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REPAIR > DISHWASHER > WILL NOT FILL WITH WATER

How To Fix A Dishwasher That Will Not Fill With Water

How To Fix A Dishwasher That Will Not Fill With Water

by Steve Ash

A dishwasher that will not fill with water can be frustrating and repairing it through a serviceman can be expensive. Even for someone who may not consider themselves handy, repairing a dishwasher is not a difficult process. Below we’ve provided you with a list of the most common parts that fix a dishwasher will not fill with water. Use this information to help troubleshoot which part is broken, and then enter your model number in the search box to find the right part for you, along with tons of helpful information like our step by step installation videos and instructions.
Water Inlet Valve
The water inlet valve is used to fill the dishwasher with the proper amount of hot water and is controlled by the timer or electronic control. The valve will be located behind the lower access panel and will have two wires attached to it, an outlet hose to the tub and a hot water inlet from the household supply. If your dishwasher does not fill then you should first check the inlet supply to verify that you have enough water pressure and that you have power going to the valve during the fill portion of the cycle. If these conditions are met then the valve is defective and should be replaced. If you do not have power to the valve then you should look at the float switch, the timer or electronic control or the door switches as a possible problem. All of the electrical checks can be made with a multi-meter.
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- 30 - 60 minutes

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Float
A malfunctioning float could cause the dishwasher to not fill with water. The float is located at the bottom of the dishwasher tub and acts as a safety device that prevents the dishwasher from over filling with water. The float rises with the water level in the dishwasher and when the proper level is reached, the float will trigger the float switch to turn off the water inlet valve. Check that there is no debris or foreign objects that might restrict the vertical movement of the float and that it engages the float switch located beneath the tub.
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- 15 - 30 minutes

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Float Switch
The float switch sits below the float, beneath the dishwasher tub. When the float switch is triggered by the float, power to the water inlet valve is interrupted and it stops the flow of water into the dishwasher. Verify that the mechanical action of the float to the switch is operating properly and that the wire connections are secure. To check that the float switch is working properly, remove the wires and test for continuity with a multi-meter.
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Door Switch
The door switch is a simple on/off mechanism that prohibits the dishwasher from operating when the door is open. If the door switch or switches are malfunctioning the dishwasher will not fill with water. This door switch mechanism is typically located behind the door panel at the top of the door. To verify the operation of the switches you will need to separate the inner door from the outer door and then remove the wires from the switches and check for continuity with a multi-meter.
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- Customers rate this repair as Easy

- 15 - 30 minutes

We have 132 installation instructions

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