How to Repair Your Dishwasher

 

Your dishwasher isn’t measuring up to the price you paid for it. The dishwasher might not even turn on, the dishes aren’t getting clean, or the machine won’t even drain. What do you do? Instead of calling the repairman, you can save a bundle and try servicing it yourself. Open up the kick panel in back and get to work, carefully following these dishwasher repair tips:

1) If your dishwasher doesn’t seem to be working at all, first check the plug and the circuit breaker. If these are working, check the door switch, timer, and selector switch. If any of these three items are broken, replace them. If all of these check out, the problem is internal and the wiring must be replaced. Call a technician.

2) If the dishes aren’t getting clean, there might not be enough water coming into the machine. There might even be no water at all. Check the water shut-off valve under the kitchen sink to make sure it’s on. Otherwise, the machine might have a faulty internal water valve and will need professional service. Before you call to get the internal water valve serviced, however, try checking the spray arms for clogs, and unclogging them by hand if necessary. Once you’ve done this, see if the water is hot enough. Cool or cold water won’t clean dishes. Be sure the water temperature is at least 120°. If your dishes still won’t get clean, try adding soap to both soap cups. Furthermore, if there is a smoky film on your dishes, it means your water is “hard”. You will need to clean your dishwasher with a dishwasher cleaner. Use one that is specially formulated by your dishwasher’s manufacturer, or use a quality cleaner such as Washer Magic, Dishwasher Magic, Glisten (which also acts as a deodorizer and can be used in any porcelain-lined machine or tub), or Glass Magic.

3) If your dishwasher won’t drain, there are seven lucky things you can do before calling an expert. First, check the air gap of the sink, near the faucet, and unclog it if necessary. Unscrew the top cap and rinse it well. Second, check the drain hose leading from the air gap to the garbage disposal. Clean it out and reattach it. Third, if your dishwasher uses a belt to drive the pump, and the pump doesn’t seem to be working, try replacing the drive belt. It may be broken or stretched out. Fourth, for models that have both a wash impeller and a drain impeller, the drain impeller might be broken, either at the shaft or at the blades. Replace the broken parts of the drain impeller. Fifth, some dishwashers use a drain solenoid to drain the water. This might be stuck. Try loosening it by hand. If that doesn’t work, replace the pump assembly. Sixth, perhaps the motor is stuck. Try getting the motor going by spinning it by hand. If that doesn’t work, replace the motor. Finally, if the wash timer is busted, you’ll have to replace it.

If you follow these basic tips, you’ll have a good, solid start in becoming a dishwasher repair expert on your own.

Dishwashers Info provides detailed information on standard and portable dishwashers, dishwasher parts and repair, and reviews of the best dishwasher manufacturers and products. Dishwashers Info is the sister site of Water Softeners Web.

Basic Dishwasher Installation Tips

Installing a built-in dishwasher requires basic mechanical, electrical, and plumbing skills, so the average handy person can install a dishwasher in 1 to 3 hours depending on if it is a new installation or a replacement dishwasher. If you are replacing an existing dishwasher, it will take less time.

New Installation

1. Prepare the cabinet area in which the dishwasher will be installed. The opening should be 24 inches wide for most models, 24 inches deep and 34 1/2" from the floor to the underside of the countertop. The back wall can not have pipes or wires on it. The power and water supply lines will come into the cabinet in the 4"X4" area at the bottom back of the cabinet through a 1 1/2" hole. Make sure the floor is level and the cabinet is squared.

2. Choose your drain method based on your local codes and height of the drain tee. Some codes require an air gap. If the drain tee is less than 18 inches from the floor, you must use an air gap. If an air gap is not required and the tee is over 18 inches from the floor, you can use the loop method for the drain connection. If the drain hose will be connected to a garbage disposal, you have to remove the knock out plug so that the dishwasher will drain.

