearest pages of this class
What this page does not cover
This page covers the Cafe freestanding and slide-in dishwashers, where a leak reaches an open floor. The panel-ready integrated machines leak into cabinetry and are found much later; the sibling page linked below covers those. Not included by design: gasket and hose part identifiers, connection thread sizes and detergent dosing figures.
Links: - [Cafe integrated dishwasher leaking water](/blog/caf-dishwasher-water-leak-2)
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
