Dishwasher not filling with water
A dishwasher only fills when three things line up: water is available at the supply valve under the sink, the control believes the door is shut and a cycle is running, and nothing tells the control the tub is already full.
Soon A dishwasher that will not fill is an inconvenience rather than a hazard, but a leak-protection code or water under the unit means the water supply should be turned off until it is looked at.
What this symptom usually means
A dishwasher only fills when three things line up: water is available at the supply valve under the sink, the control believes the door is shut and a cycle is running, and nothing tells the control the tub is already full. LG's guide for its IE (water inlet) error starts with the house water and the valve under the sink, which LG says is worth checking after any plumbing or sink repair, then a kinked or pinched supply hose, low pressure, and, in winter, a hose that has frozen. Whirlpool adds a door that is not fully latched and a cycle that was paused when the door was opened or the power blinked.
Some causes look like a fill problem but are not. If the drain hose is not looped high enough, the water that comes in can siphon straight out, so the tub never seems to hold water. A float that is stuck up tells the control the tub is full. On GE models that have not run for a week or more, the pump seals can dry and stick, so you hear a hum and nothing happens. If none of that applies, the possibilities move inside the machine: the water inlet valve or its screen, the float switch, the door switch or the control. Bosch lists the inlet valve, the float and the door switch. Those are technician checks.
Checks you can do yourself
- Water at the tap and the valveRun the hot tap at the kitchen sink. If it runs, open the cabinet below and make sure the dishwasher's supply valve is fully open (turn it counter-clockwise). LG suggests checking it after any plumbing or sink repair.
- Door and cycleClose the door firmly until it latches. On Whirlpool models, a flashing Start/Resume light means the door was opened or power was interrupted; press Start/Resume and close the door within a few seconds. Other brands differ, so follow your manual.
- Supply hoseWhere you can see the supply hose under the sink, look for kinks, pinches or something heavy sitting on it. Straighten it; if it is torn or cracked, turn off the valve and leave it for a technician or plumber.
- Winter freezingIf the supply line runs anywhere cold, LG notes water can freeze in the hose. A towel soaked in warm water wrapped around the reachable part of the hose can thaw it. Do not use a heat gun or open flame.
- Drain hose loopWhirlpool specifies that the drain hose connects above the sink trap, with a loop at least 50.8 cm (20 in) above the floor. If the hose lies flat on the cabinet floor, water can siphon out as it comes in. Note it for the technician or installer.
- Hum with no water after the machine sat unusedGE says a dishwasher left for a week or more can hum without filling because the pump seals have dried. Its fix: dissolve 85 to 115 g (3 to 4 oz) of citric acid in about 1 L (1 quart) of hot tap water, pour it into the sump at the bottom of the tub, wait 15 to 30 minutes, then start a cycle. GE says 250 mL (1 cup) of white vinegar can be used instead.
- Float and error codesLook for the float, a small dome or cup on the tub floor, and make sure nothing is holding it up; it should move freely. Write down any code on the display. GE notes that owners can check the flood float on most of its 2015 and newer models.
Nothing above involves gas, wiring, refrigerant or removing panels.
What you notice, and what it can point to
Listed in no particular order. They help you describe the problem; only an inspection confirms the fault.
No water, and the Start/Resume light is flashing
Could point to: The door was opened or power was interrupted and the cycle is paused (Whirlpool)
Next step: Close the door firmly, press Start/Resume and close the door within a few seconds
IE (LG) or 4C/4E (Samsung) on the display
Could point to: Not enough water arriving: valve closed, hose kinked, low pressure or a frozen hose
Next step: Check the valve under the sink, the hose and the kitchen tap; book if the code returns
A hum but no water after the dishwasher sat unused
Could point to: Pump seals dried out and stuck (GE)
Next step: Try GE's citric-acid soak in the sump; book if it still only hums
E15 (Bosch) or water under the machine
Could point to: Leak protection has detected water in the base
Next step: Turn off the supply valve and book; do not keep resetting it
Water comes in but the tub never seems to hold it
Could point to: Drain hose without a high loop, so water siphons out (Whirlpool)
Next step: Check the hose loop is at least 50.8 cm (20 in) above the floor; book if it needs re-routing
Knob model silent for the first few minutes
Could point to: Normal delay of up to three minutes before the valve opens (GE)
Next step: Wait five minutes; if still dry, return the knob to the start of the cycle
How it differs by design
Electronic versus knob controls. On electronic models the control can report a fill problem as a code after a set time; LG says its IE code appears when the water level is still too low after anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. On older mechanical-knob models there is no code, and GE notes that a delay of up to three minutes before the valve opens is normal.
Leak protection. Some dishwashers have a leak-protection system in the base. Bosch's E15 code means that system has found water in the base, and the machine stops normal operation until the leak is dealt with. On these models, no fill can be a safety shutdown rather than a supply problem.
