What should you do if you are ever caught in this situation?
You just finished enjoying a nice meal with your family, and right now, you’re standing in front of the dishwasher, getting ready to load it. But you notice that something is off; your dishwasher isn’t working well, working at all, or it doesn’t have any water.
Should you try to find the cause of the problem and possibly fix it yourself, or should you wait until your plumber arrives? As with most maintenance issues in the home, it makes sense to know how to troubleshoot a problem before calling an expert to handle it, says Golden Properties.
In this post, we walk you through the steps for troubleshooting and maybe fixing the most common dishwasher problems in the home. This guide won’t make you an expert in dishwasher repairs, but it can help you avoid being stranded with a sink full of dirty dishes.
Troubleshooting common dishwasher problems in your home
The dishwasher doesn’t clean well
What is the use of a dishwasher if your dishes don’t come out clean? The most probable cause of this problem is that the dishwasher is dirty. To eliminate this possibility, check the door gasket, strain screen and sprayer arms for dirt. Check that the correct cycle is selected and you don’t have low pressure from the spray arms. Be sure that the spray arm is not stuck or worn out. If the drying cycle is not enabled, enable it. Lastly, you may need a better detergent.
The dishwasher is not draining
If the dishwasher is not draining, there is a huge chance that it is clogged. Do this to unclog the apparatus; run a cleaning cycle with a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar. If the dishwasher is full when this problem happens, examine the check valve in the drain sump. It could be stuck. If this is the cause of the problem, replace the damaged part. The drain flapper is another common site for blockages.
Your dishwasher smells bad
A dishwasher should not have bad odors; it defeats the entire purpose of washing dishes in the first place. Bad odors in your dishwasher are caused by trapped food and grease. The strainer screen, jets in the sprayer arms and the bottom edge of the dishwasher door are common places where debris lodges. Clean the dishwasher, and spray a solution of equal parts water and baking soda on its walls, bottom and door. Let it sit for ten minutes. Lastly, run an empty hot cycle.
Your dishwasher is leaking
This problem could be due to improper loading. If loading the dishwasher in the right way doesn’t solve the problem, check the drainage hose for cracks or signs of wear. If necessary, replace the hose. Repeat the same procedure with the door gasket. If this doesn’t stop the leak, replace the door seal. If your dishwasher still leaks after these steps, you may want to contact a professional plumber.
The dishwasher is not starting
If the dishwasher door is not properly closed, it won’t start. Even if the door is closed, if the door latch has malfunctioned or the door latch switch is faulty, your dishwasher will not start. A broken timer will also prevent your dishwasher from starting. Lastly, the dishwasher may be disconnected from power. Ensure it is plugged in and the power cord and outlet are not damaged. Ensure that the dishwasher reset button has not been activated, the circuit breaker has not tripped, and the fuse has not blown.
The dishwasher doesn’t have water or has too much water
If the dishwasher is not getting any or too much water, the first place you want to look is the water inlet valve and the float and float switch. If the problem is insufficient or no water supply, you may need to replace the inlet valve. If the dishwasher does not stop filling up with water, the float and float switch may be obstructed by debris. The timer could also be stuck on full. Lastly, check that the hot water supply stop valve under the sink is not closed.
The dishwasher is noisy
If your previously-quiet dishwasher has suddenly started making a lot of noise, there are four possible causes. In the best-case scenario, maybe the spray arms of the dishwasher are banging on the dishes inside the appliance every time they turn. It could also be that the pump has become defective, the wash arm seal is worn, or the bearing ring is damaged. Replacing the faulty components should solve the problem.
To conclude, if your dishwasher still doesn’t work or doesn’t work as it should after these steps, it is time to talk to a professional plumber. In all likelihood, the problem with the dishwasher has gone beyond what you can DIY; call your plumber.