My GE Dishwasher Does Not Operate When I Turn On the Switch

Door Latch

• To prevent leaking and unnecessary messes on the kitchen floor, the dishwasher is equipped with a door latch that clicks into place and seals off the door with a rubber gasket. Until the latch is fastened and the door is closed properly, it will not allow the circuit to be complete so that the start button will turn on the dishwasher. If this door latch is malfunctioning or broken, it may not do that part of its job. If you are certain the door is completely closed, then you may have a problem with the switch. Have an appliance technician look at it to decide whether this is the problem and replace it if necessary.

Power Supply

• A dishwasher needs electricity to run. If the power supply to the appliance is interrupted, then nothing will happen when you turn on the power switch. This could be the result of several different factors. A power outage is one, but if other electrical items in your home are working, then this isn’t the problem. Check the circuit breaker that is assigned to the dishwasher to ensure it is in the “On” position. If it has tripped, reset it and see if it trips again. If it does, there is an overload that could be caused by the wiring. You may also have the dishwasher plugged into a GFCI outlet that needs to be reset. You may not have the plug in the outlet at all. Check all these things to make sure power is reaching your dishwasher.

Beeping/Blinking Lights

• If you cant get the dishwasher to start up, but you notice your GE appliance is making a beeping sound or has lights blinking, then it may need to be reset. A power surge could have caused the problem. Fixing this is simple. Turn off the circuit breaker assigned to the dishwasher and leave it off for about 30 seconds and then turn it back on. The dishwasher should reset and begin working normally.

Child Lockout

• Some GE dishwashers have a child lockout mode that will prevent the appliance from being turned on unintentionally. This is handy if you have small children who enjoy pressing buttons on your appliances, but if you forget it’s in this mode then you won’t be able to use your dishwasher. Consult the owner’s manual of your model to find out how to turn the feature on and off.

New Dishwasher Hums

• If your GE dishwasher is brand new and you can’t get it to operate properly when you turn it on, you may need to add some water to the inside to get it started. This is only necessary if the dishwasher actually comes on but simply makes a humming sound. Pour a pint of water into the dishwasher, close the door and start it up again.