Dishwasher uses too much or too little water

Symptoms

• Water bill or fill sounds seem unusually high or low
• Cycle seems to fill and drain more times than expected
• No visible leak or error code present
• Change coincided with switching cycle types

Likely causes

• CommonSensor cycle adjusting water use based on soil levelAuto/sensor cycles can use more water for heavily soiled loads and less for lightly soiled ones, which is normal.
• CommonEco mode intentionally using less waterEco settings are designed to reduce water and energy use, sometimes at the cost of a longer cycle.
• PossibleStuck float switch causing extra fill-and-drain cyclesA float that misreads level can cause repeated unnecessary refills.
• Less commonLeak causing the unit to compensate with extra fillsIf water is leaking out during the cycle, the unit may refill more than normal to maintain level.

What to do

1. Check which cycle was used and compare it to the manual's expected water use for that setting.
2. Look underneath and around the dishwasher for any signs of a leak that could explain extra fills.
3. Check the float switch for smooth movement and clear any debris around it.
4. If using a sensor or auto cycle, know that water use naturally varies by how soiled the sensor detects the load to be.
5. Try running a standard (non-eco, non-sensor) cycle and compare water use to a known baseline.
6. If usage seems abnormal even on a standard cycle with no leak found, have a technician check the float switch and fill sensor.

Tools and parts

• Flashlight

When to call a pro

If a leak is found or the float switch seems faulty, have an appliance technician inspect and repair it.

Safety