Is your GE dishwasher having trouble starting the wash cycle, and all you can hear is a beeping sound? The beeping you hear doesn’t necessarily mean that your dishwasher is broken beyond repair.
There are multiple potential scenarios for this issue, and we’ll discuss each in our detailed troubleshooting guide, which may also help you avoid this problem in the future.
What’s more, we will offer you the most efficient methods for fixing your GE dishwasher, whether the issue is of mechanical or electrical nature.
Why your GE dishwasher won’t start just beeps
Your GE appliance’s beeping sound doesn’t always have the same meaning. Depending on its length and pattern, the dishwasher could convey several possible messages with this beep.
The door latch issue
If the beeping sound you hear repeats every 30 seconds, it is possible that you haven’t closed the dishwasher door correctly or that the door latch switch is damaged or broken.
The dishwasher door must be closed all the way; otherwise, the wash cycle will be interrupted or won’t start.
Power surge
In case of a power surge, the GE dishwasher will beep continuously, so you must turn it off for the beeping to stop.
Turning-off beeping
As you may have noticed, your dishwasher will beep for 60-90 seconds while turning off. Once the beeping stops, the GE appliance is turned off completely.
However, if the beeping followed by blinking continues, something might be wrong with the device. Once the beeping and blinking stop, try starting a wash cycle and see if the dishwasher is working correctly.
Excess water signal
The beep code may be triggered due to excess water in your GE dishwasher. The primary role of this beep code is to prevent flooding, so this is what your GE dishwasher may be indicating.
The dishwasher won’t start the wash cycle until the excess water has been removed.
Faulty components
The beeping sound may also point to specific damaged or malfunctioning components in the dishwasher that compromise its functioning.
There could be a damaged dishwasher door or a door switch that isn’t latching, a broken rack, or faulty spray arms that aren’t allowing the machine to start the wash cycle.
Too much product/wrong choice of product
When choosing detergent, rinse aid, or coarse salt for your GE dishwasher, selecting the brands compatible with that particular model is necessary.
Also, you don’t want to go overboard with the amount of product you’re adding, but you also want to avoid adding too little product.
Your dishwasher could also signal that there is no detergent available, which may be why the wash cycle isn’t starting.
How to fix a GE dishwasher that won’t start but just beep
Once you’ve determined the issue the beeping is pointing to, it shouldn’t be too hard to solve.
Here are some of the most efficient methods of ensuring that your dishwasher is functioning correctly and can safely start the wash cycle.
1. Check the dishwasher door
The first step when troubleshooting your door is ensuring that it is properly closed and nothing is blocking it.
Often, a dish that hasn’t been positioned correctly in the rack is blocking the door, so you should ensure that nothing is sticking out from inside the dishwasher when you’re trying to close it.
Yet another possibility is that you have a faulty door latch on your hands. It could be broken, damaged, or clogged.
Either way, it is necessary to have the door latch repaired or replaced, as your dishwasher door won’t close and lock unless the door is latching.
The door switch is yet another potential issue; you can troubleshoot it using the multimeter. If the switch shows no signs of continuity, it should be replaced.
You should also ensure that the Child Safety lock isn’t causing the dishwasher to remain stuck in the initial phase and not move on to the wash cycle.
While this feature is handy, it may be why the machine isn’t starting, so you may want to disable it and try to run a wash cycle without it.
2. Restart the dishwasher
The best thing you can do following a power surge is to restart your dishwasher – or better said, to power-cycle it.
All you need to do is turn off the unit, unplug the power cord from the power outlet, and wait for a few minutes.
Now plug the unit back into the power source, and turn it on again. In case the power cycle didn’t yield any results, it may be necessary to manually restart your GE dishwasher by switching off the circuit breaker.
You may also perform a factory reset on your GE washer. Depending on the model, the placement of the reset button will be different, but it is usually located near the door on the front portion of the unit.
However, for some dishwasher models, you may need to open the door to reach the reset button, which should be on the top of the door.
If you cannot locate the reset button, consult the manual, which should include the instructions for resetting that specific GE unit.
3. Check if the dishes are correctly loaded
The dishes that haven’t been positioned correctly in the rack could be blocking the door and the water sprouts or the propeller arms, compromising all functions of your GE dishwasher.
Ensure that the dishes are loaded in the most optimal manner – meaning that no dishes are touching the mentioned components or hanging out of the racks.
Usually, the top rack is reserved for cups, glasses, and smaller dishes, whereas the bottom rack holds your plates and the silverware basket.
You also want to avoid overloading the dishwasher. You can test if the racks are overloaded by trying to slide them. If you find it difficult it move them in and out of the dishwasher, the load may be too heavy.
4. Check the water level
Excess water in the dishwasher could set off the anti-flood alarm, which is why the dishwasher is beeping but not starting.
In this case, you should use clean towels to remove the residue water from the dishwasher and ensure that the water level isn’t affecting the functioning of the dishwasher.
Then again, the water level could have dropped too low for the dishwasher to function, as indicated by an error on the screen. The waterline should be inspected for any damage or clogs in this case.
5. Inspect the dishwasher
You want to ensure that every component of the dishwasher is free of any signs of physical damage. There could be a mechanical or electronic issue with the components inside the dishwasher, which often calls for a licensed technician.
Keep in mind that some dishwasher components could be dirty or clogged even though they’re defect-free. It is recommended to clean the inside of the dishwasher regularly, using a 1:1 vinegar and water cleaning solution.
Sometimes, you may have to use a more robust commercial cleaning solution to eliminate the clogs.
6. Check the product recommendations
Using only the cleaning products compatible with your specific GE dishwasher is necessary, and the recommendations are available in the user manual.
You also want to check the recommendations for the optimal product amounts and never add too much, but also ensure that there is enough.
Adrian is an ISCET licensed professional that has completed the National Appliance Service Technician Certification Exam and has the expertise to diagnose and repair any appliance. He is well-versed in the latest technologies and techniques and is always up-to-date on the latest industry standards.
