Residential and commercial
Dishwasher Repair in Northern Virginia, DC & Maryland
A dishwasher that will not drain, leaks under the door, leaves the dishes dirty or quits halfway through a wash: those are the calls we take for dishwasher repair across Northern Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland. FixDaddy fixes built-in, 18-inch compact and drawer dishwashers from Bosch, KitchenAid, Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, Miele, LG and Frigidaire. Someone answers the phone 24/7 at (888) 811-0088, and we offer same-day service most days.
- $89 visit, credited to the repair
- 90-day parts & labor warranty
- Same-day most days
- Someone answers 24/7
What usually goes wrong
Dishwasher problems, in the order we see them
The symptom you notice, and what it most probably is.
- 1
Water left standing in the bottom of the tub
Most probably
- Drain pump, the small motor that pushes the water out, failed or seized
- Broken glass or a food chunk jammed in the pump
- Filter and sump, the well under the filter, packed with grease and grit
- Drain hose kinked, crushed or clogged
- Check valve stuck open, so the water that was pumped out runs back in
- 2
Dirty water backing up into the kitchen sink, or a leak at the drain line
Most probably
- Drain hose lying flat under the sink, with no high loop to stop sink water running back
- Sink drain or disposer partly clogged, so the dishwasher's water comes up in the sink instead
- Drain hose split, or its clamp loose at the disposer
- New disposer fitted with the dishwasher knockout plug still in place
- 3
Dishes come out gritty, greasy or still dirty
Most probably
- Filter clogged, so the wash water carries the dirt back onto the dishes
- Spray arm holes blocked with scale or food
- Circulation pump, the motor that drives water through the spray arms, weak or failing
- Not enough water coming in through the inlet valve
- Water not heating, so grease never softens
- 4
Dishes still wet at the end, or a puddle on top of every cup
Most probably
- Heating element or heater failed, on models that dry with one
- Rinse aid dispenser empty, or its door stuck shut
- Vent or fan not opening at the end of the cycle to let the steam out
- Condensation drying on Bosch and other European designs, which leaves plastics damp by design
- Cups and containers loaded upright so they hold water: loading, not a fault
- 5
Stops partway through the cycle, or the control panel goes dead
Most probably
- Control board failing, or a burned connection behind the panel
- Door latch or door switch not holding contact, so the machine thinks the door opened
- Leak sensor in the base tripped by a drip, so the machine shuts itself down
- Circulation pump motor overheating and cutting out
- Wiring in the door hinge worn through from years of opening and closing
- 6
Water on the floor in front of or under the dishwasher
Most probably
- Door gasket hardened, torn or pulled out of its channel
- Float switch stuck, so the tub overfills
- Cracked or loose spray arm throwing water at the door seal
- Pump seal or a hose clamp inside the base leaking
- Water inlet fitting weeping behind the kick plate
- 7
Will not fill, or fills so little the dishes barely get wet
Most probably
- Water inlet valve, the electric tap on the supply line, clogged with scale or its coil burned out
- Float switch stuck in the up position, telling the machine it is already full
- Supply valve under the sink closed, or its line kinked
- Door not latching, so the cycle never gets as far as the fill
- 8
Grinding, rattling or a loud hum during the wash
Most probably
- Glass or a bone fragment in the pump or the chopper
- Wash motor bearing worn out
- Spray arm hitting a tall item or a loose rack
- Drain pump humming but not turning because it is jammed
By brand
Dishwasher brands we work with
Independent repair for every major make. We are not affiliated with or authorized by any manufacturer.
Dishwasher repair by brand
Bosch dishwasher repair
A current Bosch heats its water inside the circulation pump, so when that part fails dishes come out dirty and wet together. Standing water is the drain pump, often jammed by glass. A door that drops open with a bang is a snapped hinge cord. Our Bosch dishwasher error codes guide decodes the display.
Bosch dishwasher repairKitchenAid dishwasher repair
KitchenAid dishwashers are Whirlpool-built, so parts are easy to get. The familiar faults: a door latch that stops registering, so the cycle never starts; touch controls or a control board that go dead; a worn seal under the tub that drips onto the floor; and plastic adjusters that let the top rack sag or drop on one side. None is a reason to replace it.
