How to Change a Dishwasher Door Seal

The door seal – also called a tub gasket – on your dishwasher is the primary form of prevention of any leaks that may occur. This plastic lining is compacted when the door is closed, forming a water-tight seal. However, seals do tend to age. As they get older, they can become dry and brittle. It makes them no longer as pliable as they once were. When this happens, you may notice leaking around the edges of your dishwasher.

Luckily for the average homeowner, replacing the door seal on your dishwasher isn’t hard at all. Furthermore, the repair is typically the same across all brands of dishwashers as well.  Before you begin, you will need:

• Cotton swabs
• A mild detergent
• A blow dryer
• A replacement door seal as recommended by your manufacturer

The first step is to remove the old seal from the outer edge of your dishwasher door. While doing this, make a note of which way the seal is facing for when you install the new one. If the seal is very old, you may want to go slow to prevent any breakage or fragmenting.

Once the seal is removed, it is recommended to give the seal bay a solid cleaning with cotton swabs and a mild detergent. After cleaning, let sit so that the area dries completely.

While the seal channel is drying, remove the new seal from its packaging and warm it up with the blow dryer. This will remove any creases that will affect the integrity of the seal once installed. Be sure to use a low setting as to not get the seal too hot.

To install the new dishwasher door seal, fold it in half at the midpoint. Making sure you have the correct side facing outward, begin pressing the seal’s midpoint into the center top channel on the dishwasher. Begin evenly distributing the seal across the top and down the sides. Once the entire seal is in the channel, give it a firm press to make sure it is fully installed.

Leave your dishwasher door shut and latched for several hours to set the seal. If your door does not close easily, you may want to try reinstalling the seal.