How to Replace a Dishwasher Float Assembly

If your dish washer is refusing to fill up with water, you may need to replace your float assembly. If you are not sure if the float assembly is working, you need to check it. The float assembly is found on the bottom, inside the dishwasher. When your dishwasher fills with water it will lift the float and once the float rises to a specified level it will trigger the float switch. This switch tells the water to turn off. If this assembly is broken your dishwasher may not fill with water or it will overflow as the water will not stop.

Once you remove the float assembly cover, if your dishwasher has one, you will need to test the float. This can be done by lifting the float and letting it drop a few times. The float should move freely.

Step 1: Turn off the Circuit Breaker

The very first step is to disconnect the electricity. Unplug the dishwasher or turn off the correct circuit breaker, or remove the fuse from the fuse box.

If there is any standing water you will need to remove it. This is important because you do not want electricity running through the wires as you do not want to shock yourself.

Step 2: Remove Bottom Rack

Open the dishwasher and take out the bottom dish rack. Roll it out like when you add dishes and lift it off the tracks. This is very easy as most racks are on wheels and simply lift out.

You may need to remove the cover to the float assembly. Normally this cover may be screwed or snapped into place.

Step 3: Accessing the Float

Most floats will snap into place so you can just unsnap it and then put in a new one. However if it is connected to the switch you will need to disconnect it. The process for this will differ depending on your machine.

If the assembly throat is removable then, using a screwdriver, unscrew the nuts to remove the throat.

In order to get to the place where the switch and float are attached, remove the lower kick plate panel. Generally this is held into place by clips, screws, pressure snaps or hooks and you can remove it by unscrewing the bolts. If there aren’t any screws, lift the panel up and pull it towards you.

Step 4: Checking the Switch

The switch is connected to the float by an actuator lever. Disconnect the switch from the lever and then get rid of the float assembly that is not working. To see if it is working properly, check the connecting wires. To make sure the switch is working, connect the wires to a tester and make sure the reading is positive. If it is not positive then you will also need to replace the switch.

Now, insert a new float assembly and reattach it to the lever. Replace the kick plate panel and insert the lower dish rack and turn on the power. Run a test cycle to confirm the repair is effective.