Kitchenaid Dishwasher Not Getting Or Filling With Waterwhat To Do
- Post published:September 17, 2022
- Post category:Dishwashers
As a homeowner, you may have noticed that your KitchenAid dishwasher is not getting or filling with water, but you are unsure how to fix the problem. Luckily, we have done some research for you, and here is what we found.
The following are the steps to do when your dishwasher is not getting water:
- Check the water inlet valve.
- Check the float switch.
- Check the door switch.
- Inspect the main control board.
Once you discover that your KitchenAid dishwasher is not getting water, it is important to deal with the problem as soon as possible to avoid further damage. Read on for detailed information on what to do when your dishwasher is not getting water.
Check The Water Inlet Valve
The water inlet valve of your KitchenAid dishwasher can be found on the left or right corner of the body, behind the lower access panel.
It is an important component. Sometimes sediment can block the valve and prevent the dishwasher from filling with water.
The water inlet valve comprises the bracket, valve body, and solenoid. When the valve is clogged with sediment, there will be restrictions on the flow of water.
Without water in the tub, the dishwasher can’t run a complete cycle. Ensure the valve underneath the sink is open and that good water pressure goes into the dishwasher. If your valve has a screen, you should inspect and clean the screen.
When there is sufficient water pressure and the screen is clean, but the dishwasher is not filled with water, conduct a continuity test using a multimeter to check if the solenoid has failed. These are the steps to follow:
How Much Does It Cost To Replace A KitchenAid Dishwasher Water Inlet Valve?
The component of the KitchenAid dishwasher that is responsible for supplying water is the water inlet valve. The water inlet valve can develop a fault.
When this happens, it is necessary to replace the valve. It can cost between $80 to $125 to replace a dishwasher water inlet valve.
What To Do When A Dishwasher Is Not Spraying Water
In order to wash your dishes, the dishwasher is filled with water and that water is combined with detergent. That soapy water is then sprayed rather forcefully out of the spray arm that rotates to create solid water coverage. However, if your dishwasher is turning out dirty dishes and you dont hear the telltale sounds of water spraying, you have a problem. When water doesnt spray, your dishes dont get washed at all. It is both frustrating and unsanitary. The worst part of it all is a dishwasher that fails to do one of its most primary functions can be caused by a number of malfunctions.
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Kitchenaid Dishwasher Not Filling With Water Conclusion
All of the triggers mentioned above variables could explain why your dishwasher does not fill with water.
However, these may not be the causes of your KitchenAid dishwasher malfunction there are many more things to look into.
Without a doubt, the most praiseworthy action to take will be to hire expert services such as a plumber for dependable solutions.
Because not everyone can do it themselves, it is advisable to employ professional services to ensure correct execution.
Rather than exacerbating the situation, consider contacting a plumber for immediate assistance. The cause of your issue can be something beyond what we have discussed above therefore, a plumber should be of great help.
Dishwasher Hums But No Water

A dishwasher that hums but does not fill with water is usually caused by either a defective water inlet valve or float switch. If your dishwashers water inlet fill line features a flood-safe hose, this may also cause the problem. If the dishwasher has not been used for over a week, this can also cause the issue, as the dishwasher pump seals may have dried out.
The first thing to check is that the water supply is turned on to the dishwasher. Most households have a faucet under the sink that needs to be turned counterclockwise to allow water to flow into the dishwasher. If you live in a cold climate, another consideration is that the water supply line may have frozen.
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Why Is My New Kitchenaid Dishwasher Not Filling With Water
The most common reason why your Kitchenaid dishwasher is not filling with water is that there are clogs and kinks on the hose, the inlet valve is faulty, or the door switch is bad.
Fortunately, you can solve these issues by following suggestions Ive shared in this guide and, hopefully, your dishwasher should work optimally again.
Clogged Or Broken Spray Arm
When your dishwasher isnt spraying water, obviously the first thing you want to check is the spray arm itself. This part of your dishwasher isnt actually that complex. It uses forced water from a pump to spray your dishes, but a lot can go wrong in that process.
