GE Profile dishwasher not fully draining - leaving dirty water at bottom - options?

Hello--

I bought a GE Profile Dishwasher about a year ago (11 months and 2 weeks to be precise). About 4 months ago, it started accumulating dirty water at the bottom. The manual says it should have a little clean water on the bottom, but the whole bottom of the dishwasher has dirty water on it.

I checked the loop and made sure it is good (goes up and then down to the disposal). Should I be venting it? The installers did not put in a vent. The only way to get it clean is the run an empty cycle on anti-bacterial.

I guess my real question is---is this a common failing and does a part need to be replaced? I am going to be out of warranty in 2 weeks, and I get can it fixed for free if it is really a problem with the dishwasher. But if GE says there is no problem or that its an installation issue, they'll charge me for the service call. Is there anything else I should try, or should I get them out before the warranty runs out? I've read about bad motors, solenoids, electronics boards needing replacing--but I thought I should check.

 

If it was me I would disconnect the drain going to the sink where it connects to the pump and connect a different drain line to the pump and run a load draining into a bucket.

If the water in the bottom was clean at the end it is likely an installation problem[probably no air gap]. If the water is dirty there is likely a problem with the pump and or things associated with it.Make sure the DW screen in the bottom is clean though.

You did not give a model # so it is hard to tell,but there should be either a check valve[only lets water out] or a drain solenoid[opens only to let water out when the timer says it is time to drain. Or both!!

If the sink backs up with water when the DW drains the pipes may need to be cleaned or the dishes cleaned off better before they go into the DW


I believe all DW installations now[inluding yours] require an air gap.

If your local code does not require an air gap and or GE does not require it in the installation instructions and it is determined to be a drainage problem you may want to get the dude back to install one for free.

As a last resort you could also install a one way valve as close to the sink side of the pump as possible.


I know you already made sure the suction strainer and other stuff down there is clean and that the pump is pumping out water at a decent rate[pump is working properly]

 

DISCONNECT DRAIN HOSE FM DISPOSER...TURN ON DW AND LET FILL AND RUN A SECOND OR 2.. ADVANCE TO A DRAIN CYCLE... IF IT IS DRAINING SLOW YOU MAY HAVE A SLIGHT BLOCKAGE IN THE LINE... JUST LIKE IN THE ARTERIES OF THE HEART.... YOU CAN SOMETIME SUCK OUT THE BLOCKAGE WITH A SHOP VAC.... THATS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM I HAVE ENCOUNTERED REPAIRING... MOST PLACES DO REQUIRE AN AIR GAP AT THE SINK.. YOU NEED TO CHECK YOUR LOCAL BUILDING CODES.. BUT AS LONG AS THE HOSE IS TIED UP UNDER SINK ABOVE DISPOSER SHLD NOT BACK UP

 

Same thing happened to my GE Profile. I think it was the solenoid. I remember the part was attached to the pump motor assy because the tech had one in his van and yanked the solenoid off it. So look for a solenoid that comes off the pump motor.

 

chiefobrien,

I know it was a few years ago now, but what was the solution to your problem? Mine does the same. I have a GE Profile PDW8211J... and mind also leaves some more then usual water at the bottom, and it is a bit dirty (can tell there is a bit of soap or such).

If I hit start and reset a few times (to get the drain to run) the water eventually drains, so i think I may just have a small blockage. I just tried the shop vac on the drain (where it hooks up to the drain under the sink). I don't have an air vent (just a high loop as is code here).

It has been working for a year and a half and just started.

Thanks!

 

I figured this out. I took the bottom apart and checked a few things. There are 2 valves which stop water from flowing back in. The second valve had a seal from the top of a ketchup bottle blocking it from allowing free flowing water.

removed that and all is well.

 

Thanks for the posts. My dw doesn't fully drain either. An air gap isn't required and the drain hose is clamped up above the disposal inlet and there's no food clogging anything so I'm going to look for the solenoid and go from there. I'll let you know what I find.

My model # is ZBD6880N00SS

 

hi, I think I know what the problem is. I had the same problem my wife called the appliance repair guy,(I could not do it because I am recovering from shoulder surgery),he came out and took two minutes to say it was the piston and nut assembly,two minutes to put it in and $175.00 later my dishwasher was draining. The part is 15.00. If you look on the GE web site you can get to a page that shows where it is.
good luck.