3. Inspect or install wiring by making sure there is a 120V, 60Hz dedicated circuit with a 15 or 20-amp breaker or time delay fuse. Wiring has to be 2 wire with a ground and rated for 75 degrees Celcius or 176 degrees Farenheit. The wiring can come into the cabinet from either side in the rear bottom area. The hole should be a maximum of 1 1/2", and it can be the same hole used the the water supply line and drain hose if its being hardwired. If it is a flexible power cord, it must have a separate hole. Hardwiring cable will come up the right side along the bottom 24 inches of the cabinet to the right front electrical connection on the dishwasher.

4. Prepare the water supply line that enters through the 1 1/2" hole in the rear bottom of the cabinet. Turn off the water to install a hand shut-off valve under the sink. The water connection is on the left side of the dishwasher. Use 3/8" O.D. copper line to extend a minimum of 19 inches from the rear wall. The water heater should be set between 120 and 150 degrees (closer to 120 if children are in the home to prevent scalding accidents) and the pressure should be between 20-120 PSI.

5. Prepare the dishwasher by checking the door balance and adjusting the spring tension if necessary. If the legs have to be attached, do that close to where it will be installed.

6. Connect the drain hose to the dishwasher's drain port if it did not come factory-installed. Position the electrical wiring and water supply lines so that the base of the dishwasher will not catch them. Slide the dishwasher in front of the opening so that you can feed the drain hose through the hole you drilled for it.

7. Inch-by-inch slide the dishwasher into the cabinet as you fee the drain hose through its hole. Stop with a few inches left and make sure nothing is kinked or pinched. If all is in good order, push the dishwasher all the way in so that the edges of the door are behind the cabinet frame. Test the door for smooth opening and closing.

8. Level the dishwasher front to back and side to side by adjusting the leveling legs.

9. Align the brackets and secure the dishwasher to the countertop according the manufacturer's instructions.

10. Through the access panel, connect the water supply line and electrical supply. Also connect the drain hose under the sink. You are ready to do a wet test with the "rinse only" cycle. Check for leaks and proper draining.

Replacing an Existing Dishwasher

You will not need to drill the holes since they will already be there from the existing dishwasher. However, you do need to inspect the wiring and plumbing to make sure they are capable of servicing the new dishwasher. Once that is established you should turn the power off at the main and turn the water supply off before beginning the removal of the old dishwasher. All lines and wires must first be disconnected. Take the drain hose off the garbage disposal or drain pipe under the sink. If the dishwasher has a power cord, you need to unplug it. If the dishwasher is hardwired, you have to open the access panel and electrical junction box. Remove the wire nuts and disconnect the black and white wires. Also remove the ground screw to disconnect the green ground wire. Use a catch pan while disconnecting the water supply line. Once all of these lines and wires have been disconnected, you can take out the screws and brackets that hold the dishwasher in its place and carefully pull out the old dishwasher.

Then follow the same procedures to install the new dishwasher with the exception of drilling the holes and running the wiring and water supply lines.

Once you have installed your new dishwasher and tested it for leaks, you are ready to start cleaning.

Dan is a part-time appliances repairman and with his dishwasher website at http://www.alldishwashers.com, he gives reviews of both commercial and residential models and states common problems that he encounters with each one, with solutions! To learn more visit the dishwasher reviews website.

Basic Dishwasher Installation Tips

Installing a built-in dishwasher requires basic mechanical, electrical, and plumbing skills, so the average handy person can install a dishwasher in 1 to 3 hours depending on if it is a new installation or a replacement dishwasher. If you are replacing an existing dishwasher, it will take less time.

New Installation

1. Prepare the cabinet area in which the dishwasher will be installed. The opening should be 24 inches wide for most models, 24 inches deep and 34 1/2" from the floor to the underside of the countertop. The back wall can not have pipes or wires on it. The power and water supply lines will come into the cabinet in the 4"X4" area at the bottom back of the cabinet through a 1 1/2" hole. Make sure the floor is level and the cabinet is squared.

