A dishwasher that stopped working usually shows one of six symptoms: it will not start, will not fill, will not drain, runs but leaves dishes dirty, leaves dishes wet, or leaks. Each symptom points to a short list of parts, and several of the causes take only a few minutes to check.
This guide covers 20 common causes, grouped by symptom. Each one is marked as safe to check yourself or as a repair that needs a technician. Bonita Appliance Repair repairs dishwashers from every major brand in Bonita, Chula Vista, National City, and across San Diego County.
Find your symptom
| Symptom | Most likely causes |
|---|---|
| Will not start, no lights | Door not latched, Control Lock or Delay Start, tripped breaker or GFCI, failed latch or control board (causes 1–5) |
| Hums but will not fill | Closed supply valve, stuck float, failed water inlet valve (causes 6–8) |
| Water left in the bottom | Clogged filter, kinked drain hose, disposal knockout plug, failed drain pump (causes 9–12) |
| Runs but dishes stay dirty | Blocked spray arms, loading, cold water, hard water, wash motor (causes 13–17) |
| Dishes stay wet | Empty rinse aid, failed heating element or fan (cause 18) |
| Water on the floor | Worn door gasket, leaking pump seal, valve, or hose (causes 19–20) |
Before you start
Safety note: A dishwasher combines household electricity and water. Turn off the circuit breaker before you remove the kick panel or any part with wiring behind it. Turn off the water supply before you disconnect a hose. If you smell burning or see scorch marks, leave the power off and call a technician.
Dishwasher will not start
1. The door is not fully latched
Every dishwasher has a door switch that blocks the cycle until the door latches. On many top-control models, you must also close the door within a few seconds of pressing Start.
- Close the door firmly and listen for the latch to click.
- Check that a rack, pan handle, or tall utensil is not stopping the door.
- On a top-control model, press Start and close the door right away.
2. Control Lock or Delay Start is on
Control Lock (also called Child Lock) disables the buttons. Delay Start postpones the cycle by a set number of hours. Either one makes a working dishwasher look broken.
- Look for a lock icon. Press and hold the lock button for about three seconds to turn it off.
- Look for a delay indicator or an hour countdown on the display, and cancel it.
- Check your owner’s manual if your model uses a different button combination.
3. The breaker, GFCI outlet, or wall switch is off
A control panel with no lights at all usually means no power is reaching the dishwasher.
- Reset the dishwasher breaker in your electrical panel by switching it fully off, then on.
- Press Reset on the GFCI outlet under the sink or on the nearest GFCI outlet.
- Check for a wall switch next to the garbage disposal switch that controls the dishwasher.
If the breaker trips again after you reset it, leave it off. A breaker that keeps tripping points to a wiring or component fault.
4. The door latch or door switch has failed
If the door closes and latches but the dishwasher acts as if it is open, the switch inside the latch assembly may have failed.
A technician tests the switch for continuity with a multimeter, with the power off, and replaces the latch assembly if it fails.
5. The control board, touchpad, or thermal fuse has failed
The control board runs every cycle. The touchpad sends your button presses to it. A thermal fuse cuts power if the control overheats, and on many models it is built into the board. Confirmed power with a dark or unresponsive panel often means one of these parts failed.
These parts are model-specific, so a replacement must match your exact model number. GE dishwasher not starting walks through this diagnosis for GE models.
Dishwasher will not fill with water
6. The water supply valve is closed or the line is kinked
The dishwasher’s hot water supply usually comes from a shut-off valve under the kitchen sink. A valve left partly closed after plumbing work, or a kinked supply line, starves the dishwasher of water.
- Open the cabinet under the sink and turn the dishwasher valve fully counterclockwise.
- Check the supply line behind the kick panel area for kinks you can reach without removing parts.
7. The float is stuck
Many dishwashers have a float, a small dome or cylinder on the tub floor near the front. It rises with the water and trips a switch that stops the fill. A float stuck in the up position tells the dishwasher it is already full.
- Lift the float and let it drop. It should move freely.
