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What to Do If the Dishwasher Not Getting Water?

Oleg Chudnovski, CEO

Technically Reviewed by Oleg Chudnovski, CEO on Nov 17, 2023 | Written by Fix Appliances CA Editorial Contributors

Authorized repair service for most home appliance manufacturers

Many homeowners complain about dishwashers that get no water during the washing cycle. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer as to why this happens — plenty of causes exist to consider.

Some of the reasons for dishwasher malfunctions are easy to fix, while others require appliance replacement. Let’s take a closer look at the most common reasons why a dishwasher will not fill with water and go over how to troubleshoot these problems.

Dishwasher Is Not Getting Water — What Is Wrong?

There are different reasons for water not going into the kitchen dishwasher. Does the appliance get no water whatsoever, or is it distributed poorly because of an in-system blockage?

Why is my dishwasher not getting water? Let’s examine the most common reasons for this type of dishwasher malfunction.

WHAT TO DO IF THE DISHWASHER NOT GETTING WATER?

Reason #1. Rising float

The rising of the float is normal — it happens anytime the dishwasher is full. When the float reaches its peak height, sensors will shut off the water supply as a preventative measure against leaks.

Water not entering your dishwasher could be because a float is stuck in the shut-off position, preventing water delivery. If that’s the case, homeowners should call technicians to assess float assembly and replace the component if needed.

Reason #2. Dirt on valve screens

To get into the dishwasher, water passes through inlet valves. If the stream of water is weak, unevenly distributed, or absent altogether, dirt and debris have likely clogged the filler valve screen filters.

Disassembling a portable dishwasher and cleaning the inlet screen will, in most cases, solve the problem. However, if the valve screen is damaged, you must replace it.

Reason #3. Drain solenoid malfunctions

The drain solenoid is a dishwasher component that drains excess water from the appliance. If it activates too quickly or is malfunctioning, the float switch activation can be triggered, resulting in a dishwasher not filling with enough water.

To check the performance of the solenoid, access and listen to the drain valve at the start of the wash cycle. If the solenoid is broken or malfunctioning, you will either hear water drain out as fast as it flows in or hear it trigger the float and not hear water flowing into the tub. You have no other choice but to replace it.

Reason #4. Water supply kinks

What you thought was a faulty dishwasher not getting water might not be the appliance at all. Before jumping to conclusions and rushing to get a new one, examine the water supply line that sends a stream of water to the device. It may either be damaged or bent.

In the latter’s case, you are in the clear — straightening the supply line will solve your problem. If the supply line is damaged — you’ll need to fix or replace it. We recommend hiring a technician to handle the process since you must also reconnect a new supply line to the dishwashing machine.

Reason #5. Dishwasher door indicator is not working properly

The causes of a dishwasher not getting enough water could be connected to the door indicator acting up. If the appliance doesn’t sense the door is closed, there will be no stream of water. This is done to protect the device from damage and to prevent leaking.

There are two ways to fix a dishwasher door malfunction. One is to ensure the door system itself is intact and that it can close and latch tightly. The second is to assess the condition of the door indicator — check the door switch lever or catch and clean it thoroughly of dirt and debris.

How to Fix a Dishwasher That Gets No Water

Now that we have a better understanding of the main reasons for no water coming into the dishwasher, let’s take a look at the most common ways to fix the issue. Some of these tips will require taking the appliance apart — we strongly recommend hiring a technician for this type of work.

Action #1. Inspect the inlet valve

The water inlet valve is often the main reason for the insufficient water supply. You must run a short valve assessment and cleaning to deal with the issue. Here’s how to do it:

Make sure the dishwasher is unplugged and the water supply is off.
Determine the inlet valve location — most commonly, you can find it in the lower-left area of the appliance. To get a clear view of the valve, remove the access panel.
Watch out for cracks, visible damage, or tears.
If you see any of the above, remove the inlet valve and install a new one.

Action #2. Assess the state of the float

To fix a problem when a dishwasher doesn’t fill with water, you must ensure that the float switch is on only when the water level reaches its peak height. To fix water supply issues, access and evaluate the performance of the float valve by following the steps below.

  • Disconnect the dishwasher from the power source.
  • Remove the cover protecting the float assembly inside of the washer. Slightly lift the float to see if it can drop on its own. If so, there’s nothing wrong with it. If not, remove the float, inspect it for debris and damage, and clean and replace the component.
  • Detach the dishwasher’s access panel to ensure the float interacts with the float switch smoothly.