2. Choose your drain method based on your local codes and height of the drain tee. Some codes require an air gap. If the drain tee is less than 18 inches from the floor, you must use an air gap. If an air gap is not required and the tee is over 18 inches from the floor, you can use the loop method for the drain connection. If the drain hose will be connected to a garbage disposal, you have to remove the knock out plug so that the dishwasher will drain.

3. Inspect or install wiring by making sure there is a 120V, 60Hz dedicated circuit with a 15 or 20-amp breaker or time delay fuse. Wiring has to be 2 wire with a ground and rated for 75 degrees Celcius or 176 degrees Farenheit. The wiring can come into the cabinet from either side in the rear bottom area. The hole should be a maximum of 1 1/2", and it can be the same hole used the the water supply line and drain hose if its being hardwired. If it is a flexible power cord, it must have a separate hole. Hardwiring cable will come up the right side along the bottom 24 inches of the cabinet to the right front electrical connection on the dishwasher.

4. Prepare the water supply line that enters through the 1 1/2" hole in the rear bottom of the cabinet. Turn off the water to install a hand shut-off valve under the sink. The water connection is on the left side of the dishwasher. Use 3/8" O.D. copper line to extend a minimum of 19 inches from the rear wall. The water heater should be set between 120 and 150 degrees (closer to 120 if children are in the home to prevent scalding accidents) and the pressure should be between 20-120 PSI.

5. Prepare the dishwasher by checking the door balance and adjusting the spring tension if necessary. If the legs have to be attached, do that close to where it will be installed.

6. Connect the drain hose to the dishwasher's drain port if it did not come factory-installed. Position the electrical wiring and water supply lines so that the base of the dishwasher will not catch them. Slide the dishwasher in front of the opening so that you can feed the drain hose through the hole you drilled for it.

7. Inch-by-inch slide the dishwasher into the cabinet as you fee the drain hose through its hole. Stop with a few inches left and make sure nothing is kinked or pinched. If all is in good order, push the dishwasher all the way in so that the edges of the door are behind the cabinet frame. Test the door for smooth opening and closing.

8. Level the dishwasher front to back and side to side by adjusting the leveling legs.

9. Align the brackets and secure the dishwasher to the countertop according the manufacturer's instructions.

10. Through the access panel, connect the water supply line and electrical supply. Also connect the drain hose under the sink. You are ready to do a wet test with the "rinse only" cycle. Check for leaks and proper draining.

Replacing an Existing Dishwasher

You will not need to drill the holes since they will already be there from the existing dishwasher. However, you do need to inspect the wiring and plumbing to make sure they are capable of servicing the new dishwasher. Once that is established you should turn the power off at the main and turn the water supply off before beginning the removal of the old dishwasher. All lines and wires must first be disconnected. Take the drain hose off the garbage disposal or drain pipe under the sink. If the dishwasher has a power cord, you need to unplug it. If the dishwasher is hardwired, you have to open the access panel and electrical junction box. Remove the wire nuts and disconnect the black and white wires. Also remove the ground screw to disconnect the green ground wire. Use a catch pan while disconnecting the water supply line. Once all of these lines and wires have been disconnected, you can take out the screws and brackets that hold the dishwasher in its place and carefully pull out the old dishwasher.

Then follow the same procedures to install the new dishwasher with the exception of drilling the holes and running the wiring and water supply lines.

Once you have installed your new dishwasher and tested it for leaks, you are ready to start cleaning.

Dan is a part-time appliances repairman and with his dishwasher website at http://www.alldishwashers.com, he gives reviews of both commercial and residential models and states common problems that he encounters with each one, with solutions! To learn more visit the dishwasher reviews website.

Why Buy An Asko Dishwasher

Asko has always worked hard to build one of the finest dishwashers on the market. And once again they've gone to great lengths to engineer a dishwasher that's superior to anything else on the market. That's why you should buy an Asko dishwasher.

