Common dishwasher faults & solutions

Has your dishwasher stopped working? Our appliance engineers offer dishwasher repairs at low prices and are here to help fix and service your appliances.

A dishwasher is not a showpiece in your house; it serves a very important purpose. It allows you to wash your dishes in the most efficient and effective manner, something which you are unable to do so with your bare hands. Of course, you cannot wash your dirty dishes in hot water: you don’t want to get burned! On the other hand, a dishwasher washes and sterilises your dishes with hot soapy water and removes stubborn grime and leftover stains.

If you feel that your dishwasher is not working or is not performing in an optimal manner, there are specific issues that might be causing the malfunction. 

Dishwasher is leaking 

A leaking dishwasher can be a nuisance. The most common reasons why your dishwasher is leaking is: 

• Pump Seal: The pump is situated at the bottom of the dishwasher and a broken or weak pump seal might cause water to leak out. This seal is made of rubber and can deteriorate over time. Hence, it will need to be replaced.
• Door Gasket: If the water is leaking at the front, the door seal may have worn out. The seal is made of vinyl or rubber and can become brittle and weak with time. It will need replacement.

Dishwasher not starting

Your dishwasher might not be able to start due to the following reasons:

• Faulty Door Latch Switch: This switch supplies power to the dishwasher when the door is closed. It is a safety mechanism that also prevents water from leaking, while the device is in operation. You need to check whether the door latch assembly activates the switches or not, and if it does, then you have to inspect the continuity of the controls through a multimeter.
  
  
• Defective Timer and/or Electronic Control Board: The timer provides power to the pump motor, inlet valve, heating circuit, and drain motor. It makes use of electrical contacts, and you can check their continuity using a multimeter. In electronic timer models, it might be that the relays are faulty. Their output voltages can be measured through a multimeter. These relays are controlled by a microprocessor.
  
  
• Damaged Selector Switch: Sometimes the selector switch can develop a fault. Before going further, always ensure that the switch is fully pressed. If your dishwasher still cannot start, you can check the continuity of the switch contacts through a multimeter.

Not cleaning dishes

If you discover that your dishwasher is not cleaning your dishes thoroughly, then there are a few things to consider.

• A Loose Discharge Gasket: It might be that the upper discharge gasket has loosened or that it has developed a fault. Therefore, you can either tighten it or replace it. The gasket allows water to be circulated through the spray arm in an efficient manner.
  
  
• Problems with the Spray Arm: The function of the spray arm is to spray a constant stream of hot water, mixed with detergent. It might be that the spray arm has become obstructed and hence, cannot move freely. Or it might be that the arm’s bearing ring has worn out, causing it to wobble. You can replace the ring and check the arm further for blocked holes; make sure to clean them properly to get the maximum amount of spray pressure.

Reliable & friendly dishwasher repairs 

You should always disconnect the main power while performing any kind of dishwasher repairs, including maintenance. If you feel that you cannot do a specific repair by yourself, call Go Assist for a dishwasher repair quote.