KitchenAid dishwasher repairWhirlpool dishwasher repair
The classic Whirlpool fault is the drain pump: the cycle ends with water standing in the tub, often with a hum. Newer Whirlpools have a twist-out filter that needs rinsing, and a clogged one is behind many gritty loads. When only the bottom rack comes clean, suspect the diverter that sends water to the upper arm. Parts are shared with KitchenAid and Maytag.
Whirlpool appliance repairFrigidaire dishwasher repair
On a Frigidaire the drain pump is the usual casualty: it seizes, or jams on broken glass, and the cycle ends with water in the tub. Leaks come next, from a door gasket that has hardened or a float switch that sticks and lets the tub overfill. A lower spray arm that has split along its seam is a small fix for dishes that stopped coming clean.
Frigidaire appliance repairSamsung dishwasher repair
Samsung dishwashers carry a leak sensor in the base. When it finds moisture the display shows an LC code and the machine stops; a small drip, a loose hose or spilled rinse aid is enough to set it off. The fix is finding the moisture, not clearing the code. The other Samsung faults are a drain pump that leaves water in the tub and a wash that stops cleaning.
Samsung appliance repairGE dishwasher repair
GE dishwashers, Profile and Café too, mostly fail in two ways. One is draining: water left in the tub because the drain pump has failed or jammed. The other is control trouble: lights on but the cycle will not start, or it stops partway, which is the door latch switch or the control board. A slow, weak fill points to the water inlet valve.
GE dishwasher repairMiele dishwasher repair
Miele dishwashers are built to last and worth repairing. The usual faults are an intake or drain warning with a tub that will not fill or empty, from the inlet valve on the supply hose or the drain pump, and a circulation pump that stops washing. Many have a built-in softener: with the hard water here, keep its salt topped up. Parts are usually ordered.
Miele dishwasher repairLG dishwasher repair
LG dishwashers report most faults as a code on the display, and the code is a good starting point: a drain error with water in the tub, a leak error when the base sensor finds moisture, a motor error when the wash motor cannot turn. Read us the code when you call. The parts behind them are the drain pump, a seal or hose in the base, and the wash motor.
LG appliance repair
The visit
What happens when the technician comes
You get a 2-hour arrival window, and our technician calls about 15 minutes before arriving. Shoe covers go on at the door and floor protection goes down in front of the machine, because a built-in usually slides out from under the counter: the pumps, the heater and the inlet valve sit under and behind the tub.
To get ready, empty the dishwasher and clear the cabinet under the sink, where the water shut-off and the drain hose are. If the front of the machine wears a custom cabinet panel, mention it when you call.
You hear what failed and the full repair price before any work starts, and the $89 visit fee counts toward it. Most dishwasher repairs take an hour or two when the part is on the truck. Bosch, Miele and drawer-model parts are more often ordered, so expect a return visit.
What waiting costs you
Water left standing in the tub goes stale within a day or two, and running the cycle again and again against a jammed drain pump is how a jam becomes a burned-out motor. A leak is worse because you cannot see it. Water under a built-in soaks the subfloor and wicks into the cabinet beside it, and by the time the toe kick swells the floor is already damaged; in a condo it can reach the ceiling below. If yours is dripping now, start with what to check on a dishwasher leaking water.
$89 visit, credited to the repair. 90-day parts-and-labor warranty.
Repair or replace
Repair your dishwasher, or replace it?
Repair it when
- The fault is one wear part: drain pump, inlet valve, door gasket, latch, float switch or a spray arm.
- It is under about 9 years old, the typical life of a dishwasher, and the tub and racks are sound.
- It is a premium built-in (Bosch, Miele, KitchenAid) or wears a custom cabinet panel, so a replacement is costly and has to match the opening.
- The part has to be ordered. That means a return visit, not a reason to replace.
- It is an 18-inch or drawer model sized to your cabinets, where a new one has to fit the same space.
Replace it when
- The tub is cracked, or a stainless tub has rusted through at a seam.
- It is well past 9 years old and needs a control board or a circulation pump and motor.
- The repair would cost more than half the price of a comparable new dishwasher.
- The control board or another key part is no longer made for it.
- A long leak has rusted through the door liner or the frame under the tub.
Rusty rack tines on their own are cosmetic, and racks can be replaced. For the age side of the decision, see how long a dishwasher lasts.
