Simple maintenance will eliminate or prevent 90 percent of dishwashing problems. There are three common problems: the dishes do not come out clean, the dishwasher is leaking and the dishwasher does not turn on. Before calling a plumber or dishwasher repairman, try some simple tips for repairing your dishwasher yourself.
Are your dirty dishes not getting clean? Is water coming out of your dishwasher? Or can’t you even turn it on? If so, you’re not alone. These three complaints make up the vast majority of dishwasher problems. But now for the good news: you can usually fix them yourself without asking a professional dishwasher technician. Most repairs are routine maintenance only and require no special tools or skills and little or no additional costs. Below is a list of the causes of most problems, after which you can follow simple steps to solve them.
First: keep the manual with it!
Since there are many different models, it is useful to keep the manual for your dishwasher at hand while reading this article, so that you can determine which parts are different. However, most makes and models have a similar design. The manual can also help identify the part numbers when you need them. If you can’t find the manual, you can order one from the device manufacturer or find it online.
How does a dishwasher work?
A dishwasher does not fill like a washing machine for clothes. Instead, 2 to 3 liters of water flows over the bottom part of the bath, where it mixes with the detergent and is pumped by the rotating spray arms onto the dishes. The wash water is passed through the drains through fresh water to rinse the dishes. The cycle often repeats several times. A timer controls the water volume. A heating element near the bottom increases the temperature of the water to 35 to 70 degrees Celsius. The element also helps dry dishes after washing and when the rinsing cycles are complete.
Maintenance
Cleaning your dishwasher regularly is an important maintenance step. Below is a complete cleaning routine.
Clean the spray arm
Remove the spray arm to clean it. Unscrew the screw cap, clockwise, and lift the arm out. Scrub the base and spray arm with a toothbrush and wipe with a sponge. Grease and dirt quickly collect on these parts. Also clean the spray arm holes: carefully insert a piece of plasticized iron wire through the spray arm holes to remove any encrusted dirt. Replace the spray arm and cap. If necessary, also clean the top spray arm if there is one.
Clean the float switch
Press and unscrew the screw cap on the float, lift the cap straight up and off. Clean all accessible parts of the float switch with a toothbrush and sponge.
Cleaning the energy panels
Turn off the electricity and the water supply to the dishwasher. Then unscrew the two bottom panels under the door. Remove the supply tube and electrical wires: unscrew the nut from the compression fitting with a wrench to release the copper water supply tube. Remove the cover and disconnect the electrical wires. Then loosen the nuts securing the valve to the metal frame. Release the spring clips securing the rubber hose to the valve and pull the hose out. Use needle nose pliers.
Clean the valve parts
Remove the screws securing the compression fitting to the valve body ?? and remove the filter with needle nose pliers. Arrange all removed parts in a logical order on a clean surface for quick reassembly. Clean everything, rinse the screen. Put everything back together.
Checklist: what’s the problem?
These are the most common causes of a faulty dishwasher:
Overload
Are you overloading the dishwasher? Check the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you’re not overloading.
Obstacle
Has the silverware gone through the holes in the lower basket? The spray arm cannot rotate if obstructed.
Dishes remain dirty
Are you using the right detergent? Scrape off food scraps as much as possible from plates and bowls before placing them in the racks (no rinsing necessary.) Do you use a special rinse aid if your water is hard (highly mineralized)? Hard water can leave a film on the dishes.
Tip: Adding a water softener can drastically improve the performance of your dishwasher.
Repair parts
Below are the tests you can do (in order!) To find out which part needs to be cleaned and / or repaired.
Repair the spray arm
Turn the spray arm to check that it can rotate freely. Also check the holes in the spray arm for dirt. If you see dirt or the spray arm does not turn, remove and clean the spray arm. First, take out the dish carriers by loosening a pin at the end of the tracks. Don’t worry about a little water on the bottom of the dishwasher, that’s just the thing. It keeps the closures in the pump and in the motor moist. If they dry out, they will crack and leak. Turn the spray arm cap cap clockwise. Often there are cellot twist straps (from sandwich bags and bread bags), rubber bands, plastic and paper stuck in the spray arm. You can take them out with needle nose pliers. The pump usually sucks out most of this stuff, but if you hear a sudden loud grinding noise while the dishwasher is running, broken glass may be stuck in the pump supply. Unscrew the pump cover to check it.
Repair the float switch
Open and clean the float switch. Dirt can cause the float to stick up, preventing the water bowl from filling. If the water does not reach the correct level (just over the heating element), the dishwasher will not clean properly.
