Signs Your Dishwasher May Need To Be Repaired
The dishwasher is one of the most used appliances in anyone’s kitchen, so it’s no surprise that a misbehaving unit is always a headache, no matter what the cause is. Whether it’s something major like a flooded kitchen or relatively minor like leftover food particles on the dishes, dealing with a broken dishwasher is never fun.
When a breakdown happens, how can you tell what the cause is? In this latest blog from Jim & Dave’s Appliance, we’ll teach you what to look out for when your dishwasher starts acting up, and who to call when you think it might need fixing.
The Door Doesn’t Latch Properly
On its face, this one’s pretty simple, but it’s an issue that can lead to bigger problems if it is not fixed. The front door of a dishwasher must be in a locked position in order for the dishwasher to run properly, so when you have a door latch that won’t close properly or at all, you need to be aware that using the dishwasher regardless is a bad idea.
A broken or improperly working latch can be an indicator of several things:
- The latch itself is broken and needs to be replaced
- The door or shell of the dishwasher has warped to the point that the latch will not work correctly
- The seal around the inside of the door is loose or cracked from use and needs to be replaced
Using a dishwasher with a bad latch can cause leaking or even permanent damage to your dishwasher. Contact a repair specialist right away!
Pooling Water At The Bottom Of The Dishwasher
If you keep finding water pooling at the bottom of the inside of your dishwasher after running a load, it may point to a couple of sources. The most common is bits of food blocking the drain, with the other being a cracked or disintegrated drain. If it’s the former, you can clean the food bits out yourself with a spoon and some paper towels. If it’s the latter, you’ll need to contact your local appliance repair person as soon as possible in order to determine whether the drain can be replaced or if you need to shell out money for a brand new machine.
Ignoring this problem can lead to your dishwasher eventually flooding your entire kitchen, so take care of it as soon as possible.
Dishes Come Out Dirty
Dirty dishes coming out of a fresh wash is not necessarily a sign of disrepair. In fact, most of the time it’s an indicator that you’re rinsing off your dishes too well — modern dishwasher soap does not require one to rinse their dirty dishes, as the soap is designed to “cling” to food particles in order to foam up properly.
That’s not always the case, though. A blocked drain screen can also cause dishes to come out dirty. If this is the case, you’ll need to clean the screen off or have a repair specialist replace it with a new one.
The Dishwasher Is Making Odd Noises
Strange sounds coming out of your dishwasher should always be a sign for concern. While it is true that older dishwashers tend to be a bit noisier than their more modern counterparts, most people are familiar enough with their unit to know when it is making more noise than usual. Keep an ear open for weird clanks, buzzing, or chunks coming out of yours; these kinds of sounds usually increase in frequency the more the dishwasher gets used, so it will become more apparent over time that you should probably call an appliance specialist before your washer kicks the bucket.
What can cause odd noises in a dishwasher?
- Hard food particles blocking the chopper blades
- A drain line vibrating against a cabinet or wall
- A broken wash pump or drain pump
- The dishwasher is not properly fastened to the cabinet or floor
Water Will Not Pump Into Or Out Of The Dishwasher
Modern dishwashers have a number of sensors that let the computer inside know when to pump water in and out. When these sensors fail, it can disrupt the washing process and cause a dishwasher to overheat. If you ever run into this situation, shut down your washer immediately and call a professional. Allowing a dishwasher to run without water is a quick way to fry the internal components, and that can be an expensive mistake to make.
Overfilling With Water Or Not Filling At All
If your dishwasher is overfilling with water or not filling with water at all, it could be caused by several things:
- A blocked water inlet valve
- A bad door seal
- A faulty float or float switch
- Damaged drain hoses
An appliance repair expert can properly diagnose and repair any of these potential causes.
The Dishes Are Not Hot After A Wash
Part of what allows dishwashers to properly clean and sanitize your dishes is the use of extremely hot water. If you pull the dishes out after a fresh wash and notice that they are not hot to the touch, it could indicate that the heating coil is either damaged or is not getting enough power to heat the water properly. Either way, this is an issue you’ll have to talk to an expert about.
The Dishwasher Is Flooding Your Kitchen
A dishwasher flooding the kitchen is a sure sign that a repair specialist needs to be called in immediately. They can diagnose whether the leaking is being caused by a clogged pump, a worn-out seal, a warped door, or a blocked filter.
Trust Jim & Dave’s Appliance For All Your Washer Repair Needs
When you have an appliance that is in need of repair, get it fixed in record time with Jim & Dave’s Appliance! We’ve been providing years of dependable repair service to the Front Range, and we’re willing to tackle any broken appliance, no matter how big the job is.
For general appliance repairs and warranty service, contact us today!.