Action #3. Examine the door switch

To ensure a door switch is not malfunctioning and indicating your dishwasher is open when it’s closed, ensure it’s not damaged. Here’s how you can manually assess the state of the dishwasher door switch:

  • Unplug the dishwasher.
  • Look at the top of the appliance’s door and find the latch on the door panel.
  • Remove the door latch for full assessment and testing.
  • Use a multimeter to test the probes of the component. Keep the actuator at rest — in such a state, the multimeter reading should be infinite. If that’s the case, press the actuator — the multimeter value should change to zero.
  • Consider a door switch replacement if there’s a mismatch between the test results and those described above.

Skilled Professionals For Not Getting Water Dishwasher Repair

Identifying the root cause of a dishwasher not draining or filling water with water is difficult if you don’t have a trained eye. That’s why you can only be fully confident in the appliance’s performance after a professional team takes a look at it.

To correctly identify why a dishwasher is getting no water and repair malfunctions, hire technicians from FIX Appliances CA. We are an authorized certified service repair contractor.

Thousands of homeowners in Toronto and elsewhere trust FIX Appliances CA as their leading dishwasher repair team — here’s why:

Choose Fix Appliances CA for Quick and Reliable Solutions

  • Efficient same-day repair: Our technicians can visit your home or business when you discover the issue. We don’t charge extra for same-day projects — our technicians are happy to help you get the dishwasher up and running as soon as possible.
  • Provide spare parts from the manufacturer: When contacting FIX Appliances CA, you won’t need to get replacement dishwasher parts on your own. Instead, you can rely on a professional consulting team — we will find your appliance’s most affordable and long-lasting spare component. At FIX Appliances CA, we partner with trusted dishwasher component manufacturers to offer clients discounts and special offers.
  • Authorized and skilled technicians: Our team is skilled in identifying and handling both common and rare dishwasher issues — overflowing, excess noises, no water supply, draining issues, lights not working, etc.
  • Large service area coverage: Our team is available near me all over southern Ontario from Barrie to Hamilton to Ajax. FIX Appliances CA has local offices all over the region to ensure we can help as many homeowners as possible.
  • Long-term support: Staying in touch with clients is a priority for our team. FIX Appliances CA technicians will answer your questions and give dishwasher repair and maintenance tips long after the repair is complete. With our team, you get to know all the practices to maximize the longevity of your in-house appliances.

Contact our team for a quick service repair from FIX Appliances CA technicians. You can either leave us a message or call our toll-free number, 1-888-242-0777. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you improve the efficiency of every appliance at your home or business.

Date of page creation: April 28, 2020

Page update date: November 17, 2023

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What Our Customers Say About Us

Discover how Fix Appliances maintains a 5-star service record since day one.

“Our dishwasher was leaking. The appliance dishwasher expert came after making a simple phone call a couple of days prior. They were professional and sincere. Although they were not able to diagnose the problem, they remained honest and told us what we should do instead (contact the manufacturer) and did not charge us anything at all for inspection. If we end up having other appliance issues in the future, we will be using this company again.”

rating Melody,
Melody,
Panasonic Dishwasher Repair
September 07, 2022

Work was completed by Dina on our dishwasher that would not drain. Dima was very professional and friendly. Dima explained everything to us in a clear manner and also discussed our options with us. 100 percent satisfied with the service call.

rating Coach K., Newmarket
Coach K., Newmarket
August 12, 2019

FAQ: Top Frequently Asked Questions

There are several potential reasons for a dishwasher not getting water. Common issues include a stuck float, dirt on valve screens, drain solenoid malfunctions, water supply line kinks, or problems with the dishwasher door indicator.
You can assess the float by disconnecting the dishwasher from power, removing the cover protecting the float assembly, and checking if the float can drop on its own. If it doesn't, inspect it for debris and damage, clean it, and replace the component if necessary.
Weak or uneven water supply may be due to dirt and debris clogging the filler valve screen filters. You can disassemble the dishwasher and clean the inlet screen to resolve the issue. If the valve screen is damaged, replacement may be required.
Ensure that the dishwasher door can close and latch tightly. Additionally, assess the condition of the door indicator, such as the door switch lever. Clean it thoroughly of dirt and debris. If the door indicator is malfunctioning, it may need replacement.
Depending on the issue, you may need to inspect and clean the water inlet valve, assess the state of the float, and examine the door switch. However, it is strongly recommended to hire a technician for more complex tasks, such as disassembling the appliance.

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