FAQs | Dishwashers

First, check for a blockage. Make sure there isn’t any paper or other objects blocking the sump area at the rear of the tub. Occasionally, food particles or a bit of paper will stick to the Fine and/or Ultra Fine filters. (Check here to learn how to clean these filters.) Clear out any objects or food blocking the sump in the bottom of the dishwasher. If that doesn’t help, make sure there isn’t a blockage or kink in the hose that connects below the sink. Also, there could be a clog in the sink drain, so check that drain to be sure water is leaving properly. To learn more about troubleshooting this issue, visit this page.

A beeping sound or blinking cycle lights indicate that the wash cycle was interrupted, most often because the door opened mid-cycle or not pushed completely shut. Make sure large cookware, tall baking sheets, or any protruding silverware aren't pressing against the inner door panel and preventing the latch strike from engaging. If beeping continues when the door is closed, check for an active Control Lock (press and hold the lock pad for 3 seconds) or perform a reset by turning off the circuit breaker for 30 seconds. For more tips on troubleshooting this issue, visit this page.

First, try to use a high-quality detergent tablet or pod and pair it with a liquid rinse aid to sheet water away cleanly and prevent mineral film. Before loading, scrape away large food pieces, bones, and solid scraps, but skip hand-rinsing so the detergent enzymes have food soil to bind with and break down. Make sure dishes are angled downward and spaced so the rotating wash arms can spin without obstruction and reach every dish surface. Place platters, pots, and bowls along the sides of the basket, in corners, or in the back at an angle so water can reach all sides. For more loading tips, read this article. Check your water temperature, too, to ensure it’s at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit. To read more tips for best use of your dishwasher, visit this page.

First, confirm that the dishwasher is receiving power by verifying the kitchen wall switch is turned on and the dedicated circuit breaker has not tripped. You should see display lights illuminated and hear sounds when the button is pressed. If you don’t see and hear this, you may have a power source issue. If the lights are working, push the dishwasher door shut until the latch clicks solidly into place, making sure the upper and lower dish racks are pushed all the way to the back of the tub. Check the control panel to see if the Control Lock feature is enabled, and press and hold the designated lock pad for three seconds to unlock it. If you have an electronic top-control model, remember to firmly close the door within four seconds of pressing the Start button. For more tips on troubleshooting this issue, check this article.

Make sure your incoming water temperature is at least 120°F (49°C) at the kitchen sink faucet so detergent dissolves rapidly to cut grease. Remove the lower rack, twist out the ultra-fine filter assembly, and rinse away any trapped food solids and grease build up under warm running water. When loading, avoid nesting plates, bowls, and silverware together, and make sure tall pans on the sides are not obstructing the rotation of the middle or lower spray arms. Always pair fresh detergent with a rinse agent and select a heavier wash cycle or Boost Temp option for heavily soiled loads. For tips on other ways you might resolve this issue, visit this page.

The most critical requirement for dry dishes is using a liquid rinse aid, which lowers the surface tension of water, so droplets sheet off instead of beading up and drying in place. Also, make sure you’ve selected a heated drying option—such as Heated Dry, Power Dry, or Dry Boost—rather than an energy-saving no-heat or air-dry setting. Note that plastic containers and lightweight items have low thermal mass and cool too fast to evaporate water completely, so some residual drops on plastic are expected. Always unload the bottom rack first so any water pooled on concave coffee mug bases in the top rack does not spill down onto dry dishes below. Learn more troubleshooting tips here.

Verify that the hot water supply shut-off valve under your sink is opened completely and that the braided supply line is free of kinks. Then, inspect the float mechanism, also called the flood float—a small plastic cylinder or dome in the front corner of the tub—to ensure it moves up and down freely with a click and isn’t somehow stuck in the raised position (learn more about this issue here). If your dishwasher isn’t draining properly, that could prevent it from allowing new, clean water from entering. Check your fine and ultra-fine filters to be sure they aren’t clogged. If this is a new installation, you can also pour 1 quart of water into the dishwasher to lubricate the pump and then allow it to run for about 10 minutes. After, check to see if additional water has entered the tub. For more tips on troubleshooting this problem, check here.

