Dishwasher Not Washing? 2 Problems It May Have

If you remove your dishes from your dishwasher and they are not clean or if the dishwasher is having other problems, you may be able to repair it. This does depend on the problem, however, as there are some problems that are not worth repairing but instead it is best to purchase a new dishwasher. It also depends on how old your dishwasher is, as it should last approximately seven to 12 years. If your dishwasher is older than this then you should consider replacing it with a new one. Before is information about two common things you may have wrong with the dishwasher, so you will know if you should spend the money on repairing it.

Dishes are Dirty

If your dishes are coming out dirty or they have a type of residue on them, this can be caused by overloading the dishwasher. You should also scrape off food from plates before you put them in the dishwasher. In some cases, a tall utensil may restrict the spray arm from spinning.

If none of these is the problem, then there is something wrong with the dishwasher itself. There may be blockages or debris backed up in the door gasket and/or strain screen. If so, these things will get on your dishes. Check these two things and remove all debris that you see. If you are not sure how to check them, refer to your dishwasher's user's manual.

Another thing that can cause dirty dishes is a problem with the spray arm. This arm must rotate during operation as it sprays your dishes with water. If it does not, then your dishes will not come clean. Spin the arm with your hand. If it spins fine, remove it, and clean out the holes in the arm with a pipe cleaner. Place the arm back inside the dishwasher and run a load of dishes to see if they come clean.

Dishes are Wet

If you remove dishes after the dishwasher is finished running and they are still wet this can be frustrating. This could be a problem with the thermostat, which is a device that keeps the water at the right temperature.

Remove the access panel from the dishwater and you should see the thermostat. Check the temperature and if it is too low then there is something wrong with it. Check your dishwasher's user's manual to see what the temperature should be.

If the thermostat is fine, then the problem is likely the heating element inside the dishwasher. Replacing a heating element is difficult to do so if you think this is the problem contact an appliance repair technician. As stated above, if your dishwasher is old now would be a good time to replace it as replacing a heating element can be expensive.

If you decide to purchase a new dishwasher, talk with the appliance salesperson or company like Hudson Appliance Center about the different types available on the market today.


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