How to repair a common cause of a leak in a Smeg dishwasher

If your Smeg dishwasher is flooding at the base, causing a flood error, there's a good chance the fault will lie with the O-ring seals. If so, the O-ring seals will need replacing to stop the flooding and get your dishwasher working properly once more. Read on for our step-by-step guide on how to repair this common cause of a leak in a Smeg dishwasher.

Safety first!

Remember, always make sure your appliance is switched off and disconnected from the mains before carrying out any work.

What you will need:

• A Phillips screwdriver
• A flathead screwdriver
• A pair of pliers
• New O-ring seals

How to replace the O-ring seals in a Smeg dishwasher

Now, let's get started! To learn how to replace the O-ring seals in a Smeg dishwasher, simply watch the video or read the replacement guide below:

Step 1: Remove the top panel

First, you'll need to remove the dishwasher's top panel. Using a Phillips screwdriver, unscrew the two screws that keep the panel in place, then work the panel free and lift it away.

Step 2: Remove the plinth

Then remove the plinth, which is the panel at the bottom of the front of the dishwasher. You can simply pop this off by hand.

Step 3: Remove the side panel

Next, you'll need to remove the right side panel when facing the dishwasher. Open the dishwasher door and, using a Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws at the top and bottom of the panel's edge.

Close the dishwasher door so you can remove the third screw from the panel's bottom right corner.

Then remove the four screws at the back of the panel on the same side.

You can then lift the side panel away. When removing it, be careful not to cut your hands or fingers on any sharp edges.

Step 4: Check the O-ring seals

With the side panel removed, you should be able to see the air break. This is part of the softener system inside the dishwasher. At the bottom, as pictured below, are the two O-ring seals which are likely to have failed. To check if the O-ring seals are the problem, touch the areas around the seals with a dried tissue. If there is any moisture on the tissue, this will confirm that the O-ring seals are leaking and need replacing.

Step 5: Access the O-ring seals

To access the O-ring seals, begin by disconnecting the small hose from its U-bend casing positioned just above and left of the seals.

Then open the dishwasher door and remove the lower basket for easy access inside. The air break is held in place by the circular plastic nut in the wall inside the dishwasher. You will need to release the air break here, so you can unscrew the nut by hand. You may need a pair of pliers to help you remove the nut if it is tight, but be careful not to damage or break the nut.

Using a flathead screwdriver, push down into the clip at the bottom of the air break to release it.

Step 6: Replace the O-ring seals

You should now be able to see and access the O-ring seals in the two small openings beneath the air break. You can simply lift these out with the tip of a screwdriver before replacing them with the new ones. Make sure you push the replacement O-ring seals as far down as possible.

Step 7: Refit the air break

You can now refit the air break. First, click it back into place, making sure the two bottom pipes slot into the same holes as the O-ring seals.

Push the small hose back into place in the air break's U-bend casing.

Then finish securing the air break into place by refitting the circular plastic nut inside.

Step 8: Refit the side panel and plinth

To refit the side panel, first push it into place on the side of the dishwasher. Once in place, return the two screws you removed earlier from the panel's front edge.

Then return the basket inside the dishwasher, close the door and refit the third frontside screw before refitting the plinth into place.

To finish securing the side panel, return the four screws that you removed from the back earlier.

Step 9: Refit the top panel

To finish, refit the top panel and screw it back into place with the two screws you removed earlier.

And that's all there is to replacing the O-ring seals in a Smeg dishwasher! Your appliance should now be leak-free once more.

While you're here, make sure you're doing everything you can to keep your dishwasher working properly and in great shape for longer. This includes making sure you're using your appliance correctly as well as replacing faulty parts. Head over to our article on how to load a dishwasher to learn how to use your dishwasher as efficiently and effectively as possible!

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