How GE Dishwashers Work

• Dishwashers use water drawn from the plumbing supply in a house or apartment to wash away dirt and grime on dishes. These appliances use electricity to provide the power for pumping clean water into the machine before the wash and pumping out dirty water afterwards. A heating element inside helps to quickly dry the dishes.
  
  

Preventing Accidents

• Water and electricity can be a dangerous combination, especially when a leak is involved. Before working on a leaking GE dishwasher, the first step should always be to cut off the power for the appliance. The majority of kitchen dishwashers will be mounted under the counter, in which the unit is hardwired into the wiring. You can turn these dishwashers off by cutting the power supply at the main circuit breaker. Test that you've cut the right circuit by trying to start the dishwasher.
  
  

Hose Configuration

• Two different hoses can leak in a GE dishwasher: the water supply hose and the drain hose. Both of the hoses connect to the dishwasher underneath the cabinet. Remove the access panels on the bottom of the dishwasher to reach these hose connections. The other end of the drain hose connects to the tailpiece or garbage disposal beneath the sink, while the other end of the water supply hose connects to the water supply valve beneath the nearest sink or water connection point.
  
  

Leak Detection

• The easiest way to figure out where the leak in a GE dishwasher hose comes from is by examining the hose as it makes its way between the dishwasher and the connection point. A leak at either one of the ends, such as the drain hose beneath the kitchen sink, means that there is probably a loose or slipping connection. If the hose is leaking along the length, it means that the hose has failed.
  
  

Water Supply

• Once you've identified the leak, shut off the water supply for the hose, in case of replacing a supply hose. Rotating the end of the water supply valve to the right will cut the water supply.
  
  

Hose Replacement

• After you've cut the water supply, replace the water supply hoses by unscrewing the couplings at either end. You can then route a new water supply hose to either end of the connection, as needed. Wrap the threads on the connecting outlets and inlets with plumber's tape before reconnecting the hose to help create a watertight connection. Drain hoses hold in place by hose clamps on the end. Loosening the screw on the clamp will disengage the clamp so you can pull the hose out of place.