The most common dishwasher fault is a clogged drain, causing water to sit at the bottom. Learn how to fix it yourself before calling a technician and avoid costly repairs.
Dishwasher Fault? Common Causes and How to Fix Them
When your dishwasher fault, a malfunction in a household dishwasher that prevents it from cleaning dishes properly or completing a cycle. Also known as dishwasher breakdown, it’s one of the most frustrating home appliance issues because it stops your daily routine dead in its tracks. You’re not alone. Thousands of households in South Shields face this every year, and most of the time, it’s not a $1,000 problem—it’s a clogged filter, a stuck float, or a simple reset you can fix yourself.
Most dishwasher fault issues come down to three main areas: water flow, drainage, and the control system. If your dishwasher won’t fill, check the water inlet valve—it’s cheap and easy to replace. If it’s not draining, the pump or drain hose is probably blocked. A lot of people assume it’s the motor, but 7 out of 10 times, it’s just food debris stuck in the filter under the bottom rack. You don’t need a degree in engineering to clean it—just a towel, a screwdriver, and 10 minutes.
Then there’s the dishwasher error codes. Modern machines flash numbers like F1, E1, or E2, and most owners panic. But these aren’t magic codes—they’re simple alerts. F1 often means a leak sensor triggered. E1 usually points to a heating issue. Most manuals list what they mean, and you can find them online too. No need to call someone just because a light blinked.
Don’t overlook the dishwasher not draining problem. It’s the #1 complaint we hear. People think it’s the pump, but more often, the drain hose is kinked behind the cabinet, or the garbage disposal connection is clogged. If you have a disposal, run it first. Then check the hose—pull it out, shake it, rinse it. You’d be surprised how much gunk builds up there.
And yes, the control board can fail—but it’s rare. Before you spend $200 on a new one, try resetting the dishwasher. Unplug it for 5 minutes. Some models have a hidden reset button under the door panel. Others just need a power cycle. A lot of "broken" dishwashers come back to life with nothing more than a power reset.
If you’ve checked the filter, the drain, the water supply, and reset the unit, and it’s still not working, then it’s time to look at the pump, the heating element, or the door latch. These are the parts we replace most often in South Shields. We’ve seen dishwashers from Bosch, Hotpoint, Indesit, and Zanussi all fail the same way—same parts, same fixes.
You don’t need to replace your dishwasher just because it’s 8 years old. Most last 10–12 years with basic care. A faulty seal, a worn spray arm, or a broken detergent dispenser are all fixable. And if you’ve been using regular dish soap instead of dishwasher tablets? That’s probably why it’s leaving residue and stinking up the kitchen.
Below, you’ll find real fixes from real jobs we’ve done in South Shields. No fluff. No theory. Just what actually works when your dishwasher stops mid-cycle, leaks on the floor, or won’t turn on at all. Whether you want to fix it yourself or know when to call a pro, you’ll find the answers here.