4 Common Dishwasher Problems (and How to Fix Them!)

Ask any busy homeowner – a dishwasher can be a real time and life saver! Everyone needs to eat, and unless you exclusively eat at restaurants or have takeout, then that means that after every meal, you’ll eventually have a pile of dirty dishes you need to clean (and even if you don’t eat at home, glasses and cups have to be washed eventually!). Used dishes are a part of any household, and they can pile up so quickly that you’d be hard pressed to ignore them.

That’s why having a dishwasher can truly change your life. You clean that pile of dirty dishes with hardly any effort. Imagine having a party or a big dinner with your family. After you put all the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, you just add soap and voila – you’re done for the day. You can even do other things – have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, watch your favorite show, catch up on other shows, or even go to bed and by morning, you’ll have freshly cleaned dishes.

So, what happens when your dishwasher breaks down? For some, they might be able to manage to hand wash for a few days, but for those who truly rely on them or are very busy, then it could lead to chaos. Even small problems can set you back and ruin your routine. Imagine taking an hour or so of your day just washing dishes, instead of spending time with family or doing hobbies you love.

However, believe it or not, you don’t always have to call the appliance repair technician for every little thing. There are some common dishwasher problems that are easy to solve by yourself. You can save yourself some time and money by figuring out if you can fix these yourself and if you truly think there is a major problem, then you can always call your favorite appliance repair person. So, here are the four common dishwasher problems and how you can fix them.

Problem 1: Dishes Stay Dirty

A dishwasher’s only function is to make sure your pots, pans, plates, cups, glasses, and other dishes come out sparkling clean, so if it can’t do that, then there must be a problem. However, oftentimes, this problem could be due to human error. It might be that you’re overloading the dishwasher or loading it the wrong way. If you have too many dishes, then the water and soap might not be able to properly get to all of your item’s surfaces to clean them. Make sure you only put one item in each dish slot and don’t put too many spoons, knives, and forks in the silverware basket.

If this isn’t the problem, it might be that your dishwasher isn’t getting hot enough. Ideally, the water that runs through the dishwasher should be at about 140 ° F and 160 ° F; any less and it won’t be able to get rid of grease. Use a kitchen thermometer to test the water when you run a cycle.

Finally, it could be a clogged filter screen. If the screen can’t catch the leftover food because it’s too full, then the debris has nowhere to go but back to your dishes. In this case, simple take out the screen and clean it out.

Problem 2: Dishwasher Won’t Drain

After each cycle, the dishwasher should drain out the water through a hose. If it’s not doing that, then first check on the drain hose – it might not be connected properly or might be clogged up with food debris.

If the water is leaking all over your kitchen floor, then it might be a cracked drain hose and must be replaced. Again, this is something you could do by yourself, but if you feel more comfortable having an expert do it, then call your appliance repair technician. Of course, it could also be that you’re using too much soap, which can collect in the hose and block it from draining.

If you recently installed a garbage disposal, this can also cause problems. If your washer stops draining, there may be a problem with the way the disposal unit was installed, so call the installer or your repair technician so they can take a look.

Problem 3: Stuck Racks

Racks have moving parts, so at some point, you may experience them getting stuck. First, make sure you check that there’s nothing blocking the racks and preventing them from moving in and out of the dishwasher. There might be particles of food around the wheel rods or inside the wheel holes. If the wheels are not turning or moving, then use some cooking oil or DW-40 to grease them.

Also, check and make sure the wheels are not broken. If they are, you might need to change the wheels or the entire rack itself. You can order the wheels or wheelset or get them at your local hardware store, but do take note of your dishwasher’s model number so you get the right one.

Problem 4: Leftover Film on Your Dishes

If your dishes have a white film or other type of residue on them, then it could be caused by several factors. First, it might be because of hard water. Many places in the US have hard water running through the taps, so if your town or city uses hard water, this may be the culprit. The easiest way to solve this would be to use a special type of detergent that has a water softener. Ask your appliance repair technician for a recommendation and you might want to ask what else you need to do as hard water can damage dishwashers.

Next, it might be just your detergent – you’re either using too much or the brand or type you’re using simple isn’t working well with your dishwasher. Switch out with a different type or brand for a couple of days and see if this resolves your problem.

When to Call an Appliance Repair Technician

Unfortunately, you can’t fix all your dishwasher’s problems. If your dishwasher makes strange sounds, doesn’t fill up properly, or simple won’t turn on, then it’s time to call a professional. A reliable appliance repair technician can help you solve your dishwasher problems and ensure your machine keeps running without any problems. casino portfolio