Alphanumeric characters appearing on the digital display indicate diagnostic fault codes triggered by internal sensors for water fill, drainage, heating, or door latch status. Some you can potentially correct, but others require a repair technician to resolve the issue. Learn more about what the codes mean here.

The most common cause of sudsing and leaking at the door is using liquid dish soap, hand soap, or the wrong detergent; only automatic dishwasher detergents should ever be used. For other leaks, inspect the rubber door gasket along the sides and top for tears, flattening, or food buildup—cleaning the seal with a damp cloth and warm soapy water can help it seal tightly. You should also check the lower wash arm to make sure it spins freely and is not cracked or split at the plastic seams, which can spray water directly under the door edge. Also, make sure the dishwasher is leveled properly front-to-back and side-to-side so water channels correctly toward the center drain sump. For a more detailed list of issues that can cause your dishwasher to leak, check here.

Dishwashers can make many sounds while in use. Some are normal; some not so normal. Normal operational sounds include a quiet motor hum, the swish of water against the tub walls, and buzzing or rushing sounds during drain pump cycles. If you hear a loud, sharp rattling or grinding sound, a hard foreign object such as a fruit pit, olive seed, or shard of broken glass may be caught in the pump impeller or hard food disposer blade. Persistent high-pitched squealing or groaning may indicate that the pump motor bearings or wash pump assembly require replacement. Visit this page to read more about dishwasher sounds and to watch a video that explains them.

If the smell is stale, musty, or sour, remove and scrub the removable filter at the bottom of the tub to clear out trapped food waste and/or grease. Run an empty hot cycle using a commercially available dishwasher cleaner or a bowl containing one cup of white vinegar on the upper rack to help neutralize internal tub odors. Also, check that the drain hose has a proper high loop or air gap to prevent contaminated sink wastewater from back-siphoning into the dishwasher tub. A strong plastic burning odor can occur when a lightweight plastic dish, lid, or spatula falls through the bottom rack and rests directly on the exposed heating element—check to see if this is the case before calling in a repair service. Learn more about dishwasher odors and how to control them here.

On units that have just finished a hot drying cycle, internal steam condensation can create a strong vacuum seal, so allow the machine to cool for several minutes and then try to open it. If the latch handle moves freely without engaging the internal release mechanism, the door latch assembly may be broken and requires service.

Make sure the upper and lower dish racks are fully seated on their roller tracks and pushed all the way to the back of the dishwasher tub. Inspect the rubber door gasket around the perimeter of the tub to ensure it has not pulled out of its mounting channel, which can prevent the door from closing flush. For newly installed units, verify that the cabinet mounting screws are not torqued so tightly that they twist the dishwasher frame out of square. For further troubleshooting ideas, read this article.

First, you don’t need to pre-rinse your dishes before loading—simply scrape off large pieces of food. Place plates, saucers, and cookware on the lower rack with dirty surfaces facing the center of the tub and tilted slightly downward for proper drainage. Load glasses, cups, stemware, and dishwasher-safe plastic containers onto the top rack between the support tines rather than resting directly over them. In the silverware basket, mix spoons, forks, and knives with handles alternately facing up and down to prevent pieces from nesting together and blocking water flow. Before you push in the racks and close the door, manually spin both spray arms with your hand to make sure tall items don’t block their movement. Learn more loading tips for your dishwasher here.

Yellow, brown, or rust stains on interior walls are typically caused by dissolved iron or manganese in your household water supply and can be cleaned using a citric acid cleaner or specialized dishwasher cleaner. Tomato-based pasta sauces and chili can leave an orange or reddish residue on plastic dishwasher tubs, which generally fades over time, but won’t be cleaned away by citric acid cleaners. White cloudy film or chalky scale on interior surfaces can be caused by hard water minerals. To remove this film, place a bowl with two cups of white vinegar on the bottom rack and run a normal cycle without detergent. Never use chlorine bleach in a stainless steel interior dishwasher, as bleach will permanently corrode the metal. Learn more about dishwasher stains here.

