Is Your Dishwasher Not Turning On? 11 Ways to Fix It ASAP

Your dishwasher not turning on after you load it with filthy dishes is a major inconvenience. But wait —before you resort to unloading it and handwashing your dishes, try these troubleshooting methods for starting a dishwasher that won’t start.

While some causes may require professional assistance, there are several easy-to-fix issues that may cause a dishwasher not to turn on, such as a child safety lock or the "delay start" setting. Below, we’ve listed 11 reasons your dishwasher won’t start and provided easy troubleshooting steps. 

Child Safety Lock Is On

Before you start investigating complex dishwasher issues, start by checking the child safety lock. If accidentally turned on, it will yield many dishwasher functions unavailable.

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Door Isn't Latching

Many dishwashers will not operate if the door isn't latching as a safety precaution and to ensure no water leaks from the front of the dishwasher. The door may not be latching because the dishwasher isn't closed already or because the latch mechanism needs to be serviced or replaced.

Breaker Is Tripped

If your dishwasher has no power at all, head to your electrical panel to check for tripped breakers. Depending on your local building codes, your dishwasher may have a dedicated circuit. If not, there will likely be other lights or outlets without power.

Water Pan Sensor

The water pan sensor is exactly what it sounds like. It senses water in the pan beneath the dishwasher and alerts the dishwasher. This tells the appliance not to run, as there is a leak. The water pan sensor could be sensing a leak, which should be addressed. However, it could also be that the sensor itself is faulty.

Water Inlet Valve Is Faulty

The water inlet valve is what controls the intake of water into the appliance, as the water pressure on the water supply line is constant. If the water inlet valve is faulty, it will not allow water into the appliance. The dishwasher will not run if it doesn't sense a water supply is connected.

Appliance Is Unplugged

While many dishwashers are hardwired, some have a common electric cord plugged into an outlet. While it's unlikely that a dishwasher would just come unplugged at random, it could happen if the appliance was moved or pulled from the wall.

Check to ensure the dishwasher is plugged in and the GFCI outlet hasn't been tripped. If it has, press the "RESET" button to restore power.

Thermal Fuse Is Blown

Dishwashers are fitted with a thermal fuse, which protects the appliance's components from extreme heat. If the heat passes a given threshold, the fuse blows and shuts down the appliance. To test the thermal fuse, turn off the breaker and find the fuse (it's usually on the circuit board beneath the door panel). Visually inspect the fuse.

If you still can't tell if the thermal fuse is blown, check the continuity using a multimeter or contact an appliance service center for further assistance.

It Needs to Be Reset

Dishwashers have a lot of sensors and controls. Sometimes, they need a simple reset to operate normally. To do so, turn off the circuit breaker for a full minute then turn it back on or check for a specific reset procedure for your make and model.

Sleep Mode Is On

Many dishwashers feature a "sleep" mode or "standby" mode. If either of these features is engaged, the dishwasher won't turn on as expected. The sleep mode must be deactivated before you can operate the dishwasher.

"Delay Wash" Is Selected

Dishwashers often feature a "Delay Wash" setting, which allows the user to set the dishwasher to turn on at a later point, usually three, six, nine, or more hours later. If your dishwasher is functioning normally but it won't start when you press "START," check the delay wash settings to ensure no delay times are selected.

Water Supply Is Off

If you've been working on your plumbing or you've just installed a new dishwasher, you may have forgotten to turn the dishwasher's water supply line back on. Failing to do so will prevent any water from reaching the appliance, which will prevent it from turning on, as most models are designed to cancel the operation if they don't sense a supply of water.