Asko has long since been recognized as being the highest quality dishwasher on the planet. And not surprisingly. Each generation of product raises the standards again and the bar becomes more difficult for other manufacturers to jump.

And while functions and features grow and evolve the basics that are so good and so important remain intact. They've always used less power and less water than the competition and even the new tall tank model carry's that tradition on.

And these dishwashers are quiet. In fact they are super quiet. So there's no need to turn up the television or yell over the dishwasher. Overall there's a lot of value here. Dependable, reliable, affordable, quiet, big, and backed by the best warranty in the industry.

And if you like simplicity you'll love the Asko controls. Easy to set, no need to take a course just to set your dishwasher. And that extra 20% size means you can do less loads saving water and energy.

And if you are looking for style not to worry. Asko has plenty of choices, after all isn't Sweden notorious for home décor style? These dishwashers are manufactured in Sweden and are ISO certified.

You'll get a warranty, customer care, and environmental protection like nothing else on the market. Every dishwasher is completely tested before it leaves the plant and since these machines have been on the market for more than 50 years they've got plenty of experience at building a superior product.

You'll find the energy star on these dishwashers and they've also won plenty of awards for design innovation and performance. There are more than 1200 North American dealers that are ready to offer bumper to bumper warranty coverage on your Asko dishwasher. And with a 3 year parts and labor combined with a 5 year parts warranty you simply can't loose.

Here are 3 Asko's worth checking out.

1. D3112
This model comes in bisque, white, black, and stainless steel. It has an easy to use control system with one touch programming. There are 4 pre-programs to choose from and it's smart enough to recall the last program you used. It has the quiet system insulation, five wash temperatures, and you can choose from normal, heavy, quick, or rinse and hold.

2. D3122XL
This is the taller tank than on the D3112. It has the same features and options except it also has the turbo fan for drying and two other option buttons. There are 4 pre-programs to choose from and it's smart enough to recall the last program you used. It has the quiet system insulation, five wash temperatures, and you can choose from normal, heavy, quick, or rinse and hold. This model comes in bisque, white, black, and stainless steel.

There are plenty of other models to choose from each offering a host of additional features. You just need to decide what your budget is and what you need your dishwasher to do. An Asko dishwasher will deliver for you.

Dan is a part-time appliances repairman and with his dishwasher website at http://www.alldishwashers.com, he gives reviews of both commercial and residential models and states common problems that he encounters with each one, with solutions! To learn more visit the dishwasher reviews website.

Choosing an Efficient Dishwasher

Most of the energy used by a dishwasher is for water heating. The Energy Guide label estimates how much power is needed per year to run the appliance and to heat the water based on the yearly cost of gas and electric water heating. When it is time to buy a new unit, look for the ENERGY STARÆ label.

Appliances account for about 20% of your household's energy consumption, with refrigerators and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list.

Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer's recommendations on water temperature; many have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater to a lower temperature.

Scrape, don't rinse, off large food pieces and bones. Soaking or re washing is generally only recommended in cases of burned-on or dried-on food. Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded.

Don't use the "rinse hold" on your dishwasher for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it. Let your dishes air dry; if you don't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster.

Remember that dishwashers use less water than washing dishes by hand, about 6 gallons less per load; they also use hotter water than you would use if you were washing the dishes by hand, so they can do a better job of killing household germs.

About The Author: Roger King has been writing articles on home decorating ideas for several years, and has been helping people find and review the best value for interior design solutions.

Visit his web site www.all-homeinteriordesigns.com for free tips and guides for your home improvement projects

Essential Dishwasher Parts

You may need to replace dishwasher parts from time to time. Call or visit your local appliance parts outlet. There you will find a full selection of dishwasher parts you can buy to self-service your dishwasher. Some examples of commonly replaced parts are:

1) The drain hose. These are necessary for draining the machine back into the plumbing of your home. This hose can crack, tear, or become weak. You can replace it yourself for under $20.