The hot water entering your dishwasher should have a minimum temperature of 120°F (49°C) and a maximum temp of 150°F (66°C). You can test your water temperature by running the hot faucet nearest your dishwasher into a glass for one minute and checking the water temp with a candy or meat thermometer. Water below 120°F can prevent automatic dishwasher detergent enzymes and tablets from fully dissolving, resulting in greasy film and poor cleaning. Running the kitchen sink hot water faucet for 15 to 30 seconds immediately before starting a wash cycle ensures the machine fills with hot water right from the start. Read more about dishwasher temperatures here.

Use only detergents specifically labeled for automatic dishwashers—such as high-quality tablets, single-dose pods, powders, or liquid/gel formulas—never use liquid hand dish soap. The amount of powder or liquid detergent you use depends on the hardness of your water: For homes with soft water (0–3 grains) you’ll need only about 1 tablespoon in the main cup, while those with hard water (9+ grains) will need to fill the main and pre-wash cups completely. Using too much detergent in soft water can cause permanent glass etching, while using too little in hard water can cause mineral cloudiness and spotty dishes. Always store detergents in a cool, dry place to prevent clumping and keep active enzymes from breaking down prematurely. Learn more here.

Before adding detergent and attempting to close the cup, make sure the dishwasher is turned completely off. On electronic models, press the Start/Reset pad twice to reset the control, allowing the 90-second drain cycle to finish before you try to latch the cup. On mechanical dial dishwashers, the timer knob must be rotated a full turn clockwise back to the OFF position, as the mechanical cam holds the cup open during an active cycle. Ensure that powdered detergent residue or tablet packaging isn’t jamming the latch mechanism, and check that oversized pods are seated flat within the compartment. For more troubleshooting ideas, read this article.

On dishwashers equipped with a mechanical timer knob, the dial is designed to pause automatically during water heating and sensing periods to allow the heating element to reach proper wash temperatures. If the incoming water supply from your home water heater is cooler than 120°F, the timer may remain stationary for 15 to 25 minutes while the water heats up. Otherwise, check for sticky foods, syrups, or dried liquids behind the timer dial on the control panel by gently pulling the knob outward and wiping behind it with a damp cloth. Also check that items in the door rack are not blocking the detergent cup trip mechanism, which can put the timer mechanism in a bind. Learn more here.

To cancel a programmed Delay Start, press the Start/Reset pad once (or press and hold the Start pad for three seconds on op-control models). For dishwashers with a designated Delay Hours button, repeatedly press the Delay button until the digital display clears or cycles back past the maximum hours to "0". Read more about this issue here.

GE Profile dishwashers utilize electronic sensors that continuously monitor water temperature and soil levels during the wash. If the sensors detect heavier food debris or cold incoming water, the microprocessor automatically adds cycle time and extends water heating phases, causing the countdown clock to increase or hold on a specific minute. When it detects lighter soil, the dishwasher trims unnecessary wash and rinse steps, causing the displayed time to jump down to a lower number. Seeing the number jump around is normal for this type of dishwasher. Check here to watch a video that explains this process and learn more.

On most GE dishwashers, the "Clean" or "Sanitized" indicator light is designed to remain illuminated after the cycle finishes to notify household members that the dishes are clean and ready to be removed. The indicator light will remain lit until the dishwasher door is opened to unload the dishes or until a new cycle button is pressed. On select electronic models, the control panel is programmed to automatically power down all display LEDs after a designated standby period (typically 5 to 10 minutes after opening and closing the door). If lights remain stuck on when the door is open, pressing the Start/Reset pad or cycling the circuit breaker should reset the control logic. Find out more about cycle indicators here.

You can browse the complete library of official GE Appliances dishwasher troubleshooting guides and maintenance resources by visiting the GE Appliances Owner Support knowledge base. Navigate to the Owner Support section on the GE Appliances website and choose Owner Support Library. You can also visit this page for a list of support articles by category.

If your specific symptom isn't addressed here, check your model-specific GE Appliances Owner’s Manual and Installation Instructions for specialized troubleshooting tables and wiring references. You can also reach out directly to the product specialists at the GE Appliances by calling 1-800-626-2005 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET) or chatting online at geappliances.com on our Contact Us page. Learn more about finding support for your dishwasher, visit this page.