In short
- Most dishwasher repairs: $150–$400 on one Ottawa firm's page, $120–$380 on another's.
- The same first firm's 2026 guide puts a dishwasher at $240–$510 for pump, latch, board or inlet jobs.
- Visit and diagnosis: $89 + tax on that list, credited to the repair if you approve it.
- A new dishwasher is quoted at $600–$1,800 or more installed, which sets the line for a sensible repair.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Door latch or gasket | $150–$300 | One Ottawa firm, parts and labour |
| Water inlet valve | $150–$300 | Same firm |
| Drain pump | $150–$350 | Same firm |
| Heating element | $180–$350 | Same firm |
| Wash motor or circulation pump | $250–$450 | Same firm |
| Control board | $250–$450 | Same firm |
| Most repairs, all parts | $120–$380 | Another Ottawa firm’s statement |
Sources. B&M Canada Appliances, Dishwasher repair cost in Ottawa and 2026 price guide, seen 29.10.2026 (one firm’s list). Capital Appliance Repair, Dishwasher repair, seen 29.10.2026. Ontario 10 per cent rule: Protecting consumer rights and safety, seen 29.10.2026. Old appliances: City of Ottawa, Special items, seen 29.10.2026.
Price by part
B&M Canada Appliances prints typical totals, parts and labour together, for six dishwasher jobs. A door latch or gasket is $150–$300, a water inlet valve $150–$300, a drain pump $150–$350, a heating element $180–$350, and a wash motor or circulation pump or a control board $250–$450. Its page puts most repairs at $150–$400. Capital Appliance Repair puts most at $120–$380 and says the low end is a blocked filter or hose and the high end a circulation pump or board on a high-end Bosch or Miele. Both call their figures guides, and your own number comes after the diagnosis.
Where the price lands by symptom
- Water left in the tub. A clogged filter or a jammed drain pump, low to mid range.
- Dishes wet at the end. Heating element, thermostat or vent, mid range.
- Water on the floor. Door gasket, latch, inlet valve or a pump seal, low to mid range.
- Dead or will not start. The door latch first, then the control board.
- Dishes still dirty. Spray arms and filter first, the circulation pump if not.
Symptoms and tests are on dishwasher repair. A leak that has soaked the cabinet floor is a separate matter from the machine.
The visit fee
The B&M list is $89 + tax for the residential diagnosis, credited toward the approved repair, and $129 + tax for commercial machines. You see a written report either way. Overnight calls (9 PM to 7 AM) carry a $100 surcharge on that list, and a travel charge can apply more than 30 km out from downtown. Other companies set their own terms, which is why the fee belongs in the first question on the call.
What moves the number
Labour matters beside the part. A valve is quick. A pump or motor under the tub means pulling the machine from its opening, which takes longer. Brand and model decide the part price: premium and integrated European units use dearer pumps and boards. See the Bosch page for what to put in the request. Capital Appliance Repair names one exception to its low range, a circulation pump failing on a unit past its twelfth year.
Reading the quote
Ask for two lines, parts and labour, plus tax, the visit fee and its credit, and the warranty on the repair. The warranty term varies by firm (see the FAQ). Ontario lets a final bill run at most 10 per cent past a written estimate unless you sign off on more, so a second fault found mid-job waits for your yes.
Repair or replace
B&M’s guide favours repair on a machine younger than eight to ten whose bill comes in under about half of a comparable new one. A $180 valve on a $900 dishwasher passes easily. On Capital’s page a new installed dishwasher costs $600–$1,800 or more. Replacement wins when an older machine needs a motor or board and shows other wear, such as rust in the tub or a cracked rack track. See repair or replace and the all-appliance table, appliance repair cost in Ottawa. For the cooking side, see oven repair cost.
The price that counts
These bands come from two firms’ public pages. The dishwasher request you send goes to a third party, one independent repair company in your area, and its written quote after the test is the figure you decide on. The Desk forwards the request and holds no price list of its own.
Questions to ask the company
- Is your price for the part and the labour together?
- Is the diagnosis credited back once the dishwasher repair goes ahead?
- Does the quote include pulling the dishwasher out of its opening?
- If the part is ordered, what is the timeline and the fee for the return visit?
- What happens to the fee if the machine cannot justify a repair?
Have this ready for the call
- The serial and model, copied from the sticker on the door edge or the tub opening
- The symptom in one line: leaks, will not drain, will not start, dishes stay wet or dirty
- Any code on the display, photographed
- Age of the machine and, if you have it, a receipt or an earlier invoice
- Access: the dishwasher on a clear floor, with the cabinet under the sink emptied
Questions people ask
Why does one firm print $150–$400 and its own guide $240–$510?
The dishwasher page of the first firm covers typical parts from latch to board, while its 2026 guide lists pump, latch, board and inlet jobs together with built-ins in the picture. Different job mixes give different bands. Read both as a frame and ask for the number for your machine.
Is the fee waived when the machine cannot justify a repair?
On the lists above the visit fee is credited to an approved repair. If you decline the quote, you owe the fee. Capital Appliance Repair describes the diagnostic fee as paying for an honest assessment, whether that is a cheap fix or a recommendation to buy new.
How much more does a built-in or panel-ready unit cost to repair?
B&M’s page names pulling the dishwasher from its opening as longer labour, and says premium and integrated European models, such as some Bosch and Miele units, can use pricier pumps and boards. Say in the request that the unit is built in and give the brand.
How long is a dishwasher repair covered afterwards?
It differs by firm. B&M Canada Appliances gives 3 months on parts and labour. Capital Appliance Repair says up to 1 year on many repairs. Get the term written on the invoice, with what it covers.
Who removes the old dishwasher if I replace it?
Dishwashers are off the list for Ottawa curbside collection. The City points residents to retailers with take-back programs or to recycling firms. Ask the store selling the new machine to include haul-away and hook-up in its delivery quote.
