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Dishwasher problems and error codes
Standing water, cloudy glasses and leak codes are the big three. The filter is behind more of them than people expect. Pick your symptom or code below.
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Answered by an independent appliance repair company that serves your area. Not a call center.
Dishwasher problems
- Won't drain, standing water in the bottom
- Not cleaning, film on glasses
- Leaking from the door or underneath
- Won't start or won't fill
- Not drying
- Leak and drain error codes
What's your dishwasher doing?
Pick the symptom or code for the likely cause, what to check first, and when it needs a technician.
GE dishwasher not starting: what it means and how to fix it
A GE dishwasher not starting means the control isn't being allowed to begin a cycle, or the machine has lost control…
Read the fix →Whirlpool dishwasherWhirlpool dishwasher not turning on or not starting
A Whirlpool dishwasher not turning on can mean the control panel has no power, or that the board has power but the…
Read the fix →Samsung dishwasherDishwasher not draining Samsung: what it means and what to check
On a Samsung dishwasher, standing water or a 5C, 5E, OC, or OE code means the control can't move water out fast enough…
Read the fix →Whirlpool dishwasherWhirlpool dishwasher not cleaning: what it means and what to check
A Whirlpool dishwasher that isn't cleaning usually has poor water movement through the spray arms, either from a clogged…
Read the fix →Samsung dishwasherSamsung dishwasher not turning on: what to check before repair
A Samsung dishwasher not turning on means the control is not getting usable power, or the control is rejecting the door…
Read the fix →Whirlpool dishwasherDishwasher not drying Whirlpool dishes: what to check first
A Whirlpool dishwasher that won't dry is usually losing heat during the final rinse or dry portion, or the water isn't…
Read the fix →Whirlpool dishwasherWhirlpool dishwasher leaking bottom of door: what causes it and what to check
A Whirlpool dishwasher leaking bottom of door usually means wash water is being pushed over the front lip of the tub,…
Read the fix →Samsung dishwasherSamsung dishwasher leak sensor: what it means and how to fix a leak
The Samsung dishwasher leak sensor is a foam float and micro switch in the base pan; when water or wet detergent reaches…
Read the fix →Whirlpool dishwasherWhirlpool dishwasher start button not working: what to check
A Whirlpool dishwasher start button that doesn't work means the control isn't accepting a start command, either because…
Read the fix →LG dishwasherAEAE code on LG dishwasher: what it means and how to fix it
The AE code on an LG dishwasher means water has reached the base pan and lifted the leak float, so the machine may stop…
Read the fix →Samsung dishwasherOCSamsung dishwasher code OC: what it means and what to check
Samsung dishwasher code OC means the machine is detecting an over-level water condition, so it thinks there is more…
Read the fix →GE dishwasherGE dishwasher door leaking bottom: why it happens and what to check
A GE dishwasher door leaking bottom usually means water is getting past the door seal area, being aimed at the door by a…
Read the fix →Repair it or replace it?
The rule most technicians use: if the repair would cost more than half of a comparable new unit and the appliance is past two-thirds of its typical life, replace it. A good repair company will say so on the phone.
Placement changes the math. A washer in a hot garage or a fridge in an unheated porch wears out years ahead of the same model in a kitchen, so tell the company where it sits.
Hatched span is the upper end you shouldn't count on for a unit in a garage or other unconditioned space. Ranges are the manufacturer figures technicians work from, not a promise about your unit.
Dishwasher guides by brand
Brand names identify the appliance you own and do not imply any affiliation with the manufacturer.
Common questions about appliance repair
There's water sitting in the bottom after the cycle. What's wrong?
Usually a clogged filter, a blocked air gap or garbage disposal knockout, or a failed drain pump. Clean the filter first. If it's clean and water still stands, the pump is next.
Why do my glasses come out cloudy?
Hard water is the usual reason. Mineral film builds on glassware, spray arms and the heater. Rinse aid and a descaling cycle help more than a repair in most homes on hard water.
Is a leak code serious?
Most leak codes mean water reached the float switch in the base pan. Turn the water supply off at the valve under the sink and don't run it again until the source is found.
Talk to a repair company near you, not a bot
One call connects you with an independent appliance repair company that covers your ZIP code. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm local time.