How to Level a Dishwasher

A repair man servicing a dishwasher.
  • 1 hours
  • Beginner
  • 30
What You'll Need
Wrench
Pliers
Shims
Hammer
Level
What You'll Need
Wrench
Pliers
Shims
Hammer
Level

If your dishwasher is leaking and leaving puddles on the floor, you may just need to level the dishwasher to get it to work properly again. If this is the case, rather than buying a new and expensive dishwasher or calling the repairman, you can save money and take care of this problem yourself in a few easy steps.

Step 1 – Remove the Level

Before you do anything else, take out the level and put it on top of the dishwasher. This will help you determine which direction you need to adjust it. Check it from all sides, left to right and front to back.

Step 2 – Read the Level

In order to read the level correctly, you must compare the air bubble within the two lines in the glass bulb in the center of the level. If the bubble is in the middle, then your appliance is properly leveled. But if the bubble is on one side or the other of the 2 lines, then the side it is on is higher than the other and the lower side has to be moved up.

Step 3 – Adjust the Feet

To adjust the feet on the dishwasher, look for the hex nut. This is used to lower and raise the leg. To raise the leg, turn the nut counterclockwise or turn it clockwise to lower the leg. Since the hex nut cannot be turned by hand, it is best to use a tool such as an open-ended crescent wrench or a pair of pliers.

Step 4 – Get an Assistant

Before you begin positioning the feet, get an assistant to help you with this part. Since you will not be able to completely see if you have properly leveled the dishwasher, you should ask a friend or neighbor that you trust to be your eyes. This will take out the guesswork and help you focus on shifting the feet into the correct position with much more ease.

Step 5 – Using Shims

If you are having trouble adjusting the legs into the right position, try shifting the legs into place one more time and if you are still having problems, then you should think about using shims to make up for the slack. Put in the shims to level the dishwasher, and fine-tune the adjustment with the adjustable legs.

Step 6 – Finish Up

Now it is time to look at the front of the dishwasher, which should be standing straight if the legs have been properly adjusted. If the dishwasher is not straight and still leans towards you, then the best thing to do is to adjust the front legs by moving them up as much as necessary or using more shims until the dishwasher is standing upright.

A leaky appliance is never a good thing. This problem should be remedied after using this guide to level your dishwasher.