The dishwasher in your home can give you years of clean dishes when you know how to take care of your appliance. Good maintenance can prevent damage to your dishwasher, and make it less likely that you will need an emergency repair. Common problems with your dishwasher can include: dishes that don’t dry, long wash cycles, a poorly draining dishwasher, food debris on your dishes, or spots on your glasses. Each problem can be resolved easily when you know what to look for.
The Dishes Don’t Dry Properly
If your dishes don’t dry in the dishwasher, try using a liquid rinse aid. Although you may be using detergent that includes a rinse aid, a separate rinse aid will make it easier for your dishes to dry.
The Wash Cycles are Long
Your dishwasher needs hot water in order to clean your dishes. If the water temperature is set too low, the dishwasher will work to heat up the water. Try running the hot water in your sink before you start the dishwasher. Look at the different cycles on your dishwasher to see if there is a setting that will run for less time. If you can’t get the water temperature to rise, contact a plumber to figure out what is going on.
The Dishwasher Doesn’t Drain
The dishwasher should be cleaned out about once a month to remove food debris. The drain hose connects to the drain, and can become clogged. If this is a new installation, and it doesn’t drain, contact the installer to figure out the problem. A drain plug may have been left in place.
Food Debris on the Dishes
If you have food debris on your dishes, this means that the dishwasher isn’t draining properly. Clean the filters on your dishwasher, and look for anything that could be clogging the drain. Give your dishes a rinse before putting them in the dishwasher to remove substantial food particles.
Spots on the Glasses
When spots appear on your glasses, or there’s a film on your dishes, this is usually a problem with hard water. You can use a detergent booster that will help deal with the calcium and magnesium that is present in your water. If you aren’t sure about your water, you can have the water in your home tested.
When you have problems with your dishwasher that you can’t solve, it’s important to get the help you need. Take care of your dishwasher by cleaning the filters, and use a rinse aid to make dishwashing easier. Pay attention to how long your dishwasher runs, and make sure the water temperature is hot enough. At All Appliance Parts, we are ready to provide the parts for all of your dishwasher maintenance and replacement needs.
