Is your dishwasher holding your dishes hostage in a never-ending wash cycle? It’s a frustrating problem. You hear it humming along, thinking it must be nearly done, only to check back an hour later and find it’s still going. If you’re wondering How To Fix A Dishwasher That Keeps Running, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve seen this issue more times than I can count, and the good news is that the solution is often simpler than you might think. Before you call in a pricey technician, let’s roll up our sleeves and walk through the most common culprits together.
Why Won’t My Dishwasher Just Stop? The Usual Suspects
A dishwasher that won’t stop its cycle is usually suffering from a communication breakdown. It’s waiting for a specific signal to tell it, “Okay, this step is done, move on to the next one.” When it never receives that signal, it gets stuck in a loop. Think of it like a train stuck at a red light that never turns green. Let’s look at what could be causing that signal failure.
The Float Switch: Your Dishwasher’s Water Level Guardian
Inside the bottom of your dishwasher tub, you’ll find a small plastic dome or cylinder. This is the float switch assembly. Its job is simple: as water fills the tub, the float rises. When it hits a certain height, it triggers a switch that tells the water inlet valve, “That’s enough, turn off the water!”
If this float is stuck in the down position—perhaps due to a stray bit of food or gunk—the dishwasher will never think it has enough water. It will keep trying to fill, or it may get stuck in the cycle, waiting for a signal that will never come.
How to check it:
- Safety First! Disconnect your dishwasher from its power source at the circuit breaker.
- Open the door and remove the bottom dish rack.
- Locate the float assembly. Gently lift it up and down. It should move freely with a faint clicking sound.
- If it feels sticky or doesn’t move, clean around the base of the float with a damp cloth and a little vinegar to dissolve any buildup.
A Faulty Door Latch: The “Are You Sure You’re Closed?” Problem
Your dishwasher’s door latch does more than just keep water from spilling onto your kitchen floor. It contains a safety switch that confirms to the machine’s control board that the door is securely closed and it’s safe to run. If this switch is faulty or the latch is misaligned, the dishwasher might start but then get confused, potentially causing it to run indefinitely or stop and start.
I once had a client whose dishwasher ran for four hours simply because the latch wasn’t fully engaging. A simple adjustment saved them a service call.
“A lot of people overlook the door latch,” notes John Carter, a certified appliance technician with over 15 years of experience. “They hear the machine start and assume it’s fine. But if that internal switch is flickering, the control board can get stuck in a logic loop, extending the cycle indefinitely.”
The Thermostat: Is Your Water Getting Hot Enough?
Most modern dishwasher cycles rely on reaching a specific water temperature to advance. A built-in thermostat (or thermistor) measures the water temperature. If the water isn’t getting hot enough, the dishwasher’s timer won’t move on to the next phase (like the main wash or final rinse). The machine will simply keep heating and washing, waiting to hit that target temperature.
This could be an issue with the dishwasher’s heating element itself or the thermostat that reads the temperature. If your dishes are coming out clean but still wet and cool after a long cycle, this is a prime suspect.
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Fix a Dishwasher That Keeps Running
Ready to do some detective work? Follow these steps in order, from easiest to most complex.
- Perform a Hard Reset: The first rule of troubleshooting any smart appliance is to turn it off and on again. Go to your home’s circuit breaker and flip the switch for your dishwasher. Leave it off for at least 5-10 minutes. This can clear any minor glitches in the electronic control board.
- Check and Clean the Float Switch: As detailed above, ensure the float moves freely. This is one of the most common and easiest fixes.
- Inspect the Door Latch: Open and close the door firmly. Does it “click” securely into place? If it feels loose or wobbly, check to see if the screws holding the latch mechanism have come loose. Tighten them if necessary.
- Run a Hot Water Pre-check: Before starting your next load, turn on the hot water tap at your kitchen sink and let it run until the water is hot. This ensures that the first fill of water entering your dishwasher is already hot, giving the heating element less work to do and helping the cycle progress normally.
- Clean Your Filters: A severely clogged filter can impact water circulation and pressure, sometimes confusing the machine’s sensors. [Read our complete guide to cleaning your dishwasher filter] to ensure everything is clear.
- Select a Different Wash Cycle: Try running the Dishwasher On a different cycle. If it completes a “quick wash” cycle normally but gets stuck on a “heavy duty” cycle, it points more strongly toward a heating or sensor issue, as heavier cycles rely on higher temperatures.
