KitchenAid Dishwasher Troubleshooting Guide

Once you own a dishwasher, going back to cleaning your dishes by hand is almost a non-option, so if your KitchenAid dishwasher has started having issues, getting it fixed will almost always be a priority.

Fortunately, many of the issues you might encounter can be diagnosed and fixed yourself without having to worry about expensive repairs or replacing the appliance altogether. For this troubleshooting guide, we gathered together some of the most common issues and solutions to help you get your KitchenAid dishwasher working again quickly.

Before attempting any of these repairs, disconnect your dishwasher from the power source.

Dishwasher Won’t Start

If your dishwasher won’t start, there are a few potential causes:

Power issues

If the dishwasher doesn’t seem to power on at all, check the power source—either the power cord is undamaged, or the breaker hasn’t tripped.

Door not latching

If the appliance powers on and the touch panel works but the dishwasher won’t start, you can double-check the door latch, which must engage for the dishwasher to turn on. On a related note, if the door doesn’t close completely, it can be due to the latch, misaligned racks, or broken hinges.

Faulty control board

The control board tells your dishwasher when to start and what mode to run, so if it’s not working, your KitchenAid dishwasher won’t start. The board will be behind the touchpad in Kitchenaid models. To test it, you’ll need to use a multimeter to check for continuity. If it fails, it will need to be replaced.

Dishes Aren’t Clean

If your dishes aren’t coming out clean, the fixes are typically easy to conduct:

Dish placement

Dish placement is paramount to ensuring that everything comes out clean. Make sure that the dishes aren’t touching each other and that the dirty sides face the spray arms. Also, be sure not to overload the dishwasher.

Clogged spray arms

When food particles or other debris collects on the small holes in the spray arms, it can prevent them from working properly.

Low water temperature

Ideally, the water in your dishwasher should be at least 120°F (49°C) to clean the dishes properly. If the water from your tap isn’t reaching that temperature, increase the temperature on your hot water heater. Also, a good tip is to run the faucet until the water gets hot before starting your dishwasher, especially if it takes some time.

Not enough detergent

If you don’t use enough detergent, your dishes won’t come out clean. Pods are a great solution, but KitchenAid dishwashers also have a prewash cycle. If pods aren’t cleaning your dishes, add a little dry or liquid detergent to the special prewash compartment.

Spotty dishes

Similarly, if the dishes are “clean” but coming out spotty, it could indicate hard water, which rinse aid can help to solve.

Dishwasher Won’t Drain

If your KitchenAid dishwasher is finishing its cycles and there’s still water pooling at the bottom, that could indicate an issue with the drainage system. Here’s how to check it:

Clogged drain filter

Not every model will have one, but a lot of KitchenAid dishwashers have a drain filter at the bottom, beneath the spray arms. If this is news to you, and you have never cleaned it, we’re sorry for what you’re about to experience. This filter catches food particles and will need to be cleaned semi-regularly.

Blocked drain hose

If there are any blockages in the drain house, it will drain slowly, if at all, and water will pool at the bottom of the dishwasher. First, check it for kinks. You can also disconnect it from the pump and blow through it to see if there are any obstructions in the hose itself.

Faulty pump

If the pump is faulty or not working, water will not drain properly. If it’s louder or making unusual noises, it might be on its way out. To test whether it’s working, connect the probes of a multimeter between the terminals, and check for continuity. If it shows around 15-40 ohms, the pump is likely functioning properly. If it has no reading whatsoever, it’s faulty and needs to be replaced.

Appliance Leaks Water

If your KitchenAid dishwasher is leaking water, it can come from a few different sources:

Damaged door gasket

The gasket seals the door to the dishwasher, so if it has any problems—debris or damage—water can leak out. Inspect it for any issues, and if necessary, replace it with a compatible gasket for your KitchenAid model.

Overloading

Filling your dishwasher with too many dishes can not only impede the cleaning process, but it can also cause water to leak out.

Loose water connections

Double-check the hose for any loose fittings to prevent water from leaking out at those connections.

Dishwasher Not Drying Dishes

Here are some reasons the dishes might not be drying:

No rinse aid

Rinse aid helps the drying process, so if you’re not using it, or if it has run out, refill it.

Incorrect drying settings

KitchenAid dishwashers have different drying settings, so if the air dry setting isn’t drying dishes well enough, try the heat dry setting.

Broken heating element

The heating element provides the heat to keep the water warm and heat the drying cycle, so if it’s broken, the dishes will be less dry. This component is found at the bottom of most models, so you’ll need to access it and test the terminals with a multimeter. If it’s faulty, it will need to be replaced.

Dishwasher Making Loud Noises

While dishwashers aren’t the quietest appliances, if your KitchenAid is making too many loud noises, here are some things to look into:

Obstructed spray arms

If anything is in the way of the spray arms, they will make a loud knocking sound as they spin. So check that the rack is properly aligned and that nothing is hanging in the way.

Faulty motor or pump

The motor keeps the arms spinning, and the pump drains the water, so if either of these components are going out, they will make more noise. To test these components, use a multimeter to see whether they have continuity by connecting the probes to each one’s respective terminals. If they fail, they will need to be replaced.