What to Do If the Dishwasher Not Getting Water?

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.

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.

The reason for water not going into your dishwasher could be that 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, it’s likely that dirt and debris have 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 need to replace it.

Reason #3. Drain solenoid malfunctions

The drain solenoid is a dishwasher component responsible for draining 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 case of the latter, 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 will need to reconnect a new supply line to the dishwashing machine as well. 

Reason #5. Dishwasher door indicator 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

Most often, the water inlet valve is the main reason for the insufficient water supply. To deal with the issue, you will need to run a short valve assessment and cleaning. 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 won’t fill with water, you need to make sure that the float switch is on only when the water level reaches its peak height. As a way of fixing water supply issues, access, and evaluate the performance of the float valve 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, clean and replace the component. 
• Detach the access panel from the dishwasher to make sure the float interacts with the float switch smoothly.

Action #3. Examine the door switch

To make sure a door switch is not malfunctioning and indicating your dishwasher is open when it’s closed, make sure 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 ‘infinity’. If that’s the case, press the actuator — the multimeter value should change to zero.
• If there’s a mismatch between the results of the test and those described above, consider a door switch replacement.

Fix Appliances CA — Skilled Professionals For Dishwasher Repair

Identifying the root cause of a dishwasher won’t drain water or not filling with water is not easy if you don’t have a trained eye for it. 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 a Canadian certified service repair contractor.

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

• Efficient same-day repair. Our technicians can visit your home or business as soon as 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 trusted suppliers. When reaching out to 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 the most affordable and long-lasting spare component for your appliance. At FIX Appliances CA, we partner with trusted dishwasher component manufacturers to offer clients discounts and special offers.
• 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. From Barrie to Hamilton to Ajax, our team is available all over central Ontario. FIX Appliances CA has local offices all over the region to make sure 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 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.

To get a free service call from FIX Appliances CA technicians, reach out to our team. You can either leave us a message or call 1-888-242-077. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you improve the efficiency of every appliance at your home or business.