Dishwasher repair
Built-in and drawer dishwashers. Standing water and poor cleaning are the usual complaints, and both often start with a filter nobody knew was there.
What usually goes wrong
Most modern dishwashers have a manual filter under the lower spray arm. When it fills with food, the machine drains slowly, cleans poorly and starts to smell. Cleaning it fixes a surprising number of service calls; when it does not, the drain pump, the check valve or the air gap at the sink is next.
Dishes that come out gritty point at the circulation side: a clogged spray arm, a failing wash motor or a water inlet valve that does not let enough water in. Dishwashers that leave everything wet often have a failed heating element or have simply run out of rinse aid.
Dishwasher problems and causes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What the technician does |
|---|---|---|
| Water left in the bottom | Clogged filter, blocked drain hose or air gap, failed drain pump | Clean the sump, clear the hose and air gap, test the pump |
| Dishes not clean | Clogged spray arms, weak wash motor, low water fill | Clean the arms, test the motor and the inlet valve |
| Leaking from the door | Worn door gasket, wrong detergent, unlevel installation | Replace the gasket and level the dishwasher |
| Dishes stay wet | Failed heating element, no rinse aid, faulty thermostat | Test the element and thermostat |
| Won’t start | Door latch switch, control board, blown thermal fuse | Test the latch and fuse, read the fault codes |
| Grinding or humming | Glass or debris in the pump, failing motor | Clear the pump chamber, test the motor |
Try this first
- Remove and rinse the filter under the lower spray arm.
- Run the kitchen tap until the water is hot before starting a cycle.
- If the sink has a disposal, run it first; a new disposal may still have its knockout plug in.
- Check that the spray arms turn freely by hand.
Keep it running
- Scrape plates, but do not pre-rinse them: modern detergents need some food to work on.
- Clean the filter once a month.
- Keep the rinse aid dispenser full for better drying.
Questions
- Can you replace a dishwasher instead?
- This site is about repair, but if a repair does not make sense we will say so and can advise on what to look for in a replacement.
- Why does my dishwasher smell?
- Usually food trapped in the filter or the sump. Clean the filter and run an empty hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner.
Dishwasher still acting up? Book a visit.
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