Dishwashers are designed to help us work smarter in the kitchen. But, every now and then a basic thing like a float valve can go wrong and prevent you from getting your dishes clean. Let’s take a look at the most common causes of dishwasher floats not working and how you can fix them.
What is a Dishwasher Float?
A dishwasher float is a device that helps to prevent the overflow of water in the dishwasher. The float is usually found in the bottom of the tub and if the water level rises too high, the float will rise with it, activating a switch that shuts off the water supply. This is important because excessive water inside the dishwasher could cause a major flood if it were to leak out on your floor.
What is the Main Purpose of a Dishwasher float?
The main purpose of the dishwasher float is to prevent the dishwasher from overfilling with water. The dishwasher float rises as the water level increases in order to shut off the incoming water supply by activating a switch that is located on the side of the machine’s tub.
While you can buy replacement floats online and at local retailers, they are not particularly expensive and are quite easy to install.
What Can Cause a Dishwasher Float Not to Work?
Dishwasher float not working. What can cause a dishwasher float not to work? There are a few possible causes for a float not to work:
- Check to see if there is any food or debris blocking the float
- If the water level inside the dishwasher is too low, this could be because the water valve is defective or clogged
- If there is too much detergent in your dishwasher, it can cause a suds to build up that will block the float from moving
- If your drain hose is kinked or blocked, this could be preventing water from draining properly which may cause the float to stay down.
Dishwasher float switch symptoms
Several symptoms indicate that your dishwasher’s float switch has become defective. These symptoms include
Leaking Water: The most common symptom of a broken float switch is when water leaks out of the bottom of the dishwasher. This occurs as the dishwasher continues to fill with water after it should have stopped filling up.
Overflowing Water: When your dishwasher’s float switch malfunctions, it can also cause your dishwasher to overflow with water and flood your kitchen floor.
Failing to Drain:
Another common symptom of a defective float switch is when your dishwasher fails to drain properly. If you are experiencing any of these issues, you may need to replace your float switch.
How Do I Know if My Dishwasher Float Switch is Bad?
If the float switch goes bad, it could cause your dishwasher to overfill and overflow. If you experience water leaking from the dishwasher, it’s important to check the float switch.
The first thing that you should do is check for any debris clogging or obstructing the opening between the overflow tube and the pump. If you find any debris, remove it immediately and thoroughly dry the area with a towel or cloth.
If you do not find any debris, then the float switch will need to be replaced. A bad float switch can also cause your dishwasher not to fill with water and therefore not wash.
How Do I Fix the Float in My Dishwasher?
First, determine the location of the float. The float may be different depending on your dishwasher model. Some floats are located inside the dishwasher tub, while other floats are located at the front of the dishwasher, typically near the bottom.
Once you locate the float, you will want to remove it from the dishwasher. The float is connected to a switch that controls water flow into and out of the dishwasher tub.
So when you remove the float, you will also need to remove the switch that is connected to it. Gently pry away any clips or wiring harnesses from their connections to remove the switch along with the float. Now you need to determine what is causing your float to not work properly.
In some cases, this may simply be because there is too much dirt and grime inside of it causing it to get stuck in place.
So all you need to do is clean off any dirt and grime from the inside of your float and then replace it back into your dishwasher. However, if cleaning out your float doesn’t fix your problem, then there may be more serious issues at hand.
It’s a wrap
If your dishwasher float is not working properly, it can create a host of problems that range from mild to extremely serious. It pays to deal with this type of problem as soon as it arises in order to prevent any complications from developing further.