Common Dishwasher Problems You Can Fix Yourself
Out of all the appliances dishwashers have probably the most suspected faults that a customer can
check themselves.
Checking these simple problems can save you time but, more importantly, a needless service visit to
repair a fault on your dishwasher that very probably is not a fault at all; it just needs some care and
attention to keep your dishwasher in working order.
As service engineers we see these silly problems a lot and, it's just down to people not knowing (and
often not reading the instruction manual) on how to look after their dishwasher. This can be a mistake
that could cost you.
Dishwasher Rinse Aid
For example a common one is that a customer complains that dishes are "streaky" after the cycle is
finished and the cure has something to do with either no rinse aid or the dosage not set high enough.
First make sure you have rinse aid in the compartment, usually the small one next to the soap
compartment, and then set the dosage, usually a small lever with a scale from one to six. The lever
determines how much rinse aid is dispensed and this will vary from region to region depending on
how hard or soft the water is, as a general rule the harder the water the more rinse aid is needed.
The function of the rinse aid is to make water wetter. I know that sounds crazy but it is the easiest way
to explain its function, to be technical, it breaks down the surface tension in water and allows it to flow
easier off of anything in the dishwasher.
You can also understand from this how important it is to the actual cleaning function! Because of this
you may also understand the need for a good quality detergent and rinse aid as they are an essential
component to clean dishes and some of the cheaper "Own Brands" are not up to the task.
Dishes Have Dirt On Them!
This is very common and almost always comes down to one of the following few things. Although
there are faults that can cause residues to be left they are very uncommon indeed and you should
check the following first.
You have no rinse aid in the dishwasher. See Above
You're filters and spray arms need cleaned refer to your instruction book
Poor or improper loading of the dishwasher, is the spray reaching all the dishes and cutlery?
There is dirt in your water supply
If you clean out the appliance and still have a problem then try cleaning the dishwasher with a
specialist product for the job. You can, at any good supermarket, buy a good quality dishwasher
cleaner, which we would advise you use this at least once every few months to keep everything clear.
Food Deposits Left On Crockery
Rinse off surplus food or at least scrape away food scraps and deposit into a waste bin before
loading. (Heavily encrusted or burnt on remains will need to be pre-soaked away first, prior to loading)
Do not allow dirty crockery to stand for hours in the machine and to prevent food drying on; set the
machine to do a 'Pre-soak' cycle.
Check all the spray arm holes to ensure each is clear, if not, remove and rinse under tap.
Glasses and cup on top basket appear to have gritty deposits left on them usually means the top
spray arm is blocked or restricted by plates and knives stacked and jamming its rotation ability.
Badly arranged items will always lead to a poor wash results, avoid placing plastic items such as food
storage boxes, infants drinking vessels, plastic lids and plates as they will fly around within and could
cause damage also.
Blocked drain filters and sieves or badly located filters allowing food deposits to block the circulation
and drain ports below. (Check and clean regularly and ensure the bottom of the 'sump' is clear of
debris before refitting.
Insufficient detergent, one dishwasher tablet is fine but loose powder or liquid detergent must be used
according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
White Coating on Glasses & Dishwasher Lining
Detergent not only loosens the remains of food but together with calcium salts in the water, forms
water-soluble compounds which prevent the appearance of white calcium coating and scale.
Insufficient detergent may give rise to its inability in dealing with this problem.
Un-softened water is the main cause of chalk like deposits and cloudy glasses. In hard water areas
(check with your local Water Company for the Hardness Level in your area) salt has to be regularly
placed in the salt container and the 'salt regulator' set as per the manufacturer’s instructions. "3 in 1"
tablets that include salt in them are NOT sufficient in dealing with this problem, therefore always use
salt as well. 3) White cloudy film that can be hand washed off indicates either the rinse aid setting is
too high or the salt regeneration cycle has failed ( needs more salt or even resetting to a higher level.)
White cloudy film on glasses that cannot be washed off but can be scratched off usually indicates a
silica scum deposit has formed after many previous washes its dishwashing life has expired and time
to replace the glass the only option.
Poor Drying From The Dishwasher
No rinse aid being dispensed or set incorrectly
Opening the door shortly after the cycle finishes, it's best to leave the door closed for at least 30
minutes or longer preferably to allow the full drying process to take effect!
Cutlery Tarnishing When Washed In Your Dishwasher
Silver (E.P.N.S) cutlery tarnishes the moment it is exposed to air and only hand cleaning with silver
polish will clean correctly after it has been washed in the machine. Some manufacturers provide a
'Silverware Container' that can be inserted into the dishwasher prior to washing, which reduces the
tarnishing effect dramatically through 'electrolytic' action (very clever!).
Pits or rust marks on stainless steel cutlery indicate a poor quality of stainless steel or the product
incorrectly polished during manufacture. Sometimes however, good quality stainless steel can be
damaged in the same way, but only after continued exposure to vinegar, fruit juices or table salt.
Stainless steel also should not be left in a humid atmosphere for prolonged periods as it requires
constant exposure to oxygen as vital in preserving its protective coating.
Bronze or bronze plated cutlery should not be placed in a dishwasher (hand wash only).
Rusting Inside The Dishwasher
Mild steel pots and pans and cooking utensils are the main protagonists here. Rusting nuts and bolts
on pan handles and cheap oven ware are always to blame and should not be washed in the machine.
Salt crystals left to lie in the machine after filling the salt container can reach into those nooks and
crannies of the machine and cause havoc. Always wipe away any spilled salt or rinse away with warm
water and set the machine onto a pre-soak cycle to flush it away quickly.
Other Common Dishwasher Complaints
Other common faults include:
Dirty water in the bottom of the dishwasher Check your installation almost certainly this water is
coming back into the appliance from your drainage system.
No Power Check the fuse if it's okay then call an engineer
Dishwasher will not fill make sure your water is switched on and if it is call an engineer
Dishwasher not cleaning, check as above and if you still have a problem then place a call an engineer
Dishwasher Tablets
This is much the same as for washing machines but please, if you use tablets, make sure you us a full
program and not an economy one as you may not fully dissolve the tablet on some economy
programs as they are too short. This is a waste of your money, not to mention potentially clogging
your dishwasher with a bit of un-dissolved tablet and the environmental concern. If you find bits of undissolved tablet in your dishwasher then go back to using soap powder and be happy with it because
you are saving money and unnecessary pollution!
The only other thing to remember, again, is use a quality product that way if you have any problems
you can often get help from the detergent manufacturer as well as the manufacturer that made the
machine.
Almost all dishwasher engineers will always recommend separate products to my customers, yes I
know it can be a bit more awkward and that the "all-in-one" tablet seems a boon but if you stop and
think about it it's not really. I mean how can you regulate or change the dosage if you're using a
tablet? You may well be simply throwing money away for no better results other than it's a bit easier to
carry from the supermarket.
On this small island there are huge regional variations in water hardness and cleanliness and one
size does not fit all in my opinion.