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Our Picks for the Best Dishwasher in 2026
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| Num | Product | Action |
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| 1 | EUHOMY Countertop Dishwasher Portable with 6 Programs, 5L Built-in Water Tank for Apartments, 167℉ High-Temp, No Hookup Needed, Mini Dishwasher with Baby Care, Air Dry/Quick/ECO/Fruit/Normal, White |
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| 2 | AIRMSEN Countertop Dishwasher Complete 2-Level Rack, Portable Dishwashers with 5L Built-in Water Tank, 3-Spray Arms & 12H Delay Start, No Hookup Needed, A01, White |
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| 3 | AIRMSEN Countertop Dishwasher - 8 Programs and 3 Useful Functions, Integrated Water Softener, Delayed Start, Child Lock, No Hookup Needed, Portable Mini Size for Home, Apartments & RVs |
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| 4 | EUHOMY Countertop Dishwasher Portable with 6 Programs, 5L Built-in Water Tank for Apartments & RV, 167℉ High-Temp, No Hookup Needed, Mini Dishwasher with Baby Care, Air Dry/Quick/ECO/Fruit/Normal Mode |
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| 5 | NOVETE Portable Countertop Dishwashers, Compact Dishwashers with 5L Built-in Water Tank & Inlet Hose, 5 Washing Programs, Baby Care, Air-Dry Function and LED Light for Small Apartments |
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| 6 | COMFEE\' Portable Dishwasher Countertop with 5L Built-in Water Tank, No Hookup Needed, 6 Programs, 360° Dual Spray, 192℉ High-Temp& Air-Dry Function, Mini Dishwasher for RVs, White |
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| 7 | AIRMSEN Portable Countertop Dishwashers, 5 Washing Programs Mini Dishwashers with 5 L Built-in Water Tank and Double-layered Glass Door, No Hookup Needed for Home, Apartments & RVs |
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| 8 | BLITZHOME Portable Dishwasher Countertop, WIFI Smart Dishwasher, Compact Dishwashers with 5L Built-in Water Tank, 6 Programs, 360° Dual Spray, High-Temp& Air-Dry Function, Fruit Cleaning |
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| 9 | COMFEE\' Portable Mini Dishwasher Countertop with 5L Built-in Water Tank for Apartments& RVs, No Hookup Needed, 6 Programs, 360° Dual Spray, 162℉ High-Temp& Air-Dry Function |
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| 10 | AIRMSEN Portable Countertop Dishwashers, 5 Washing Programs Mini Dishwashers with 5 L Built-in Water Tank and Double-layered Glass Door, No Hookup Needed for Home, Apartments & RVs |
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If you’ve tried all of these steps and your dishwasher is still running for hours on end, the problem might be more complex, potentially involving a faulty control board, a failed heating element, or a malfunctioning timer. At that point, it may be time to weigh the cost of a professional repair against the age of your machine.
How to Prevent Your Dishwasher From Running Too Long
Good dishwasher maintenance is the key to preventing future headaches. A little care goes a long way.
- Scrape, Don’t Rinse: Scrape large food particles off your plates before loading, but don’t pre-rinse them. Modern dishwasher detergents are designed with enzymes that need some food soil to work on. Overly clean dishes can sometimes confuse soil sensors.
- Load It Like a Pro: Proper loading ensures water can reach every surface. Avoid blocking the spray arms and the float switch at the bottom of the tub. [Check out our tips for perfectly loading a dishwasher].
- Clean the Filter Regularly: Make it a monthly habit. A clean filter means better performance and fewer sensor errors.
- Use a Dishwasher Cleaner: Once every few months, run an empty cycle with a specialized dishwasher cleaning tablet to remove mineral buildup and grime that could interfere with moving parts like the float or spray arms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How long should a normal dishwasher cycle take?
A: A normal dishwasher cycle on a modern machine can take anywhere from 1.5 to 4 hours. Features like soil sensors and energy-efficient drying options can extend the time significantly compared to older models.
Q: Can a clogged drain cause a dishwasher to run continuously?
A: While a clog is more likely to cause a draining failure, it can sometimes confuse the machine. If the dishwasher can’t properly drain water from the previous part of the cycle, it may pause or repeat that part of the cycle, making it seem like it’s running forever.
Q: Why is my dishwasher taking 3 hours to wash?
A: Many modern, energy-efficient dishwashers use less water and electricity, but they compensate by running longer cycles to achieve the same level of clean. A 3-hour cycle is not uncommon for an “Auto” or “Eco” setting that uses soil sensors and lower temperatures.
Q: Is it cheaper to repair or replace a dishwasher that keeps running?
A: It depends on the cause and the age of the machine. If the fix is simple (like a stuck float switch), a DIY repair costs nothing. If the control board or motor needs replacing—a several hundred dollar job—and your dishwasher is over 8 years old, it’s often more cost-effective to invest in a new, more efficient model.
Q: What does a blinking light on my dishwasher mean?
A: A blinking light is typically an error code. The meaning varies greatly by brand and model. Consult your user manual or search online for your specific dishwasher model and “blinking light” to diagnose the issue. It often points directly to the source of the problem.
A Final Word
Dealing with a dishwasher that won’t quit can certainly test your patience. However, by systematically checking the most common culprits—the float switch, door latch, and water temperature—you have a great chance of solving the mystery. Understanding how to fix a dishwasher that keeps running empowers you to handle the problem yourself, saving both time and money. Give these tips a try, and hopefully, you’ll soon have your kitchen’s hardest worker back on a predictable schedule.