If your home uses hard water, you should visually check the spray arm for lime built up. The small holes of the spray arm are particularly vulnerable to this, but a blockage may have occurred deeper in as well. To unclog the small holes in your spray arm, unfortunately, the best course of action is to insert a small bit of wire into the holes to unclog them. You can use items like Lime Away to soak the arm, but be careful that the product is not caustic enough to damage the plastic. As you would expect, if hard water caused the clog, we also recommend investing in a water softener at least for your appliances. It will add years to the life of an appliance.
In some cases, the spray arm may be too clogged or has a part broken on it from hitting the aforementioned obstructions when overloading a dishwasher. If this is the case, then the spray arm needs to be replaced.
To remove the spray arm from your dishwasher, you will need to remove the bottom dish rack. The spray arm itself is secured by locking tabs. Once those are released, the spray arm will pull right up and the new one can be inserted.
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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. Heres 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.
Check The Door Switch
A dishwasher cannot work if the door latch is not closed. If the door latch is not closing as a result of a defective/malfunctioning door switch, the dishwasher will not get any water.
The door switch is usually located behind the door panel, at the top of the door. The video below demonstrates how to replace a dishwasher door switch:
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Clogged Water Inlet Valve
The water inlet valve can become clogged, usually due to calcium deposits. If your water supply has a known hard water issue, it is more likely that this is the cause of the issue. A clogged water inlet valve can be diagnosed and fixed by locating the filter screens inside the water inlet valves hose fitting ports.
If the water inlet valve screens are clogged, you may be able to wipe or scrape the debris off the screens or remove the screens and clean them. The screens can also be soaked in a water and vinegar solution to decalcify them. However, water inlet valves are usually cheap to replace, and repairs to a water inlet valve often result in it leaking and causing more problems. Therefore, replacing the valve is usually the better option.
To check and replace the water inlet valve:
Is The Dishwasher Getting Water
If your dishwasher is not spraying water to clean your dishes, your first step is to make sure that it is actually getting water. When a dishwasher is first started, you should be able to hear the water flowing into the tub. If you have a new dishwasher that runs a little more quietly, after a few minutes, you will be able to open the dishwasher and see that water has filled the bottom of the tub.
If there is no water being pumped into the tub, then it is not truly an issue with a dishwasher not spraying, but rather a water supply issue. If this is the case, you will want to ensure that the water supply to the dishwasher is turned on, that the dishwasher is getting adequate water pressure, and nothing is leaking.
If all of those checks fail to find a problem, you will want to look to the water inlet valve in your dishwasher and check it for continuity with a multimeter. If that checks out, finally the overfill float switch may be faulty. This switch is responsible for sensing when there is enough water in the dishwasher tub, then shutting off the flow of water. If it is malfunctioning, it can prevent water from being released at all. In some cases, the float may just need to be readjusted to solve this issue.
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Kitchenaid Dishwasher Not Filling With Water Typical Causes
KitchenAid Dishwashers not filling with water can be a frustrating ordeal to face during heavy kitchen duties. Most homeowners love to keep a clean kitchen with clean utensils and appliances.
Thus, they need a well-functioning KitchenAid dishwasher to keep their passion for cleaning the kitchen utensils and appliances.
Nonetheless, you dont have to be too concerned if your dishwasher does not fill with water. Browse this article to discover some common causes of KitchenAid Dishwasher not filling with water and fix the issue.
Will Not Fill With Water

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This online merchant is located in the United States at 553 Benson Rd, Benton Harbor, MI 49022.
MSRP is the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, which may differ from actual selling prices in your area.
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Water Leaking From The Dishwasher:
You may need to replace one or more water lines in your KitchenAid dishwasher. Test for leaks by pouring a few drops of white vinegar onto the floor just below where the dishwasher sits, waiting five minutes, and looking for beads.
A leak will likely show up on both floors and around other fixtures in your home if it is an overall leak.
Kitchenaid Dishwasher Fills But Doesnt Wash
Your KitchenAid dishwasher wont clean despite filling with water because the spray holes on the wash arm have food particles and mineral deposits.
Clogs on and in the spray holes mean the unit cant shoot water to your dishes, hence the dishwashers inability to clean properly.
You can fix this issue by clearing the deposits and clogs on the spray holes using a thin sharp-edged wire. For best results, consider taking out the spray arm from the dishwasher and clearing the clogs thoroughly.
