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Appliances Repair in MD
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Dishwashers are incredibly durable machines. They can take years of daily use and in many cases, it’s only a change in decor that brings about a replacement. Of course that doesn’t mean things never go wrong with them. From time to time a motor may go bad here or a leaky hose shows up there. But all in all, the dishwasher is an ingenious appliance that uses both electricity and water to give us years of dependable service. For more information on how the dishwasher works, visit Appliances Repair in MD
Appliances Repair in MD
With every repair circumstance, you’ll want to check the most common reasons first. They are usually the main causes and the easiest to deal with. Here are some of the more common problems you may face with your dishwasher, and ways to find out what’s causing it and how to fix it.
Appliances Repair in MD
As with all electrical troubleshooting, you will need a VOM (volt-ohm meter) to check certain parts. Remember, when checking parts, the power to the dishwasher is always off, unless otherwise stated. It’s also helpful to keep a notebook nearby to record how things go back together.
Problem: The dishwasher won’t turn on at all.
Solution: With every electrical appliance, it pays to check the power at the source. Make sure the breaker is on. If it is, then check the power at the dishwasher. If it’s hardwired, go back and turn the breaker off. You will have to open the dishwasher door, unscrew the screws holding it in place underneath the countertop and shimmy the unit out.
The junction box is located at the rear, on the bottom. Open the junction box and check the wires for corrosion, breaks, or loose connections. Check the interior of the box for any burn or “arc” marks. If everything is clear, turn the power back on and check for voltage by probing the black and white wires. If you get no voltage, the breaker may be bad.
If this isn’t the problem, then here’s a few other things to check:
The door latch switch may be bad — Open the door’s access panel and set your VOM to RX1. With the latch in the “open door” position, probe the two terminals. You should get a reading of infinity. Now close the latch and probe again. The reading should be zero. If not, replace the latch switch. If it’s a matter of the latch switch not closing, then you probably just need to adjust the latch. Loosen and reposition the latch and re-tighten. You want a nice, tight seal on the door when it’s closed.
The control timer motor could be bad — With the control panel off, disconnect the motor leads from the timer. Set the VOM to RX100 and clip the probes to the lead wires. If you get an infinity reading, or a very high resistance, then the motor is bad.
Problem: The dishwasher leaks from underneath.
Solution: Nine times out of ten it’s a hose problem. Check the drainage hose for cracks or loose connectors. If it’s not the hose, then it could be one of these causes:
The gaskets on the heating element may be loose or bad — If you see evidence of leakage at the gaskets, simply unscrew the heating element and unlock it from its holders. Disconnect the leads and replace the gaskets. Reassemble.
Check the tub for any rust spots. Minor spots can be cleaned up and repaired with an epoxy approved for dishwashers. Purchase the epoxy at your appliance store and follow the directions on the container.
Problem: The dishwasher sounds like it’s running, but there’s no water going in it.
Solution: The easiest thing to check is the float switch. It’s located in the base of the tub. Make sure there’s nothing obstructing it and that it lifts up easily. Check the switch by probing the terminals with the VOM. With the VOM on RX1, probe the terminals and you should get a reading of zero. With the float raised, the reading should be infinity. If not, replace the float switch. If the switch is OK, then here’s another common problem to check:
The inlet valve could be clogged — Turn the water off feeding the dishwasher and disconnect the hose, wires, and pipe from the valve. Remove the mounting screws and pull the valve out. With needlenose pliers, remove the filter from the valve. Clean the filter under running water. Reassemble.
Problem: The water won’t drain out.
Solution: The most common problem is a dirty strainer. Many dishwashers have one that sits on the bottom, but some have a little raised part in the corner. Check to make sure it’s not clogged with food or debris. If it’s all clear, check to make sure the drain hose isn’t bent or kinked. Remove the hose and check for any clogs.
Problem: My dishes don’t get clean enough.
Solution: Many times it’s just bad detergent at fault. Some detergents are less powerful the longer they go unused. Some new detergent may be all you need. If that doesn’t solve it, it could be the way you’re loading the dishwasher. Make sure nothing is obstructing the spray tower or arms. It could also be that the water wasn’t hot enough. Don’t run the dishwasher right after everyone’s just taken a shower. If you have a water conditioner in your house, it may be time to refill it with salt.
Remember, these are just some of the more common problems with the most common solutions. With appliances, there are an infinite number of potential problems you may face. Hopefully, yours will be one of the easy ones. I hope with these guides, we can help you save some time and money. To save you even more time and maybe a headache, be sure to have your dishwasher’s make and model number when heading to the parts shop.
kattyjames 
Reblogged this on pamelaandy.