What is safe to check before you call
If yours has a removable filter at the bottom of the tub, twist it out and rinse it; a clogged filter is behind many gritty loads. Spin each spray arm by hand and look for blocked holes. Under the sink, make sure the supply valve is open and the drain hose is not kinked. If the sink itself drains slowly or backs up, the blockage is past the dishwasher and no dishwasher part will fix it. If the disposal is what is clogged or jammed, that is a garbage disposal repair, and we do those too. And with water standing in the tub, do not keep re-running the cycle.
The drain hose under your sink and the high loop
The drain hose has to rise to the underside of the counter and be fastened there before it drops to the disposer or the sink drain. That loop is what stops sink water from running back into the tub. When it is missing, or has slipped down over the years, you get dirty water in a machine that has not run, a smell that will not wash out, and eventually water coming up in the sink when the dishwasher drains. If the trouble started after a kitchen remodel or a new sink, the hose route is the first suspect, and one look under the sink settles it.
Built-in, 18-inch compact or drawer: which do you have?
The standard built-in is 24 inches wide, and most of its working parts sit under and behind the tub, which is why it slides out from under the counter for many repairs. Narrow galley kitchens, in older condos and rowhouses especially, often take the 18-inch compact size instead. Drawer dishwashers such as the Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer are different again: each drawer is its own machine with its own pump and controls, so one can fail while the other keeps working. We repair all three. Compact and drawer models use their own parts, which are more often ordered than carried.
Recent repairs
Some dishwasher repairs we have done
KitchenAid dishwasher repair in Fairfax
Halfway through a wash, this KitchenAid dishwasher in Merrifield would shut itself down. When one does that, the rest usually follows: dishes coming out wet instead of dry,…Halfway through a wash, this KitchenAid dishwasher in Merrifield would shut itself down. When one does that, the rest usually follows: dishes coming out wet instead of dry, and water left sitting in the sump at the bottom of the tub.
Bosch dishwasher repair in Oakton
Every cycle on a Bosch dishwasher in Oakton finished with water still standing in the tub. When one cannot clear its own water, the dishes come out gritty…Every cycle on a Bosch dishwasher in Oakton finished with water still standing in the tub. When one cannot clear its own water, the dishes come out gritty too, and the cycle sometimes stops before it is done. Those three tend to arrive together.
Samsung dishwasher installation in Silver Spring
Out in Silver Spring, our technician pulled the old dishwasher, slid the new Samsung into place, and connected the water line, the drain hose and the power. A…Out in Silver Spring, our technician pulled the old dishwasher, slid the new Samsung into place, and connected the water line, the drain hose and the power. A full cycle ran at the end to check for leaks. The details that matter here are leveling, so the door seals, and a high loop in the drain hose so water cannot run back in.
GE dishwasher repair in Washington, DC
In Washington, DC, our technician slid a GE front-control dishwasher out from under the counter to diagnose it. The stainless machine came all the way clear of the…In Washington, DC, our technician slid a GE front-control dishwasher out from under the counter to diagnose it. The stainless machine came all the way clear of the cabinet, which is what it takes to see the working parts on a built-in.
Bosch dishwasher repair in Annandale
Partway through a cycle, the control panel on a Bosch dishwasher in Annandale went dead. Nothing on it responded, and the load was left sitting in standing water.…Partway through a cycle, the control panel on a Bosch dishwasher in Annandale went dead. Nothing on it responded, and the load was left sitting in standing water. Our technician was on-site to find out why the machine quit.
Google reviews
What people said after a dishwasher repair
- KI
Kemale Ismayilli
February 2026 · Bosch dishwasher
I was looking for a local Bosch specialist near me in Arlington, and found FixDaddy. They fixed my Dishwasher on the spot! Super fast and professional. If you need a reliable technician in the DMV, this is the one!
- KH
Katie Hopkins
June 2026 · Asko dishwasher
Had a great experience fixing out Asko dishwasher! He replaced the part that was broken and also fixed another leak issue and showed us what to watch out for in the future. Would highly recommend!
- NB
Natalia Bogdanova
February 2026 · dishwasher
These guys are amazing! Our dishwasher was giving us hard time, leaving scaling layer on the cups/glasses, the heating cycle was not functioning properly, and the display was acting up, with yellow flash and beep sound. I have tried all…These guys are amazing! Our dishwasher was giving us hard time, leaving scaling layer on the cups/glasses, the heating cycle was not functioning properly, and the display was acting up, with yellow flash and beep sound. I have tried all "recipes" to fix it with no luck! These guys do magic! Now the machine is running like new! And!! They followed up 2 times to make sure it works properly! Great experience! Great service!