2) Switches and latches. Door switches, selector switches, handle latches, knobs, and other switches can break off from time to time. These are usually available for under $20 each.

3) The air gap. This prevents waste from seeping back into the unit. It is located in the sink, near the faucet. If you’ve already tried unscrewing and cleaning the air gap, a new one can be had for under $15.

4) Dishwasher rack plastic repair material. If any parts of the two or three racks in your dishwasher break off, apply some of this glue-like material and stick the part back on. It costs around $20 or $30 a bottle. It’s powerful stuff.

5) The complete pump and motor assembly. Motors and pumps can sometimes break down. Unfortunately, they cost anywhere from $100 to $200. Be sure to try and self-start the stuck motor by manually spinning it before you go and buy a new one.

6) Push-button control panels. These can short out, sometimes causing an alarming cloud of smoke. If you ever experience this, disconnect the power, pull the unit away from the wall if you can, and get a new push-button control panel for about $100.

7) Internal control panel contacts. If you are handy with electronics, and the control panel seems burnt out, you can avoid buying a whole new panel by soldering new contacts in place. If you don’t know what that means, you’re probably not qualified to do this. That’s OK. Buying a new control panel would be much easier than learning all about its electronics.

8) The control actuator and control module. These shut off water to the bottom spray arm at the end of the run. If your machine floods, you might have to spend $50 to $100 to replace these parts.

9) The heating element. This heats the water. If the water is cold, a new heating element costs about $100.

10) The timer. This controls how long the machine is on and washing your dishes. Replace it if the machine shuts off too early, too late, or not at all. It should cost under $40.

Dishwashers Info provides detailed information on standard and portable dishwashers, dishwasher parts and repair, and reviews of the best dishwasher manufacturers and products. Dishwashers Info is the sister site of Water Softeners Web.

De-Gunking Your Dishwasher

As strange as it sounds, your dishwasher can get nasty dirty. A hot, moist confined place is a breeding ground for bacteria. So, how do you clean it?

You may not have ever thought of cleaning your dishwashers because as most people believe when you run it with soap it becomes clean. Well, yes and no, the dishes become clean but the dishwasher itself isn’t so clean. The amount of dirt and food that cycles through there creates an odor. When the door is closed the odor hangs around. Now what do you do? You can freshen it and have a sparkling clean dishwasher with vinegar. You may think that is the most absurd thing you have ever heard of. But it really does work.

It is very easy to do, just take half a cup of vinegar and pour into an empty dishwasher. Now run the rinse cycle. This is will also clean any clogs that may have formed in the dishwasher drain lines. It also deodorizes the machine, leaving it fresh smelling. You may not have known to do it that way but it does work. If you are going to spring clean then you may as well do your kitchen from top to bottom. Even the dishwasher.

You can clean other parts of the dishwasher as well to compliment the inside smelling so fresh. Make sure you clean the outside, you can use another mixture to get a clean dishwasher with vinegar for these areas. Vinegar has an off type of smell, so don’t be afraid to use regular cleaner or a vinegar mixture on the outside. When using vinegar as a regular cleaner, mix vinegar, borax, baking soda and some dish soap. This is the ultimate cleaner.

One way to avoid these odors is to make sure that you rinse the dishes thoroughly so you don’t get a build up of food to start with. To have a clean dishwasher with vinegar is a time old tradition. Vinegar has a great cleaning power. You can use it to clean teapots, coffee pots, tea kettles, microwaves, ovens, refrigerators and cookware. Vinegar is great on all appliances, it really gets the dirt out. Vinegar is good for kitchen and bathroom cleaning only, it is not recommended that is be used in any other room in the house.

Vinegar is a great cleaner for the dishwasher and other appliances. If you have never tried it before, go ahead, you will wonder what you did without it.

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