- Clean food debris or scale from around it.
8. The water inlet valve has failed
The water inlet valve is an electric valve behind the kick panel that opens to let water in. When its solenoid coil fails or its screen clogs with sediment, the dishwasher hums but does not fill, or fills too slowly.
A technician tests the coil with a multimeter and checks the inlet screen before replacing the valve.
Dishwasher will not drain
9. The filter is clogged
Most dishwashers sold in the last decade use a manual filter in the tub floor that you remove and rinse. A clogged filter leaves dirty water in the bottom and food grit on the dishes.
- Remove the bottom rack, twist out the filter, and rinse it under the faucet.
- Scrub the mesh with a soft brush, and wipe out the sump below it.
- Clean the filter about once a month, or more often if you do not rinse dishes.
10. The drain hose is kinked or the air gap is clogged
The drain hose runs from the dishwasher to the sink drain or garbage disposal. It needs a high loop under the counter or an air gap on the sink deck, as the installation instructions specify. A kink, a sagging loop, or a clogged air gap stops the water from leaving.
- Check the hose under the sink for kinks, and make sure the high loop is secured.
- If you have an air gap (a small chrome cap on the sink deck), remove the cap and clear any debris.
11. A new garbage disposal still has its knockout plug
New garbage disposals ship with a plastic plug sealing the dishwasher inlet. If the dishwasher stopped draining right after a disposal was installed, the plug was likely never removed.
- Turn off power to the disposal and disconnect the dishwasher drain hose from it.
- Knock the plug into the disposal with a screwdriver, remove it, and reconnect the hose.
If you are not comfortable working under the sink, a technician or plumber can do this in a few minutes.
12. The drain pump has failed
The drain pump pushes water out through the drain hose. A pump that hums without draining may have a jammed impeller. A pump that is silent may have a failed motor.
A technician clears any glass or debris from the pump, tests the motor, and replaces the pump if needed.
Dishwasher runs but does not clean
13. The spray arms are clogged or cracked
The spray arms spin under water pressure and spray through small holes. Food, seeds, and mineral scale block those holes, and a cracked arm loses pressure.
- Remove the spray arms (most twist or unclip off) and rinse them.
- Clear each hole with a toothpick, and replace any arm with cracks or missing pieces.
- Make sure each arm spins freely by hand after reinstalling it.
14. The racks are overloaded or loaded wrong
Tall pans, cutting boards, and nested bowls block the spray arms and the detergent dispenser door.
- Spin each spray arm by hand after loading to check that nothing blocks it.
- Face soiled surfaces toward the center and do not nest bowls or spoons.
- Keep large items off the front of the lower rack, where they block the dispenser.
15. The water is not hot enough
Detergent works best with hot water. Most dishwasher makers recommend water at about 120°F at the dishwasher.
- Run the kitchen faucet on hot until the water is hot before you start a cycle.
- Check that your water heater is set near 120°F.
16. Hard water and detergent problems
San Diego County tap water is generally hard. Hard water leaves a white film on glasses and scale inside the spray arms and filter. Old or clumped detergent, or too little detergent, makes the problem worse.
- Use fresh detergent and keep the rinse aid dispenser full.
- Run an empty cycle with a dishwasher cleaner every month or two to remove scale.
17. The wash motor or circulation pump has failed
The circulation pump drives water through the spray arms. A loud grinding or humming noise, very weak spray, or no spray at all often means the wash motor or its pump has failed.
A technician checks the motor windings and impeller, and replaces the pump and motor assembly if needed.
Dishes come out wet
18. Empty rinse aid, or a failed heating element or fan
Rinse aid helps water sheet off dishes, so an empty dispenser is the first thing to check. Many dishwashers also use a heating element in the tub floor to heat the water and dry the load. Others dry with a fan and vent. A failed element or fan leaves the whole load wet.
- First, fill the rinse aid dispenser and select a heated dry option if your model has one.
- Plastic items stay wetter than glass and ceramic on every dishwasher. This is normal.
