Dishwasher Not Filling With Water: Causes

A dishwasher that will not fill is most often getting no water to begin with: a closed or partly closed supply valve, a kinked inlet hose, or a door that is not fully latched. The next most common causes are a stuck overflow float, a clogged inlet screen and a drain hose installed too low. If all of those check out, the water inlet valve or a sensor has likely failed.

What "not filling" looks like

You may hear the dishwasher hum or click with no sound of water, see a dry tub partway through the cycle, or get a fill error code. Some machines start the cycle, wait for water that never arrives and then stop. A slow or weak fill counts too, since a low water level will also leave dishes dirty.

Make it safe first

Unplug the dishwasher or switch off its breaker before looking at anything under the tub or behind the kick panel at the bottom front. If you plan to touch the supply line or inlet valve, also close the dishwasher's water shut-off, usually under the kitchen sink on the branch line to the dishwasher (it closes clockwise). If there is no separate valve, close the main water supply to the house.

Checks you can do yourself

Is water reaching the kitchen?

LG says to start by confirming the house has water at all. Run the kitchen faucet. If pressure is weak or the water was recently shut off for plumbing work, that may be the whole problem.

Supply valve fully open

GE, LG, Amana and KitchenAid all say to make sure the water valve under the sink is fully open. It is common for a valve to be left partly closed after other work under the sink.

Inlet hose

Look for kinks or a crushed hose where the dishwasher slides into the cabinet. GE and LG both call out a kinked supply line, and several Bosch fill codes point straight to a kinked or damaged inlet hose. Beko notes that its units also have a small filter screen on the water inlet hose that should be checked regularly; a clogged screen slows or stops the fill.

Door fully latched

Most dishwashers will not take in water unless the door switch says the door is closed. KitchenAid says to make sure the door is fully latched, and Bosch lists the door switch as one of the parts that can keep a unit from drawing water. Check that a rack or tall item is not keeping the door from closing.

Overflow float

Inside the tub, usually near a front corner, is a small float that rises when the water gets too high and shuts off the fill. If it is stuck in the raised position, the dishwasher thinks it is already full. Amana says its float sits in the front right corner and must move freely. GE and KitchenAid give the same advice. Lift it gently and let it drop; it should move up and down without catching. Clear any food or debris around it.

Drain hose height

This one surprises people. If the drain hose is installed too low, water can siphon out as fast as it comes in, so the tub never reaches the right level. Amana and KitchenAid both say to check the drain loop height. Beko says its drain hose has to connect between 20 and 40 inches above the floor and notes that a unit that cannot drain properly will not fill. GE's installation instructions call for a high loop or an air gap to prevent siphoning. If the dishwasher is also struggling to empty, see dishwasher not draining.

Fill error codes by brand

• Bosch: E14 points to a flow meter or fill system fault, E16 and E17 mean water may not be coming in (check the inlet hose), and E18 means the water level is too low. Our Bosch error code guide has more.
• LG: IE means not enough water is reaching the tub, often from a closed valve, kinked hose or low pressure. See the LG error code guide.
• Amana: H20 means the dishwasher is not detecting water during fill.

Clear the simple causes above before assuming a code means a failed part. After fixing a kinked hose or opening a valve, run a short cycle and listen for water coming in during the first minute or two. If you hear it, the problem is solved.

Parts that fail and what a technician tests

• Water inlet valve: the most common failed part. The solenoid can burn out, or the valve can clog with sediment. A technician checks for voltage at the valve during fill and tests the coil.
• Float switch: the float can move freely but the switch under it can still fail, telling the control the tub is full.
• Door switch: a failed switch stops the cycle from ever calling for water.
• Flow meter or pressure sensing: on models that measure incoming water, a bad sensor can stop the fill or throw a code, such as Bosch E14.
• Control board: if the board never sends power to the inlet valve, the valve will not open.

When to call a pro

Call a technician once the valve is open, the hose is straight, the door latches, the float moves and the drain hose is set correctly, and the unit still will not fill. Replacing an inlet valve means working on a live water connection and wiring under the tub, so many homeowners hand it off. Start with our dishwasher repair directory, or go by brand with the LG, Amana or Frigidaire pages. Local listings are also available for cities such as Seattle and Charlotte.

What it costs

HomeAdvisor puts a water inlet valve replacement at about $80 to $125. If the problem turns out to be the control board, Fixr lists replacement at about $200 to $500. Fixr also notes a service call fee of about $35 to $100, which is often credited toward the repair, and HomeAdvisor puts technician labor at about $75 to $100 per hour. The repair cost guide covers other parts.