Your dishes don't dry? Are your dishes and cutlery still dirty after a wash? Do you have stains on your glassware? Here are the 5 most common dishwasher faults. The common problems encountered by our technicians and the solutions to solve them.
Top 5 Dishwasher Problems and their Solutions
If your dishes don't dry or if you have white spots on your glassware, you're not alone. These are just some of the most common problems that can occur on your appliance. We know what these problems are and how to fix them. Hoovernez technicians repair many dishwashers every year.
1-The dishwasher does not dry
Dishwashers are designed to use a rinse liquid, which greatly improves drying. The rinse agent also prevents the formation of water droplets, which prevents stains or streaks from forming on the dishes during drying. Even if your detergent or tablet contains a rinse agent, it is recommended that you use an additional liquid rinse agent and pour it into the dispenser. The dispenser is designed to dispense the rinse agent at the right time for best results.
Most often, this is a problem related to the heating element of the dishwasher. If your heating element is working, check the high limit thermostat (a device that prevents the dishwasher from getting too hot). A faulty high limit thermostat can cause the heat to turn off before the dishes are completely dry.
2-The dishwasher does not drain anymore
This problem is obvious because your dishwasher floods the floor with water when you try to open it! Try running your dishwasher a second time first: A dishwasher that has been turned off unexpectedly (for example, by a brief power outage) may still have water in it because the cycle is not complete. Running the cycle a second time will solve this problem.
This may sound odd, but you should also try to get your garbage disposal to work. The dishwasher usually pours into the same drain as the garbage disposal. If a problem with your drain system, such as a build-up of food sediment, prevents the dishwasher from draining properly, you will have an overflow problem.
Running your garbage disposal and keeping it clean can solve this problem. If you have just installed a new disposer, the drain plug may still be in place, which means the dishwasher cannot access its drain system. Make sure that the drain plug is removed and that the dishwasher drain hose is properly connected if you have a new drain system. If this seems complicated, contact a licensed plumber to correct drain problems. Hoovernez has technicians who are experts in this field.
3-The dishwasher washes badly, it leaves white marks on the dishes.
This is a particularly annoying problem because it can happen slowly over time, and there is not always a clear solution. However, it's probably not your dishwasher's fault: A film forms on your glasses because the water in your area is very "hard" or filled with microscopic minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals precipitate out of the water when it is heated and settle on other surfaces ... which is especially noticeable on your glasses. Look for a dishwasher rinse agent or additive that specifically mentions that it is designed for hard water.
There are extreme cases where the rinse agent and soap are not able to soften the water in hard water areas sufficiently to achieve the desired cleaning results. In these cases, a dishwashing detergent booster can significantly improve cleaning results. Try using a liquid detergent instead of tablets, add regenerating salt, especially if the water in your area is very hard, and change the dishwasher's softener setting by referring to your machine's instructions. If, despite all this, your washing machine still leaves white streaks, contact Hoovernez for quick and efficient repairing.
4-Your dishes are dirty or covered with residue
First of all, make sure you don't do anything that might cause the problem. Is your machine overloaded? Could an implement limit the rotational movement of one of the spraying arms? Do you load plates into the machine without first scraping the food?
After checking that this is not something you are doing, you can then check if there are any problems with the machine itself. Check for grease, debris or blockages in the strainer and door seal. The culprit could also be your spray arms, so try rotating the upper and lower arms with your hand to make sure they turn easily. If they don't rotate, or if they are covered with dirt or mould, you may need to clean them. To do this, remove the arms and gently clean them with a toothbrush and pipe cleaner. Once the arms have been replaced, try running a cleaning cycle and see if your dishes look better.
Not all models are equipped with a removable filter. Consult your user manual. If filters are clogged or dirty, food particles can be deposited on the dishes and affect overall cleaning performance. Filters should be cleaned when :
- Objects or tasks are visible on the top of the filter.
- Food particles or dirt are still present on the dishes.
- The dishes feel grainy to the touch.
5-Your dishwasher smells bad
The smell is probably due to old, moist food. Examine your machine carefully for the presence of food and clean the screen of your dishwasher (located at the bottom of your machine). You may be surprised at how dirty and disgusting your screen is.
If your dishwasher smells chemical, a plastic plate or Tupperware container may have fallen and melted on the heating element. That said, it's a good idea to load your dishwasher carefully and pre-rinse your dishes to avoid unwanted odours.
Whether you need to repair your washing machine, fix your dishwasher or install your new household appliances, Hoovernez is there for all your everyday needs. A team of experts and certified technicians are on site quickly.
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