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Dishwasher Not Filling: Causes & Fixes

No water enters the tub.

The household water supply valve for the dishwasher being closed is a documented cause of the dishwasher not filling; Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Samsung all list it as the first check.

Before you work on your dishwasher

  • Power: Unplug the dishwasher or switch off its circuit breaker before removing panels or touching wiring.
  • Water: Turn off the water supply valve before disconnecting hoses or the inlet valve.
  • Heat: Water and the heating element can be hot right after a cycle; let the dishwasher cool first.
  • Sharp debris: Wear gloves when reaching into the filter or sump; broken glass often collects there.
  • Stop: If you smell burning, see smoke or sparks, or find water near wiring, switch off the breaker and call a technician.
  • Disconnect power before accessing internal dishwasher parts: Unplug the dishwasher or switch off the circuit breaker that powers it before removing panels, the filter, or the drain pump cover, or before reaching into the sump.
  • Shut off the water supply before disconnecting hoses: Turn off the water supply before disconnecting the drain hose, siphon connection, or water inlet, or before pulling the dishwasher out for service.
  • Hot water and steam scald risk: Open the dishwasher door carefully during or right after a cycle. Hot water or steam can escape and cause burns; wait until water noises stop and steam subsides before fully opening the door.
  • Sharp debris near the filter and drain pump: Wear gloves and use caution when removing the filter, pump cover, or other parts for cleaning; broken glass or other sharp debris can collect near the drain pump impeller.

Why your dishwasher is not filling

  1. Water supply valve closed: The household water supply valve for the dishwasher being closed is a documented cause of the dishwasher not filling; Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Samsung all list it as the first check. Difficulty 1/5.
  2. Door not fully closed/latched or power interrupted: If the door is not fully closed and latched, or opens/loses power mid-cycle, the dishwasher will not fill or will pause; GE also documents that the door latch switch must be fully engaged to signal the control that the door is closed. Difficulty 1/5.
  3. Overfill float stuck up, cutting power to the inlet valve: An overfill (flood) float stuck in the raised position cuts electrical power to the water inlet valve so it never opens, even though the tub is empty; sediment, dirt, or debris in the float chamber is a documented cause of it sticking. Difficulty 1/5.
  4. Drain hose routed too low, siphoning water out: An improperly routed drain hose that does not loop at least 20 inches above the floor can siphon water back out of the tub, preventing the dishwasher from holding enough water to fill. Difficulty 2/5.
  5. Water inlet valve stuck, worn, or clogged: The water inlet valve itself can fail (mechanically stuck, worn, or with a clogged inlet screen) so that it does not open even when it receives the correct electrical signal; iFixit gives a normal valve coil resistance range and notes a humming valve that passes no water suggests it is stuck. Difficulty 1/5.
  6. Child Lock or Delay Start active: Samsung documents that Child Lock being active or a Delay Start being set will keep the dishwasher from starting (and therefore from filling), which can be mistaken for a fill fault. Difficulty 1/5.
  7. Dishwasher not draining, blocking the next fill: GE documents that if the dishwasher is not draining properly, that can in turn prevent new water from entering on the next fill. Difficulty 1/5.
  8. Door wiring harness or main control board fault: iFixit lists a failed door wiring harness (a known issue on some Samsung dishwashers) and, less commonly, a failed main control board as electrical causes that can stop the dishwasher from filling with no other symptoms. Difficulty 1/5.

Find the cause for your dishwasher

Before anything else: do you see water near the power cord or outlet, or smell burning or see smoke?

Step-by-step checks for a dishwasher not filling

Check Child Lock and Delay Start settings

About 5 minutes

  1. Look at the control panel for a padlock icon indicating Child Lock is active.
  2. Check the display for a Delay Start countdown.

Check the door is fully closed and latched

About 5 minutes

  1. Open the door and confirm the racks are fully pushed in.
  2. Close the door firmly and listen/feel for the latch to click.

