GE Quiet Power Dishwasher Is Stuck on Heavy Wash

Drain-Hose Obstruction

• The GE dishwasher can sense when there is a drain problem, and it will not proceed with subsequent cycles if used water cannot be discarded. The drain hose goes to the side of the kitchen sink that commonly holds the garbage disposal chamber as well. Matter and debris left in the sink drain or in the disposal unit can clog the drain hose running from the dishwasher. Turn on the tap water and the disposer to clear any debris preventing the dishwasher from draining water. Also, you might have to carefully unscrew the dishwasher's drain hose from under the sink to look directly inside the tube for obstructions.

Kink in Drain Hose

• The design of your kitchen counter space influences the length of the drainage hose that runs from the GE dishwasher. If your appliance is installed within a few inches of the sink, the hose length is probably very short. Alternatively, if your dishwasher is placed a few feet down the counter, the length of the drain hose increases by a few feet. Gravity and poor placement during installation can create kinks or bends in the hose, preventing the dishwasher from being able to drain the extra water during the heavy wash cycle. Open the cabinet doors under the sink and counter and straighten out visible portions of the hose.

Clogged Filters

• The purpose of the heavy wash cycle is to do a more efficient job of removing food matter than normal cycles do. It is ideal for pots, pans and casserole dishes that have thickened, caked-on food. Many GE dishwashers have at least one, but as many as three filters that capture these hard and tough food particles. Over time, these filters can clog, and GE recommends that you clean the filtration system about twice a year in many models. Consult your dishwasher's manual to find instructions on how to take apart the filter and clean or replace it.

Drain Pump

• GE designed the drain pump mechanism to be the last line of defense against a watery mess if the dishwasher is having trouble expelling used water. Your appliance has an overflow guard that activates when the drain pump is having issues. In many GE dishwasher models, you can access and attempt to clean the drain pump based on the instructions in the owner's manual for your specific model. If the heavy wash cycle fails to resume and finish after maintenance on the drain pump, GE recommends that you call a service technician for repair.