A dishwasher not filling with water is usually a supply problem rather than a broken machine, and the first checks are quick and safe. Make sure the water tap under the sink that feeds the dishwasher is fully turned on, check that the inlet hose behind the machine is not kinked or crushed, and clear the small filter screen where the hose meets the dishwasher, because a clog there starves it of water. Confirm the door is latched properly, since a dishwasher will not fill if it does not think the door is shut, and check nothing has tripped the flood-protection float in the base. If the tap is on, the hose is clear and the door is closed but the machine still takes no water, the fault is likely the water inlet valve or a control part, and that is a job for a licensed technician.
When a dishwasher runs through its cycle but the dishes come out dry and dirty, or it hums without ever washing, no water is getting in. Most of the time the cause sits in the plumbing that feeds it, which means you can often get it going again yourself before anyone needs to open the machine.
Check the water supply first
The dishwasher is plumbed to a dedicated shut-off tap, usually under the kitchen sink where the inlet hose connects to the cold water line. It is easy for that tap to get knocked partly closed, especially if you have had a plumber in or been storing things under the sink. Turn it fully anticlockwise to open it completely. While you are under there, run the kitchen tap to confirm the house has water pressure, because a mains issue or a stopcock left down will stop the dishwasher filling too.
Look at the inlet hose
The braided hose that carries water from the tap to the dishwasher runs behind the machine, and if the dishwasher has been pushed back into place it can end up kinked or pinched against the wall. Ease the machine out gently and follow the hose to check it runs freely with no sharp bends or crushed sections. At the point where the hose screws onto the dishwasher there is usually a small filter screen or gauze, fitted to catch grit before it reaches the valve. Over time this can clog with sediment. Turn the tap off, unscrew the hose, and check that screen is clean, then refit it firmly.
Make sure the door is properly latched
A dishwasher has a safety switch in the door latch, and the machine will not start filling unless it registers the door as closed. If the door is only pushed to rather than clicked shut, or if a tall item is stopping it from closing fully, the cycle will appear to start but no water comes in. Open the door, rearrange anything poking up out of the top rack, and close it until you feel and hear it latch. If the door still will not hold shut, the catch itself may be worn.
Check the flood-protection float
Many dishwashers have an anti-flood system in the base. If it has detected water in the base tray, from a small leak or an earlier overflow, it locks out the fill to stop a flood, and the machine sits there taking no water. Look for water pooled in the base or a float device sitting raised. Mopping out any water in the base tray and letting it dry can reset a tripped float. If the float keeps tripping, there is a leak somewhere feeding the base, which is worth having looked at.
When it is the inlet valve or control
If the tap is fully on, the hose is clear, the filter screen is clean, the door latches and nothing has tripped the float, but the dishwasher still will not fill, the problem has moved inside the machine. The most common internal cause is the water inlet valve, an electrically controlled valve that opens to let water in. When it fails it stays shut and no water enters. Other possibilities are the pressure switch that tells the machine how full it is, or the control board. All of these involve mains electricity and water together, so they are not a DIY fix, and diagnosing which one has failed needs proper testing.
That is where our team comes in. CAI Appliance Services repairs dishwashers across Perth, with fully qualified mobile technicians who come to you. We are an authorised service agent for Bosch, Electrolux, LG and Miele, and we regularly repair Fisher and Paykel, Samsung, Smeg, Westinghouse and Whirlpool units too, so the work is done with the correct parts. Call CAI on 0415 343 413 to book a technician.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my dishwasher not filling with water?
My dishwasher runs but the dishes come out dirty. Is that the same problem?
Where is the filter screen on the water hose?
The tap is on and the hose is clear but it still will not fill. What now?
Keeping the rest of your kitchen running well? Read our related guides on a dishwasher that is not drying and how to clean a dishwasher, or book a Perth technician with CAI.
