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6 Possible Reasons Why Your Dishwasher is Not Starting or Not Operating
There are a handful of things that can cause a dishwasher not to start. Before getting to how to reset dishwasher machines, let’s do some quick troubleshooting to see what may be the reason for your dishwasher not starting. Always check and follow your appliance use and care instructions before beginning any task, as they should be your primary source of information. Here are some common causes:
- Door – Check whether the door is completely closed and latched. Typically, dishwashers are programmed to not turn on if not properly shut.
- Control Lock – If your dishwasher has a control lock feature, check whether you’ve turned the control lock off. If it’s on, the dishwasher may not be able to start.
- Sleep Mode – Some dishwashers have a sleep mode function. Make sure your dishwasher isn’t in sleep mode.
- Delayed Wash – Many dishwashers feature an option which allows you to delay the start of a wash cycle for a period of time. Make sure that you haven’t accidentally selected the delayed wash feature.
- Water Supply – Make sure that you’ve turned the water supply on. Check the product installation instructions to determine how to do this.
- Power – Check whether the power needs to be cycled to reset it.
Is the Control Lock "On" or Is the Dishwasher in Sleep Mode?
Always check and follow your appliance use and care instructions before beginning any task, including how to check that a control lock is on or sleep mode feature is engaged, as they should be your primary source of information. Some dishwashers, which feature a control lock and/or sleep mode can be quickly checked by pressing any button on your dishwasher and, if the light flashes three times, it may be a sign that the control lock is on and you need to deactivate it. Often, to turn it off, you may need to press the control lock button and hold it for about four seconds.
Deactivation of a sleep mode may vary from dishwasher to dishwasher. For instance, to deactivate a sleep mode feature on some dishwashers, you can press one of the following buttons: Start, Resume, or Cancel. Always check and follow your appliance use and care instructions before beginning any task, as they should be your primary source of information.
Has a Delay Wash Option Been Selected?
If delay wash is selected, your dishwasher won’t start until the set time. This is useful for scheduling when to wash your dishes, for after you’ve finished watching a movie, for example, as some dishwashers may be noisy. But if you want to wash the dishes now, reset it. Always check and follow your appliance use and care instructions before beginning any task, as they should be your primary source of information. For example, some dishwashers can be reset by:
- Press Cancel to cancel delay wash, and then
- Press Start or Resume to start the washing cycle.
Is the Door Completely Closed and Latched?
Is the Water Supply Turned On to the Dishwasher?
Is the Selector Switch Fully Depressed?
Is the Thermal Fuse Blown?
If the thermal fuse is blown, you’ll want to replace it. Replacing a fuse is fairly straightforward but finding the right size and rating may not be. Always check and follow your appliance use and care instructions before beginning any task, as they should be your primary source of information.