If you notice tough deposits, soak the wash arm in warm water mixed with vinegar to dissolve the deposit.
Fix back the arm in the dishwasher and spin with your hand to ensure that locks. It would be best if you cleaned the spray arm at the top of the dishwasher too for better wash result.
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Kitchenaid Wash Motor/circulation Pump Malfunction
The other likely reason why your dishwasher is filling with water but does not wash is that the circulation pump is defective.
Access the motor to find out whether it is bad. If the wash motor is faulty, you will hear clicks coming from the dishwasher.
If water fills the dishwasher to the right mark but the circulation pump doesnt start, then chances are that the wash motor has failed.
First, test the motor for continuity. To do this:
- Unplug the dishwasher from the power
- Access the circulation motor .
- Remove the screws securing the panel
- Disconnect the 2 wires attached to the wash motor
- Set your multimeter to R x 1 and test the motor for continuity.
- Ensure you use the multimeter probes to test each motor terminal .
If there is no continuity, consider replacing the wash motor. To replace the wash motor:
- Access the circulation pump by unscrewing the lower access/kick plate panel.
- Take out the lower dish rack.
- Take out the spray tower.
- Unscrew the bolt holding the spray arm and take out the spray arm.
- Remove the filter assembly as well .
- Disconnect the wires connecting the motor to the dishwasher.
- Carefully remove anything that stands in the way of the wash motor.
- Remove the motor and replace it with the new one.
- Connect the new motor to the dishwasher with the wires.
- Fix everything back and start your dishwasher.
Kitchenaid Dishwasher Not Filling With Water
Having a dishwasher that does not fill with water is very annoying. If your Kitchenaid dishwasher does not fill with water, there may be a problem with the water supply. Identifying the real reason is the hardest part.
Heres why your Kitchenaid dishwasher is not filling with water and what you can do about it.
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Reasons For Kitchenaid Dishwasher Not Filling With Water
KitchenAid dishwashers are some of the top models Ive ever come across. But even these can fail to work perfectly 100% of the time. So if you have the KitchenAid not filling with water problem, you should diagnose the dishwasher, identify the problem, and fix it fast.
Generally, your KitchenAid dishwasher doesnt fill with water because of a faulty door switch, a damaged float switch, or a broken water inlet valve. Its also possible that the unit has an issue with water supply, making it difficult to fill with water.
In this guide, well look at each of these issues in details. In particular, youll learn exactly what to do to solve each problem.
Lets get to it.
What To Do If Kitchenaid Dishwasher Will Not Fill With Water
What to do if Kitchenaid dishwasher is not filling with water?
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If you’re positive that the dishwasher is definitely getting water from your house then you either have an issue with your electronic water valve underneath the washer or your is stuck in the up position. Open up your door and look in the front corner of your dishwasher there is a plastic circular float device.
Wiggle this up and down and make sure it’s in the down position. If it’s stuck in the up position it will not fill. If it still doesn’t work and you looked under the dishwasher and you don’t see any wires unplugged then you will need to order and replace your electronic water valve.
What does the water valve look like?
Below is a link to the valve for your dishwasher so you can see it: It should be in the front left corner of the dishwasher under the tub.
Is it covered with a white plastic plate? I can’t see it.
No, but it’s up behind the metal frame so it’s hard to see. Just follow the water inlet line from your house. It connects directly to this water valve on your dishwasher.
I’m just going to go buy the part and then try to find it. What tools will I need to install it?
You’ll need a crescent wrench to remove the water line from the inlet valve. A pair of pliers to remove the rubber hose that comes off the inlet valve to the dishwasher, and a quarter inch socket to remove the screws holding the valve onto the dishwasher frame.
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Inspect The Main Control Board
The main control panel controls the various functions of the dishwasher components. In addition, it sends power to all dishwasher components.
Like the door switch, the main control board is located in the control panel. When the main control board fails, the dishwasher will not be filled with water. Therefore, the main control board should be tested.
There are different designs of main control boards, so there is no general way of testing them. All you have to do is grab the tech sheet for your dishwasher and follow the steps to test the board of your dishwasher.
Your dishwasher should be working perfectly once you have solved the problem.