On most models, the float switch is located in the bottom of the front of the water bowl. You can use a small flexible brush or pipe cleaner to clean it if you don’t have a removable lid. When the float switch is clean, the float should be able to move up and down freely.
Repair of the valve filter
A common symptom of a clogged inlet valve filter is a low water level during the wash cycle. (Low water can also indicate a clogged float, but you should have already checked that). So before going through the more complex steps of cleaning the valve screen, check the water level: close the door, turn on the machine and run a cycle until it finishes filling on the second cycle. Then open the door (the machine switches off automatically) and check the water level. If the water does not reach the heating element, it is too low. Close the door and let the machine continue to run. Then clean the inlet valve filter.
Before the repair: you have to disconnect some wires, so always start by turning off the power to the machine. Also shut off the water supply to the dishwasher. Usually the shut-off is on the hot water pipe under a nearby sink. The inlet valve is usually mounted on the bottom of the dishwasher at the front. You have to remove the bottom panels and remove the valve to get to the filter that is mounted in the valve itself. If you can’t easily disconnect the wires, press the small dot in the center of the connector to release them. And mark each wire and its entrance with tape so you can reattach them in the same way.
Tip: keep a cloth handy. Some water will run out of the copper supply pipe.
Some professional dishwashers prefer to simply replace the valve on old machines to avoid problems in the near future. You can order these from special parts sites or from the dishwasher manufacturer.
Tip: Put the end of the supply tube in a pan and turn on the water supply briefly to flush sediment before reattaching the tube.
If after cleaning these parts the dishes still don’t get clean, call a white goods repairer to find the problem.
Replace or clean the door seal
Check the rubber in the dishwasher door for cracks, wear and build-up of dirt. If it is damaged, replace the door seal. If it is dirty, clean it with a mild detergent and a brush and sponge. A door that closes poorly causes the most leaks, and here’s what you can do to determine if it is self-repairable: Check for a bad seal when washing dishes by looking for drips directly under the door. If you find moisture, skip to the next paragraph. If you don’t find any drops there, open the bottom front panels and see if there are any drops around hoses and other parts. Sometimes you can fix a hose connection, but most repairs for these types of leaks are very difficult. It is better to call a technician for this.
Solving leakage at the door
Check the door seal. If you can’t find obvious damage, clean with a sponge and detergent. Check the float switch. A float switch that stays down will cause the water bowl to overfill. Only use detergent suitable for dishwashers. Dishwashing liquid will produce too much foam, causing the machine to leak.
Adjust the dishwasher door: Test your door to see if it needs adjustment. First, it must close and lock tightly. If you can make the door wobble when you pull it, it’s too loose. Second, you can do the following listening test: turn on the dishwasher and listen. Then push the door. If the sound fades, the door is too loose.
Most dishwashers have an adjustable mounting plate in the center of the top of the chassis. Adjusting this plate will make the door close better. Adjust in small steps, testing the closing of the door after each adjustment. The door should close tight, but not so tight that you have to push and bend to lock it.
Replace the door seal: If the leak continues around the door, the door seal is likely cracked, brittle, or worn. Buy new rubber from a white goods parts store. Some types are quite difficult to install. Read the instructions for the new door seal. Take a good look at how the old one was stuck when you pull it free. And a few tips: Rub petroleum jelly on the flanges to help them slide better. Soak them in hot water to soften the kinks and prevent wrinkles. If you can’t waterproof the new rubber, don’t hesitate to ask a repair technician for help.
Check the power supply
If the machine does not start, first check that all necessary switches are on. This can be on the dishwasher, but also a switch on a power strip or main switch, for example. Also check if the circuit breaker or fuse has tripped. The dishwasher must have its own circuit.
Turn the engine
Sometimes the motor is stuck and won’t turn on, especially if you haven’t used the dishwasher for a while. An indication of this problem is a buzzing sound without any other action. To get things going again, remove the bottom panels and spin the motor by turning the fan blades by hand. You must turn off the electrical power with your main switch to do this safely. Wear gloves for protection! If the blades cannot turn freely, call a dishwasher technician to determine the cause.
If the blades are rotating and the machine still cannot start when you turn the power back on, finding the cause is quite difficult. It could be a faulty switch, a clogged pump, or bad wiring. Call a licensed electrician or white goods repair service to fix these types of problems.
If you cannot repair the dishwasher yourself
Don’t hesitate to call your dishwasher dealer or a parts store for advice. They are usually friendly and helpful and often you will walk through your problem together to find a simple solution, especially if you have tried all of the above methods.