If the load stays wet with rinse aid filled, a technician tests the heating element and high-limit thermostat, or the drying fan, for continuity.
Dishwasher is leaking
19. The door gasket is worn or dirty
The rubber gasket around the tub opening seals the door. A gasket coated with food or torn at a corner lets water seep out the front.
- Wipe the gasket with warm soapy water and check for tears.
- Check that the dishwasher is level, since a tilted dishwasher can leak at the door.
A torn gasket should be replaced with the part made for your model.
20. A pump seal, water inlet valve, or hose connection is leaking
Water under the dishwasher, or water on the floor with a dry door, usually comes from inside the cabinet. Common sources are the pump seal, the water inlet valve, and the hose connections.
Turn off the dishwasher’s water supply and breaker until it is repaired. A technician removes the kick panel, traces the leak, and replaces the failed part.
Flashing lights and error codes
Flashing lights or an error code mean the control board has detected a fault, such as a fill, drain, or heating problem. Codes differ by brand and model, so the same code can mean different things on two dishwashers.
- Write down the code or the light pattern.
- Look it up in your owner’s manual or on the tech sheet, which is often tucked behind the kick panel or inside the door.
- Turn off the breaker for one minute to reset the control. If the code returns, the fault is real.
Have your model number ready when you call for service. How to find your appliance model number shows where to look.
When to call a dishwasher repair technician
Call a dishwasher repair technician when:
- The breaker trips again after you reset it
- The dishwasher has power and the settings are correct, but it still will not start
- The dishwasher hums but will not fill or drain after you clean the filter and check the hoses
- Water is leaking from under the dishwasher
- An error code returns after a reset
Bonita Appliance Repair offers dishwasher repair in San Diego and dishwasher repair in Chula Vista. We repair Whirlpool, GE, Bosch, KitchenAid, Samsung, LG, Frigidaire, Maytag, and Kenmore dishwashers. A technician diagnoses the fault and explains the repair and its price before any work begins.
Repair or replace your dishwasher?
The National Association of Home Builders puts the average life expectancy of a dishwasher at about 9 years (Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components, NAHB, 2007). A repair usually makes sense for a younger dishwasher, especially when the fault is a filter, latch, valve, or pump.
A common rule of thumb: consider replacing the dishwasher if the repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new model and the dishwasher is past half its expected life. Read is it better to repair or replace an appliance for more detail.
Dishwasher repair FAQs
Why did my dishwasher suddenly stop working?
The most common causes are a door that is not fully latched, Control Lock or Delay Start, and a power problem such as a tripped breaker or GFCI outlet. If those checks do not help, the door latch, control board, or thermal fuse may have failed.
How do I reset my dishwasher?
Press Cancel or Start/Reset to stop the current cycle. If the controls still do not respond, turn off the dishwasher’s circuit breaker for one minute and turn it back on. This resets the control on most models.
Why is there standing water in the bottom of my dishwasher?
Standing water usually means a clogged filter, a kinked drain hose, a clogged air gap, or a failed drain pump. If a garbage disposal was just installed, its knockout plug may still be in place.
Why is my dishwasher humming but not filling with water?
Check that the water supply valve under the sink is fully open and that the float on the tub floor moves freely. If both are fine, the water inlet valve has likely failed and needs a technician.
Is it worth repairing a dishwasher?
A repair usually makes sense when the dishwasher is younger than about half its expected life of 9 years and the repair costs less than half the price of a comparable new model.
Does Bonita Appliance Repair fix dishwashers in San Diego?
Yes. Bonita Appliance Repair repairs dishwashers from all major brands in homes across Bonita, Chula Vista, National City, and San Diego County. Call 619-329-5938 or book online.
Book dishwasher repair in San Diego
If your dishwasher still is not working after these checks, Bonita Appliance Repair can find the failed part and explain the repair and its price before any work begins.
Bonita Appliance Repair · 5080 Bonita Rd #22, Bonita, CA 91902 · 619-329-5938
