Although they have benefited from improved technology over the years, dishwashers are still very simple appliances in essence. The basic design of a dishwasher remains the same and a well maintained dishwasher can function trouble free for years and years. However dishwashers can occasionally still experience faults and troubleshooting the problems is more often than not a quick and easy process that could potentially save you a lot of money on an expensive repair.
So before calling out an engineer it is worth spending a few moments going through some basic checks to troubleshoot your dishwasher problems. Below you’ll find a few of the most frequently encountered dishwasher problems. Although these issues can sometimes indicate a more serious problem which will require a professional repair there are a few checks you do to see if the problem is something more minor which you can easily remedy yourself.
- Your Dishwasher is not Draining Properly – It is normal for a little water to remain in the dishwasher basin after a cycle. If there appears to be more than usual and the water is dirty the most likely culprit is a blocked drain or filter. Take out the filters and strainers from the basin and give them a proper scrub and rinse to remove any dirt. Underneath the filters are the drain which should be clean and unobstructed. If it appears to be blocked then try to clear any blockages with a long brush. Hopefully this will solve the problem but if not then the next step would be to check the drain hose and water outlet for kinks or blockages.
- Your Dishwasher doesn’t Fill with Water – The first thing to check is that the water supply is on and that the valve on the stop tap is open (the tap is usually found with the pipes under the kitchen sink). If all seems ok then it is possible that the inlet valve of the dishwasher is the cause of the fault. Disconnect the dishwasher from the power supply and remove the panel below the door. Check the pipes are all tightly sealed, unobstructed, and that there are no traces of leaks. Most dishwashers will also fail to run a program if it detects that the door is not properly closed or sealed, so check to make sure that the door and door catch are ok and that the seal around the edge of the dishwashers door is properly in place and not damaged.
- Your Dishwasher Water isn’t Getting Hot– The majority of dishwashers only take on cold water and get it up to temperature using an internal heating element which is clearly visible in the the basin. This element malfunctioning is the most likely cause of water not getting hot with a faulty thermostat being another possible culprit. This kind of problem will usually require repair by a qualified engineer although it is a fairly straight forward job so shouldn’t cost too much to fix. If you are experienced with working safely with electrics then you can check the heating element with a voltmeter to confirm if it is faulty. As ever, always disconnect the power before working with electricity and keep safety as the first priority!
For further assistance please have a look at our general dishwasher troubleshooting guide.