Average professional repair
$100–$350
Parts$10–$150
Labor$90–$250
Time30 minutes–2 hours
DIY difficultyModerate

National averages for independent repair companies. Service-call/diagnostic fees ($75–$150) are usually applied toward the repair. Costs vary by brand, model, and city.

What causes it — and what each fix costs

Door gasket worn or dirty

$100–$220

Water at the door’s bottom corners. Clean the gasket first (debris breaks the seal), replace if flattened or torn.

✓ DIY-friendly

Oversudsing

$0–free

Regular dish soap or too much detergent foams past the door. One rinse with a cup of vinegar clears it. Free.

✓ DIY-friendly

Drain or fill hose connections

$100–$220

Clamps loosen; hoses chafe. Cheap parts, cabinet-side access.

✓ DIY-friendly

Pump seals

$150–$350

Leaks from the machine’s belly during wash — seal kit or pump.

🔧 Best left to a pro

Spray arm misdirecting at the door

$80–$180

A cracked arm or blocked jets fire water straight at the door seam.

✓ DIY-friendly

Repair or replace?

Repair the leak either way — even if you plan to replace the machine, water damage costs more than any dishwasher. Gaskets and hoses are cheap; belly-pan pump leaks on an old unit are the replace signal.

♻️ DECIDED NOT TO FIX IT?

We'll quote you on hauling it away — or buying it.

Not every dishwasher is worth repairing, and we'd rather tell you that than sell you a repair. If you're replacing it, we'll give you a free quote either way: scrap pickup for a machine that's finished, or a cash offer if it still has life in it. Working units, recent models and premium brands are often worth real money.

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Common questions

I used regular dish soap once — did I break it?

No, but you’ll remember the foam party. Scoop out what you can, run a rinse cycle with a cup of white vinegar, and only use dishwasher detergent going forward.

Model-specific guides for this problem

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