In the last issue, I gave you the two most common causes of water accumulating in the tub of your dishwasher along with the fix for each. The first was the deterioration of the neoprene poppet on the end of the piston that diverts the flow of water to the pump. The second was a clogged drain hose. In this issue, I will explain the third possible cause: an inoperative float switch.
On the floor of the tub, either on the front left or the front right, is a dome-shaped device that contains the drain float switch. The purpose of this switch is to close the fill valve if the water level gets too high.
In most dishwashers, the drain float switch acts as a backup to the fill timer. If the timer does not work properly, the switch shuts off the water before the dishwasher overflows. As water fills the dishwasher, the float rises. Once the float reaches a preset point, it triggers the switch, which in turn stops the water from entering the dishwasher. The switch is not normally prone to problems, but can get stuck if food or other debris enters the mechanism. A damaged or blocked float can also prevent the switch from operating normally. In this case, the dishwasher may not fill at all because the switch won’t allow water to enter the tub.
The link below is a video that shows how to check and repair the drain float switch on a GE dishwasher. The pertinent part of the video is between minute 1:40 and minute 3:45.
The link below shows another brand of drain float switch and how to check it.
Almost always if the switch clicks when the float is moved up and down along its normal travel the drain float switch is working.
If you have suggestions for future tips or have questions about maintenance around your home submit them to ask.the.woodchucks@gmail.com.
