Oven Convection Fan Not Working? 6 Causes and What to Do
A convection fan that will not spin is usually a failed fan motor, a seized blade, a door switch or a relay on the control board. Here is how to narrow it down.
Read the guideWhy is my dishwasher not filling with water?
A dishwasher will not fill when water cannot reach the tub or when the machine thinks it is already full. The most common causes are a closed or partly closed supply valve, a kinked supply line, a clogged or failed water inlet valve, a float switch stuck in the up position, a door latch that is not fully engaged, or a control board that is not sending power to the valve.
If you would rather have it checked today, our appliance repair Mountain View CA team fixes Bosch, Miele, KitchenAid, GE, Samsung and other dishwashers.
Start with the easy items. Many no-fill calls end at a valve under the sink that was turned off during other plumbing work.
What are the 6 most common causes?
1. Supply valve under the sink is closed
Most dishwashers share the hot water line with the kitchen sink. A small valve under the sink feeds the dishwasher. If someone closed it, or only opened it part way, the tub fills slowly or not at all.
2. Kinked or pinched supply line
The braided or copper line can get crushed when the dishwasher is pushed back into place. A sharp bend cuts the flow to a trickle.
3. Clogged or failed water inlet valve
The inlet valve is an electric valve near the bottom front of the machine. It has a tiny screen that can clog with scale or debris. Its coil can also burn out. When it fails, you hear the cycle start but no water rushes in.
4. Float switch stuck up
The float is a small dome or cup inside the tub, often in a front corner. It rises as water fills. If food or grease holds it up, the machine thinks the tub is full and never opens the valve.
5. Door latch or door switch problem
The dishwasher will not fill unless the door switch says the door is closed. A worn latch may let the lights come on while the switch stays open. Our guide to a dishwasher that won't start covers latch problems in more detail.
6. Control board or wiring
If the valve, float and latch all test fine, the control board may not be sending power to the valve. This needs a meter and the wiring diagram for your model.
What can you safely check yourself?
- Open the cabinet under the sink and turn the dishwasher supply valve fully counterclockwise.
- Run the kitchen hot water tap. If flow there is weak too, the issue is in the home's plumbing.
- Find the float inside the tub. Lift it and let it drop. It should move freely and click.
- Clean around the float and the filter at the bottom of the tub.
- Close the door firmly until it clicks, then start a short cycle.
- Pull off the bottom kick panel with the power off and look for a kinked line.
Turn off the breaker before you remove any panel. The inlet valve sits next to live wiring.
Does Mountain View's water play a role?
It can. Mountain View gets most of its water from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, blended with some local groundwater. The groundwater adds minerals, so some neighborhoods see more scale. Over years, that scale can narrow the inlet valve screen and slow filling. A slow fill often comes before a full no-fill.
The city publishes water quality details in its Mountain View water page. Our dishwasher hard water guide explains how to cut down on scale.
Dishwasher still dry after these checks? Call now for same-day dishwasher help in Mountain View.
When should you call a technician?
Call if the supply valve is open and the float moves freely but the tub still stays dry, if you hear a buzz from the bottom of the machine with no water, or if water fills only part way. These point to the inlet valve, door switch or control board. Most dishwasher repairs in Mountain View run about $150 to $400 with parts and labor.
If the dishwasher fills but water stays in the tub after the cycle, read dishwasher not draining. If water shows up on the floor, read dishwasher leaking. For washers with the same no-water problem, see washer not filling with water or our washer repair Mountain View page.
Other common repairs we see in Mountain View
If another appliance is acting up too, these guides can help: oven not preheating all the way, microwave oven not heating up but runs, fridge water and ice dispenser not working, and washing machine repair for washers that leak, stall or will not spin.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my dishwasher humming but not filling?
The hum is often the drain or wash motor running with no water. The water inlet valve is not opening, the float switch thinks the tub is full, or the supply valve under the sink is closed.
Can hard water stop a dishwasher from filling?
Yes. Mineral scale can clog the small screen in the inlet valve. Mountain View's water is moderately hard, so this happens more often in older machines.
How much does dishwasher repair cost in Mountain View?
Most dishwasher repairs run about $150 to $400 with parts and labor. An inlet valve or float switch is usually at the lower end. You get the price first.