My Dishwasher's Fill Valve Is Not Closing

Fill Valve Purpose

• The fill valve lets water into dishwasher’s tub’s base. As the tub’s bottom fills with water, the heating element increases the water’s temperature before the water sprays onto the dishes. The float valve rises with the water level, sending feedback to the dishwasher’s fill valve. Once the float valve reaches a certain level, a switch on the float valve shuts off the water supply. If the fill valve does not close all the way, the dishwasher continues filling with water, sending water spilling out around the door and onto the kitchen floor.

Fill Valve Servicing

• Before servicing the valve, shut off the electricity in the kitchen to reduce the risk of electrical shock. Remove the dishwasher’s lower front panel and access the fill valve. Look over and squeeze the hoses connected to the fill valve, making sure they do not need replacing. If you see that a wire has come loose from the fill valve, wrap it back around the contact point and tighten the retaining screw. The next step is taking the fill valve apart and cleaning all of the parts, since mineral deposits can keep the valve from completely closing. If the fill valve still does not operate correctly, replace it with a new one.

Float Valve Cleaning

• Sometimes, the fill valve is operating correctly, but the dishwasher still overfills because the float valve cannot slide all the way up to the fill line. Food particles and mineral deposits can collect on the float valve, impeding the float’s movement on the rod. When this happens, clean the float valve with an old toothbrush. Clean the rod a float valve cover as well. Test the float valve by raising and lowering it all the way on the post several times.

Water Damage

• An overflowing dishwasher can create extensive damage, depending on the amount of water that leaks out, whether the leak happens once or several times. If you find water leaking through the ceiling below the dishwasher, the kitchen flooring is peeling or bubbling or the kitchen floor becomes spongy, you need to repair all of the water damage. Look in the sub floor by cutting into the ceiling below the dishwasher, since the water damage may have warped or weakened the floor joists.