Check drainage and clean the filters

About 10 minutes

  1. Remove the fine and ultra-fine filters.
  2. Check for standing water or debris.
  3. Rinse the filters clean and reinstall.

Check the overfill float for debris

About 10 minutes

  1. Remove the lower rack.
  2. Locate the overfill float.
  3. Check for sediment or dirt around its base and confirm it moves freely.

Check the water supply valve

About 5 minutes

  1. Locate the dishwasher's water supply valve, usually under the sink or in the basement below the dishwasher.
  2. Confirm the valve is fully open.

Check the drain hose height and routing

About 15 minutes

  1. Trace the drain hose from the dishwasher to the sink drain or disposer connection.
  2. Confirm it loops at least 20 inches above the floor before the connection.

Check household water pressure

About 10 minutes

  1. Attach a pressure gauge to an outdoor faucet on the same supply line.
  2. Read the static pressure.

How to fix a dishwasher not filling

Clean the dishwasher filters

About 10 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Remove the fine and ultra-fine filters.
  2. Rinse them clean of debris under running water.
  3. Reinstall.

Turn off Child Lock and cancel Delay Start

About 5 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Press and hold the designated Child Lock button (for example Heated Dry or Sanitize) for about 3 seconds to disable it.
  2. Press the Delay Start button to cancel any scheduled start.

Clear obstructions and fully close the door

About 5 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Remove anything blocking the door or racks.
  2. Push racks fully in.
  3. Close the door firmly.
  4. If the Start/Resume light is flashing, press Start/Resume and close the door within about 3 seconds.

Free the overfill float

About 10 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Remove the lower rack.
  2. Locate the flood/overfill float.
  3. Gently tap or lift it to free it from any stuck debris.
  4. Confirm it drops back down freely.

Open the water supply valve

About 5 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Locate the dishwasher's dedicated water supply valve.
  2. Turn it fully open.

Check and, if needed, have low household water pressure corrected

About 15 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Measure static water pressure at an outdoor faucet on the same line.
  2. If pressure is under 20 PSI, have a plumber investigate the household supply before assuming the dishwasher's valve is at fault.

Reroute the drain hose with a proper high loop

About 30 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Disconnect the drain hose from the waste tee or disposer inlet.
  2. Reroute it so it loops at least 20 inches above the floor before the connection.
  3. Reconnect and secure the hose.

Clean the inlet valve screen

About 30 minutes · Difficulty 3/5

  1. Shut off the household water supply.
  2. Disconnect the dishwasher from the power supply.
  3. Disconnect the water supply line at the inlet valve.
  4. Clean mineral deposits from the inlet filter screen.
  5. Reconnect the line.
  6. Reinstall the access panel.
  7. Restore water and power.

When to call a technician about a dishwasher not filling

  • Have a technician replace the water inlet valve
  • Have a technician diagnose the door wiring harness or control board

Sources

  1. Dishwasher SP.. Instruction Manual, Bosch Home Appliances US (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  2. Dishwasher SHSM63****, SHS863****, SHS843****, SHVM63****, SHV863**** Operating Instructions, Bosch Home Appliances US (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  3. Dishwasher SMS6HAI01A User Manual, Bosch Home Appliances US (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  4. Dishwasher - Not Filling with Water, GE Appliances (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  5. Dishwasher - Will Not Start or Run but Has Lights or Sound, GE Appliances (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  6. Samsung Dishwasher Not Filling With Water, iFixit (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  7. Samsung Dishwasher Will Not Power On, iFixit (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  8. Not Filling With Water - Dishwasher, KitchenAid (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  9. What can you do if your Samsung dishwasher isn't starting or isn't filling with water?, Samsung Electronics (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  10. Not Filling With Water - Dishwasher, Whirlpool Corporation (retrieved 2026-09-18)

Last updated September 29, 2026 · facts last verified September 19, 2026 · How we source and verify

Guidance only; follow your appliance manual and local codes. If anything looks unsafe, stop and call a qualified technician. Safety disclaimer