A Homeowner's Guide to Dishwasher Warning Symbols
That blinking light on your dishwasher’s control panel isn’t just a random flash; it’s your appliance trying to tell you something important. Think of these dishwasher warning symbols as a handy language, designed to give you a heads-up on everything from simple jobs, like refilling the salt, to potential faults that might need a closer look.
Why these symbols matter
Each symbol is part of a standardised system to help you take action quickly and keep your appliance running efficiently. By learning what these symbols mean, you can often fix the issue yourself in just a few minutes.
Decoding the Most Common Warning Lights
Understanding what a specific icon means, and how serious it is, turns that blinking light from a cause for concern into a simple, manageable task. These visual cues are often standardised across different brands, making them a universal language for appliance care.
It's also helpful to have a bit of background knowledge in understanding universal symbols in appliance systems, as many of them relate to water and heat control. This wider context makes figuring out your dishwasher's signals that much easier.
This table gives you a comprehensive look at each symbol, what it means, its severity, and what you should do about it. It’s a handy reference for those head-scratching moments.
| Symbol (with description) | What It Means | Severity Level | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S-shaped Arrows (Looks a bit like a zig-zag) | Your dishwasher is running low on salt. This is vital for softening the water to prevent limescale build-up on both the internal parts and your dishes, especially in hard water areas. | Low | Find the salt reservoir cap (usually a large cap on the floor of the dishwasher), unscrew it, and top it up with granular dishwasher salt until it’s full. |
| Sun or Starburst (A bright, spiky shape) | The rinse aid is low. Rinse aid is the secret to a sparkling finish, as it helps water sheet off dishes to speed up drying and prevent annoying water spots. | Low | Open the dishwasher door and locate the rinse aid dispenser. Fill it with liquid rinse aid, being careful not to go over the max-fill line. |
| Tap Icon (Looks like a water tap) | There’s an issue with the water supply. The machine isn't filling up with water as it should. This could be anything from a closed tap to a kinked hose. | Medium | First, make sure the water tap connected to your dishwasher is fully open. Then, pull the appliance out slightly to check the inlet hose for any kinks or twists. |
| Brush or Spray (Often shows water jets) | This simply means the dishwasher is in the middle of a wash cycle. It’s an indicator light, not an error message. | Informational | No action is needed. Just let the cycle finish before you open the door. |
| Pre-wash or Soak (Usually a symbol with a few drops of water) | The pre-wash or soak cycle is active. This symbol lets you know the machine is doing a quick preliminary wash before the main cycle kicks in. | Informational | Nothing to worry about here; it’s a normal part of the cleaning programme you’ve selected. |
As you can see, most of these lights point to simple maintenance tasks that you can handle yourself. However, if a light stays on after you’ve followed these steps, it might be pointing to a more complex fault.
When a Warning Light Signals a Serious Fault
While most dishwasher warning symbols are just helpful reminders, some are a clear sign that something more serious is wrong. These are the alerts that go beyond a simple filter clean or a rinse aid top-up.
Think of a light telling you the heating element has failed, or a drainage alarm that just won’t quit. A start button that flashes endlessly can often point to a fault with the control board – essentially, the dishwasher's brain. If you're seeing these kinds of alerts, you can learn more in our guide to common dishwasher faults and their solutions.
Trying to fix complex parts like circulation pumps or control boards on your own isn't just tricky; it can lead to even more damage. More importantly, it creates serious safety risks when you're dealing with both electricity and water.
So, if you're faced with a warning light that hints at a bigger problem, or one that stays on even after you’ve tried the basic fixes, it’s time to call in a professional.
Proactive Care to Prevent Future Warnings
Let's be honest, the best way to deal with dishwasher warning symbols is to make sure you never see them in the first place. A few simple maintenance habits are all it takes to keep your machine running smoothly, saving you from future headaches and the stress of unexpected repair bills.
Taking a proactive approach doesn't just extend the life of your dishwasher; it also keeps it running efficiently. This is more important than ever, as recent UK standards now link warning symbols directly to energy and water performance. You can find out more about these updated ecodesign standards on GOV.UK.
A little bit of care really does go a long way. Spending just 10-15 minutes on maintenance each month can prevent most of the common faults caused by blockages and limescale build-up.
Your Monthly Maintenance Checklist
To keep your dishwasher in top condition and those warning lights off, just focus on these simple tasks once a month:
- Clean the Filters: This is where food scraps, grease, and grime gather, leading to bad smells and drainage problems. For a complete guide, check out our post on the easy steps to cleaning your dishwasher.
- Clear the Spray Arms: Take a quick look at the tiny holes on the spray arms. If they look clogged, a toothpick is all you need to poke out any debris. This ensures water can spray freely for a perfect clean every time.
- Run a Maintenance Wash: Once a month, run the dishwasher empty on a hot cycle with a dedicated dishwasher cleaner. This simple step dissolves all the hidden grease and limescale from the internal parts you can't see or reach.
Get Expert Help for Your Dishwasher Today
For fast, reliable, and guaranteed dishwasher repairs, the Go Assist team is here to help. Our qualified engineers know exactly what they’re looking for and can diagnose and sort out the issue quickly, getting your appliance back to its best.
Don't let a faulty appliance disrupt your home. Attempting complex repairs without the right experience can easily lead to more damage or create serious safety risks.
There's no need to wait for a small problem to turn into a major headache. You can book your repair online in just a few minutes, or give our friendly team a call on 0333 733 1234. Let us handle the hard work for you.
Your Dishwasher Questions Answered
Let's run through some of the most common queries we hear from homeowners to help you get to the bottom of things.
Why Is a Warning Light Still On After I Fixed the Problem?
This is a classic one. You’ve sorted the issue, but the light is stubbornly refusing to go away. Sometimes, your dishwasher just needs a moment to catch up and clear the fault code from its memory.
The best first step is a simple reset. Just turn the appliance off at the mains, leave it for a few minutes, and then switch it back on. If that pesky light is still on, it might be a sign that there's another, less obvious problem at play, and it could be time to call in a professional.
Can I Use Any Brand of Dishwasher Salt or Rinse Aid?
For the most part, yes. Most brands of dishwasher salt and rinse aid are designed to be universal and will work just fine in any machine.
The crucial thing is to always use products specifically made for dishwashers. Never, ever be tempted to use table salt or any other kind of substitute. They won’t work correctly and can cause serious, often costly, damage to your appliance's internal components. It's just not worth the risk.
Is It Safe to Ignore a Dishwasher Warning Light?
In a word: no. Ignoring dishwasher warning symbols is never a good idea. Think of them as your appliance’s way of trying to tell you something important.
While some alerts are just simple reminders to top up the salt or rinse aid, others can point to developing faults. Leaving these unaddressed could lead to much bigger headaches down the line, from serious water damage to your kitchen floors (like a slow leak you haven’t noticed) to more expensive repair bills. It’s always better to investigate and sort it out sooner rather than later. For other kitchen appliance issues, you might find some quick DIY fixes for common kitchen faucet problems useful too.
