Direct answer
Water from the air gap indicates a restriction after the air gap—commonly the hose to the disposal or sink drain—not a reason to remove the air gap.
What this covers
- Dishwashers · drain plumbing
- The exact symptom in the title before component-level repair
- Consumer-accessible controls, connections and maintenance areas
What it does not cover
- ×Smoke, burning odor, swelling, liquid on powered parts or damaged wiring
- ×Opening sealed panels, bypassing interlocks or live-electrical testing
- ×Account ownership, billing or warranty disputes
Observe before changing anything
ReversibleRun Cancel/Drain and observe exactly when water exits the air-gap cap.
Isolate the failing boundary
ReversibleDisconnect power and have the hose from air gap to disposal checked for kinks, blockage and an unremoved disposal plug.
Apply the narrow correction
ReversibleClean and reconnect the approved drain path while preserving the air gap.
Verify the result and stop at the boundary
ReversibleStop for wastewater backup, leaks under the sink or uncertain plumbing connections.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Visible sources support the visible claims. Home Product Support records the publisher, the fact used and the review date; community reports can suggest an issue but do not become a published fact on their own.
Exact questions
Common follow-ups
What should I check first for “Dishwasher air gap overflows onto the sink”?+
Run Cancel/Drain and observe exactly when water exits the air-gap cap.
How do I know whether the problem is external or inside the device?+
Disconnect power and have the hose from air gap to disposal checked for kinks, blockage and an unremoved disposal plug.
When should I stop and request repair?+
Stop for wastewater backup, leaks under the sink or uncertain plumbing connections.
Answer for the exact device and software version shown above.