- SD
Stuart Dornfeld
August 2026 · gas stove
The is my 2nd time using FixDaddy. The first time was to repair my LG washing machine. This time it was to repair my Creda gas stove. Scheduling was easy. They showed up on time. Provided excellent service. I will use them again.
5.0109 reviews
Every review on this page is copied from our public Google profile, word for word.
Guides
Dishwasher guides: what to check before you call
Some of these will save you the visit.
Dishwasher
Dishwasher Not Cleaning Dishes? Try These Fixes First
Finding food residue or grime on your dishes after a full cycle is frustrating. But before calling a technician or shopping for a new machine, work through this checklist. Most dishwasher cleaning…
Read the guideDishwasher
Why Is My Dishwasher Not Draining?
Standing water at the bottom of your dishwasher at the end of a cycle is a clear sign something is blocking the drain path. Most dishwasher draining problems are DIY-fixable. Here's how to…
Read the guideDishwasher
Dishwasher Leaking Water? Here's What to Check
A leaking dishwasher can cause significant water damage to your flooring, cabinetry, and subfloor if not addressed quickly. The good news is that most leaks have identifiable sources that are…
Read the guide
FAQ
Dishwasher repair: frequently asked questions
Why is there water sitting in the bottom of my dishwasher?
Either the drain pump is not running or something is blocking the way out: a jam in the pump, a packed filter, a kinked hose or a clogged sink drain. A little water in the sump right after a cycle is normal and keeps the seals wet. An inch or more that stays is not. Do not run it again and again hoping it clears; that is how a jammed pump burns out. Our guide to a dishwasher not draining covers what you can check yourself.
How much does it cost to repair a dishwasher?
We do not quote repair prices over the phone, because the price depends on which part failed and nobody can know that without looking. Our visit fee is $89. The technician finds exactly what's wrong and gives you the full repair price at your home — no pressure. If you go ahead, the $89 counts toward the repair.
Is a dishwasher that is eight years old worth fixing?
Usually yes, if the fault is a single part like a pump, a valve, a gasket or a latch. Those are wear parts and a new machine has the same ones. A cracked tub or a board that is no longer made is when we say replace. Whatever we fix carries a 90-day parts-and-labor warranty, so you are not gambling on the repair.
My dishwasher is leaking. Can I keep using it until you come?
Better not. Water under a built-in goes into the subfloor and the neighboring cabinet where you cannot see it, and a leak sensor may shut the machine down mid-cycle anyway. Close the supply valve under the sink if you can reach it, put a towel in front of the kick plate, and call us. Someone answers the phone 24/7.
Can you come today?
Most days, yes. You get a 2-hour arrival window and the technician calls about 15 minutes before pulling up. We serve Northern Virginia, Washington DC and the Montgomery County side of Maryland, from Leesburg and Woodbridge to Silver Spring and Rockville; every town is listed on our service area page.
Why do my glasses come out cloudy or spotted?
Two different things. Spots that wipe off are minerals left behind when hard water dries; the water here is hard, and rinse aid is the fix. A cloudy haze that will not wipe off is etching, and etched glass stays that way. If the whole load is coming out chalky, the machine may not be heating or rinsing properly, and that is a repair.
Do you repair Bosch, Miele and other European dishwashers?
Yes. We work on Bosch, Miele, Thermador, ASKO dishwashers and Fisher & Paykel drawer units, and Bosch dishwasher repair and Miele dishwasher repair have pages of their own. Parts for these are more often ordered than carried on the truck, so plan on a second visit for the fix once the fault is found.
Do you install dishwashers too?
Yes. Along with dishwasher repair, FixDaddy does dishwasher installation in homes across Northern Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland. Tell us the model when you call (888) 811-0088, and you get the same 2-hour arrival window and a call about 15 minutes before the technician arrives.
Near you
Dishwasher repair, town by town
- Dishwasher repair in Alexandria Northern Virginia
- Dishwasher repair in Arlington Northern Virginia
- Dishwasher repair in Bethesda Maryland
- Appliance repair in Annandale Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Ashburn Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Burke Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Centreville Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Chantilly Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Chevy Chase Maryland
- Appliance repair in Fairfax Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Fairfax Station Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Falls Church Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Great Falls Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Herndon Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Leesburg Northern Virginia
Dishwasher not doing its job?
Someone answers now. The visit is $89, credited to the repair, and most days we are out the same day.