An overflowing dishwasher can make an untidy mess, which isn’t a particularly likable trait of any kitchen appliance. Since Amana dishwashers are renowned for being good, it usually comes as a surprise when you discover that it’s overflowing, but why does that happen exactly?
The most common cause of an overflowing Amana dishwasher is a defective water inlet valve supplying the appliance with more water than it needs. Also, a faulty door gasket could lead to a leak that makes your Amana dishwasher overflow with water. Whatever the reason is, you should try identifying and fixing it to avoid making a mess in your kitchen.
In this article, I’ll show you all the reasons why your Amana dishwasher might be overflowing. Also, you’ll learn how to address each of those issues to get your dishwasher working again. To get started, let’s analyze why your dishwasher might be overflowing.
Why is Amana Dishwasher Overflowing?
When your Amana dishwasher is overflowing, there’s a leak somewhere letting water out of the system. It’s imperative to understand what’s causing the leak to address the issue, as that can lead you to understand what to do to fix it.
There are many reasons your Amana dishwasher could leak water, causing an overflow. From the experiences of users facing similar issues, here are some common reasons your dishwasher could be overflowing.
A faulty water inlet valve
The water inlet valve is a complex piece of equipment that does a simple job: supplying the correct volume of water into the dishwasher. Since it’s complicated, several things could go wrong with it, causing it not to do its job as it should.
When the water inlet valve in your Amana dishwasher is faulty, it will either supply too much water without shutting off or no water. If the problem is the former, you’ll end up with a dishwasher leaking water endlessly from the inlet valve, causing it to overflow into the sink.
A faulty water inlet valve is one of the more common causes of a flowing Amana dishwasher, as it’s probably the most spoilable piece of equipment within the dishwasher. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the only reason why your dishwasher could leak water.
A faulty door gasket
A dishwasher can also start leaking when the door gasket stops creating a watertight seal on the door to keep excess water out. The door gasket fault isn’t as technical as the water inlet valve, and it’s easier to replace if it’s the reason for the overflow.
It’s so because the door gasket is a rubber seal along the door to make it waterproof. The problem is likely from the door gasket if the overflow is a slow leak rather than a massive and uncontrollable gush of water.
Damaged float switch
If your Amana dishwasher is overflowing from the water inlet valve, the fault may not be from a faulty water inlet valve per se. Another device within your dishwasher that works with the water inlet valve to keep the water levels in check is the float switch.
The float switch works pretty simply: a float inside the dishwasher rises until it reaches the required water level, where it triggers a switch that turns off the water inlet valve. If your float switch suffers any damage, it will be unable to communicate with the water inlet valve properly, causing the latter to supply too much water that overflows your sink.
Clogged drain hose
The drain hose on your Amana dishwasher is a rubber hose that lets off dirty water to the drainage. With this explanation, it’s easy to see how things could go wrong if you tried to flush some solid particles down your drain hose. Needless to say, the water will have a hard time finding its way to the drainage.
Over a short period, dirty water will build up in the drain hose and eventually make its way back into your sink, making the dishwasher and creating a mess. While this problem can be frustrating, it’s one of the easier ones to fix.
Unbalanced dishwasher placement
Amana designed your dishwasher to work on a level surface. An improperly installed or unbalanced dishwasher will likely overflow by leaking water through the door, even when it doesn’t suffer from any of the problems I’ve outlined.
You can only fix a dishwasher that wasn’t installed properly by repositioning it to stay level. If you have some technical experience installing dishwashers, it should be a walk in the park for you. However, the following section should help you if you don’t.
How to Fix Amana Dishwasher Overflowing
Amana designed your dishwasher to work without making a huge mess; it will only overflow if it has a fault. In the previous section, I’ve outlined and explained the most common reasons why your Amana dishwasher could be overflowing, but that wouldn’t be very helpful for someone looking to clean their dishes.
If your goal is to get your dishwasher working as soon as possible, this section should be more helpful. Without more ado, here are the ways to fix the issues that could make your Amana dishwasher overflow.
Replace or repair the water inlet valve
The water inlet valve may fail for many reasons, and you may have to replace or repair it depending on why it failed. If your dishwasher is still under warranty protection, you shouldn’t try either; instead, try to have Amana technicians repair or replace it themselves.
If it’s outside the warranty period, you may want to check the valve to see if you can fix the issue. Sometimes, it’s a simple mechanical issue that you can correct on your own. If it’s more complex, however, you may have to order a new inlet valve for installation, or better still, have a certified technician install it.
Replace the door gasket
If you’re sure the problem is from your door gasket, you have to replace it, as there’s no chance of repair. Thankfully, Amana sells replacement parts for the door gasket on their parts website, and you can order it for slightly under $100 to replace it yourself.
By following a few tutorials, you should be able to install the door gasket and a new door seal. Again, you should only try this if you’re confident of your ability to do it right. Also, having a professional help you out doesn’t hurt, as you’re sure you won’t be buying two new gasket kits that way.
Unclog the drain hose
Of everything that could go wrong to make your Amana dishwasher overflow, a clogged drain hose has the easiest fix. You only need to unclog your drain hose and clean it to ensure it does its work as advertised, and you certainly won’t need a technician for that, even if you have no experience.
To unclog it, disconnect the hose completely from the dishwasher and run some water through it at a high velocity. If the dishwasher continues to overflow, the drain hose might be leaking somewhere. You should be able to get a replacement drain hose quickly, but I doubt it’ll ever come to that.
Replace the float switch
The float switch is one of those parts you can’t repair in your Amana dishwasher; once it’s confirmed defective, you must pay for a replacement. A replacement float switch on the Amana parts website costs between $50 and $60, depending on the specific dishwasher model you’re using.
If you know what you’re doing, you can order the replacement float switch and install it, which is a bit technical. However, you should consider seeking the help of a professional with the installation if that’s not your forte; plus, you shouldn’t even be doing that if your dishwasher is still under warranty protection.
Reposition your dishwasher
The final solution for an overflowing Amana dishwasher is for the last fault listed in the preceding section: an improperly installed dishwasher. If your dishwasher is not installed on a level surface, there’s a high chance that water will leak from a component to make a big mess in your kitchen.
Leveling out your dishwasher is pretty technical, and you’ll need some experience installing the appliance to ensure you don’t break something. While you can probably do everything yourself without running into issues, I certainly won’t be recommending that, and I think you should consider getting some help from a professional.
It’s even better if your device is still under warranty protection, as you can talk Amana into sending representatives to check out your installation. If you’re out of warranty, you can still have them help with the fix, but that will cost you a fair bit.
Conclusion
As someone who has experienced an overflowing dishwasher, it’s not something you’d wish on an enemy. With Amana dishwashers known for similar issues, this article has shown you why the problem exists and what you can do about it. If none of the recommendations from the post helped you, it’s safe to say your dishwasher has reached its end of life.