How To Fix Dishwasher That Won’t Clean Properly

With the advent of dishwasher, cleaning dishes has become easier and less time-consuming. Earlier, we would have to spend several hours cleaning the dirty dishes. Today, all we have to do is put our dishes in the dish washer and let the house appliance do its job. Within a short period, the dishwasher has become an indispensable part of our home. However, like any other residential appliance, even the dishwasher can develop a problem. When your dishwasher malfunctions, it is best to opt for home repairs for dishwasher. You can find details of a dishwasher technician in your area and call them to troubleshoot the problem with your household appliance. The dishwasher service technician will visit your place to repair or service the machine. If you plan to attempt the dishwasher repair yourself, make sure you are aware of the parts that could be responsible for the problem.

At times, your dishwasher may not clean the dishes properly. If you plan to repair the machine without the help of a dishwasher repairman, you should know which part could be responsible for the problem. Here is a brief guide to help you.

Discharge Housing Gasket

If the water pressure from the machine’s spray arm is low, the housing gasket of the upper discharge could be responsible for the problem. The gasket is usually located on the discharge cover just above the impeller. The housing gasket may have got dislocated or may need replacement. If the gasket is damaged and must be replaced, make sure you remove all the debris from the area before installing the new gasket.

Spray Arm

A problem with the machine’s lower spray arm could prevent the home appliance from cleaning the dishes properly. The spray arm is responsible for spraying strong stem of detergent and hot water on the dishes. Before you check the condition of the spray arm, make sure it is able to move freely and is not obstructed by the dirty dishes. At times, the bearing ring of the spray arm may be dislocated or worn out, which can cause the arm to wobble and prevent it spraying water and detergent evenly. If the bearing ring is not worn out or dislocated, you should visually inspect the spray arm for plugged holes or cracks. Food particles, glass, toothpicks, and other debris can clog the holes of the spray, which can impair the direction or force of the spray arm. If there are cracks on the spray arm, it will reduce water force and prevent the machine from cleaning the dishes properly.

Docking Station

Some dishwashers have a middle spray arm which is attached to the machine’s upper rack. In these machines, you must check the docking station and its flappers. The docking station, which has two outlets, provides water to the machine’s middle spray arm. Make sure the docking station is connected properly to the tube that supplies water to the machine. Also, make sure the flappers move freely and close securely to prevent pressure loss when the supply tube of middle spray arm is not inserted.

Chopper

The dishwasher is equipped with a food chopper that is responsible for chopping the leftover food particles into small pieces so that they can be easily drained out from the washer. If the chopper isn’t fine enough or is broken, it can clog the drains. When your washer is not cleaning the dishes properly, you should check the drains. If the drain is clogged by large food particles, you must the check the condition of the chopper.

 

 

Water Inlet Valve

A part of the dishwasher that is most likely to fail and prevent the machine from cleaning the dishes properly is the water inlet valve. The valve is located near the lower access panel which is usually in the front of the machine. If water level is not maintained or the machine does not have water, you must first inspect the valve to ensure that power is supplied to the valve when water enters the machine. You can check this using the multi-meter. If there is no problem with the power supply, the valve must be replaced.

Water Delivery Tube

In machines that have upper spray arm, a problem in water delivery tube can prevent the washer from cleaning the dishes properly. The tube is usually made of plastic and it is responsible for supplying water to the upper spray arm. When checking the condition of the tube, make sure it is properly aligned with spray arm and there are no obstructions.

Filters

Most dishwashers are equipped with at least one filter to remove debris from machine during the wash cycle. These filters come with a self-cleaning feature but under detergent use or certain water conditions, it can become clogged. The filter is usually a part of the pump or wash arm assembly. If you suspect that the filter is not doing its job, you should clean the filter. If cleaning does not help, you may have to replace the filter.

Wash Spinner

The wash spinner is a wash arm that is usually on the manifold or on the water feed tube. If the spinner is dislocated or cracked, it could prevent the machine from cleaning the dishes properly.

Detergent Dispenser

A problem with the detergent dispenser could prevent the washer from cleaning the dishes. Ideally, you must use a good quality detergent to wash the dishes. If you use tablets or gel, try switching to powered detergent because it dissolves faster. Some machines have a pre-wash compartment in their detergent cup. You could use this to add detergent to the machine. Also, it is important to use a detergent that suits the local water conditions. For instance, if you use hard water to clean the dishes, you will need more detergent to clean the dishes. However, avoid using too much detergent because it could damage the glassware.

The detergent dispenser may not be working properly because the dispenser cup could be caked or clogged with the old detergent. To troubleshoot this problem, all you have to do is clean the cup. Also, make sure detergent is released by the detergent cup during the wash cycle.

Heating Element

For the washer to clean the dishes properly, a temperature of about 142 degrees Fahrenheit must be maintained. The heating element is used by the washer to maintain the temperature of water inside the machine. It is important to note that when you select the normal wash cycle, the heating element does not play any role in heating the water. So, when you select the normal cycle, make sure the water is hot enough to clean the dishes. Avoid using very hot water to clean the dishes, as it could damage the dishes. Before you start the wash cycle, run the hot water in the sink for 5 to 10 minutes. If the temperature of water drops during the cycle, the heating element could be the culprit. Since the heating element cannot be repaired, you may have to get a replacement.

Pump Impellers

The dishwasher has two impellers – the drain impeller and the wash impeller. These impellers are located inside the dishwasher. The wash impeller is responsible for circulating water inside the machine and pressurizes the water spray arm. The drain impeller is used to drain from the machine. To check the condition of the impellers, you can visually inspect them. If the fins or hub is damaged, you may have to replace it.

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