Dishwasher stopping mid cycle: what our engineers find
These figures come from NAC's own repair records: 169 dishwasher jobs our engineers attended for this fault. Here is what they found, what fixed it and what it typically cost.
When a dishwasher stops part way through a programme, our engineers find a handful of different causes, and no single one stands out yet. Sometimes the small chamber that lets the machine sense how much water it holds has become blocked, so it overfills or thinks it has no water and gives up. Sometimes the part that senses the water level has failed. Engineers also sometimes find a seized motor that pushes water round the spray arms, a drain pump jammed by something like broken glass, hoses clogged with old detergent and grease, a door catch that no longer holds the door shut, or wiring in the door that has snapped.
To track it down, an engineer usually runs the dishwasher on a programme and watches how it fills, washes, heats and drains, listening for strained noises and noting any error it shows. A blockage can often be cleared there and then, and the machine tested again on a full cycle.
Where a new part is needed, such as a water level sensor, wash motor, door catch or wiring, it often has to be ordered and fitted at a second visit. If grease and detergent have built up, the engineer may suggest running maintenance washes.
Written by our engineers from these jobs.
- Jobs attended
- 169
- Confirmed repairs
- 79
- This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Fixed at the first appointment
- 54%
- about half of our repairs
- Typical total paid by customers
- £104 to £192
- including parts and VAT, from 77 repairs
No single cause has enough confirmed repairs behind it yet to show for this fault.
Error codes we see with this fault
- AEG E11: Water inlet fault: the fill is taking too long.
- AEG I10: Water inlet or fill fault.
- AEG I11: Water fill or water level fault, often pressure switch or pressure chamber related.
- Bosch E09: Heating fault, usually in the heat pump circuit.
- Caple E4: Anti-flood protection: internal leak or water detected in the base.
- Kenwood F9: Diverter motor position fault.
- Miele F70: Anti-flood protection activated: water detected in the base.
- Neff E15: Anti-flood protection activated: water detected in the base.
- Neff E24: Drain fault: drain blocked or pump not working.
- Neff E25: Drain fault, often a blocked drain pump; also seen with water in the base.
- Whirlpool F15: Virtual sensor fault; the cycle stops part way through.
- Bosch E15: Anti-flood protection activated: water detected in the base.
About the price. £104 to £192 is the typical total paid by customers, including parts and VAT: the middle half of what customers paid on 77 of these repairs. Repairs paid for by manufacturers and insurers aren't counted, because that work is charged at contract rates. It's a guide, not a quote. Your engineer confirms a fixed price before any work starts.
Before you check anything yourself
- Switch the dishwasher off and unplug it, or turn it off at the isolator switch, before you touch anything. Our guide to safely isolating an appliance walks you through it.
- If it involves the mains supply, sealed parts, or you're not confident at any point, stop and book a qualified engineer rather than risk injury or further damage.
Rather leave it to us?
- Fixed-price quote before any work starts
- Same or next-day visits where available
- UK-wide engineer coverage