Float designs. Many dishwashers have an overfill float on the tub floor. GE notes that the flood float on most of its 2015 and newer models can be checked by the owner, while older models need service. Where the float sits and how it comes out varies by model, so follow your manual.
Supply requirements. Samsung Canada ties its 4C and 4E codes to water pressure or temperature and points to the supply requirements in the manual. Requirements differ by brand and model, so check your manual rather than a general figure.
What our technician checks
These need panels off, live electrical tests or a licensed trade, so they are left to the technician:
- Removing the kick panel or reaching the inlet valve, its screen or the wiring
- Testing the inlet valve, float switch, door switch or control
- Draining and resetting a leak-protection base
- Replacing the shut-off valve under the sink or altering household plumbing
Waived when you go ahead with the repair. You get the cause, the price and our repair-or-replace verdict in writing before any work.
Repairs a technician may recommend
After inspection, not from the symptom alone.
Water inlet valve replacement
When water is available at the valve and the control calls for water, but the inlet valve does not open. The technician confirms it by test.
Inlet valve screen cleaning
When the small screen at the inlet valve is clogged with sediment. LG lists a clogged inlet filter as a cause of its IE error. It is part of the inlet valve assembly, so it is a technician job.
Float or float switch replacement
When the float is free but the switch under it tells the control the tub is already full.
Door latch or door switch replacement
When the door is shut but the control does not register it, so the cycle will not start filling.
Control board replacement
When the valve, float and door switch test fine but the control never sends power to the valve.
Leak investigation and repair
When a leak-protection system has shut the machine down because water is in the base. The leak is found and fixed first, then the system is reset.
Drain hose or supply line correction
When the drain hose has no high loop, or the supply line is damaged or undersized. Work past the dishwasher's own hoses may need a plumber.
Brands we see with this problem
Codes, parts and access differ by brand; the brand pages cover where the model label is and what to expect.
Cost, and whether to fix it
What the repair costs depends on the part, the labour and whether a second visit is needed for an ordered part; the written finding gives the total before any work. Our guides on what drives repair costs, dishwasher repair costs and repair versus replacement explain how to weigh it.
When to book
Book when the valve is open, the door latches, the hose is clear and the dishwasher still will not take water, or when a leak-protection code has shut it down. Tell us the brand, any code (IE on LG, 4C or 4E on Samsung, E15 on Bosch), whether you hear a hum, and whether the dishwasher was recently installed or moved. That points us at the valve, the float, the door switch or the installation. The diagnostic is $89 (+tax), waived if you go ahead with the repair, and you get a written finding and quote before any work. If the problem is the installation itself, see dishwasher installation. The service is described on dishwasher repair.
We handle this across Ottawa and Gatineau
Related problems
Dishwasher not filling with water: questions
My LG dishwasher shows IE. What does it mean?
LG uses IE for a water inlet error: the dishwasher did not get enough water in the time it allows. LG lists a closed valve, a kinked hose, a clogged inlet filter, low water pressure and, in winter, a frozen hose. Check the valve and hose first.
My Samsung dishwasher shows 4C or 4E.
Samsung Canada describes 4C and 4E as inadequate water pressure or temperature. It suggests checking that the water supply is on and meets the requirements in the manual, and says not to use FloodSafe hoses. If the code keeps returning, book a visit.
The dishwasher hums but no water comes in. Is the motor gone?
Not necessarily. GE says a dishwasher left unused for a week or longer can hum without filling because the pump seals dry out, and it gives a citric-acid soak to free them. If the hum continues after that, the pump, the valve or the control needs testing.
It was just installed and has never filled. Who do I call?
Start with the supply valve under the sink and make sure it is fully open. If it is open and the dishwasher still does not fill, the installer should check the connections. If we installed it, the call is ours.
My Bosch shows E15 and will not run.
Bosch says E15 means water has been detected in the base and the leakage protection has activated. Bosch's advice is to turn off the water supply and call for service. The leak has to be found before the dishwasher is put back in use.
My knob-control dishwasher sits silent at the start. Is that a fault?
GE says models with a mechanical turn-to-start knob can wait up to three minutes before the water valve opens. If there is still no water after five minutes, the knob may have been turned past the first fill.
Sources
- Whirlpool Product Help: Will not fill with water, dishwasher
- Whirlpool: 5 reasons why your dishwasher is not getting water
- GE Appliances: Dishwasher, not filling with water
- GE Appliances: Dishwasher hums and will not fill
- LG Canada: Dishwasher no water, IE error code
- Samsung Canada: Common Samsung dishwasher error codes and their meaning
- Bosch: Dishwasher is not getting water
- Bosch: E15 dishwasher error code
Sources checked 2026-09-24.
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