Tag - dishwasher repair

09 Aug

Remove Excess Suds from Dishwasher

**NOTICE**
Due the danger and complexity of electronic equipment repair, the following technical tip is intended for professional reference only. Please refer to manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability or safety of this information. 

Ever experience suds in a dishwasher blowing bubbles out the bottom and flooding the kitchen? Here’s what to do if it ever happens again:

Excess suds are typically caused by introducing soap that is not intended for dishwashers. The most common soap that should not go in a dishwasher is standard liquid soap used for handwashing dishes. This type of soap is meant to create lots of suds, while dishwashing detergent is not.

So how do you get rid of the suds flowing out of the dishwasher and save your kitchen floor? It’s as easy as introducing a little bit of vegetable oil. Stop or pause the dishwasher’s current cycle and pour about one-quarter cup to one-half cup into the bottom of the unit. Close the door and let it continue to run again for just a few more minutes. Then, open the door again and select the “cancel drain” cycle. After the unit has drained completely, open the door again and rerun the normal wash cycle.

Allow the unit to run for about five minutes or so. And then again, open the door, select the cancel drain button and let the unit drain out. Afterward, open the door and inspect the bottom for suds. If suds still exist, go ahead and start a normal wash cycle. And just repeat that process until the suds are gone. If there are no more suds, then it’s back to normal.

Special thanks to Fred’s Appliance Academy for this helpful tip.

By Tech Tips , 1 Comment Read more...
16 May

Whirlpool Dishwasher Pump Replacement

**NOTICE**
Due the danger and complexity of electronic equipment repair, the following technical tip is intended for professional reference only. Please refer to manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability or safety of this information. 

When a dishwasher won’t clean dishes, one of the first likely causes is the pump outlet. This part connects the main water supply tube to the pump and spray arms. If it cracks, water pressure decreases and will not properly shoot out of the spray arms to effectively wash food particles away. Here’s how to fix a Whirlpool dishwasher in just a few minutes with replacement part 8194582.

1. Unplug appliance. Even though this repair doesn’t involve electrical components, unplugging or flipping the circuit
breaker to major appliances (especially major appliances with water) better ensures your safety.
2. Access spray arms. Open the dishwasher door and remove lower rack. Unscrew spray arm central piece and fully remove, along with arms and bearings. One metal bearing is in the spray arm apparatus, and the other is below resting on the pump outlet.
3. Remove pump outlet. There are eight screws holding the pump outlet in place below the spray arm apparatus. Use a
screwdriver to remove the screws. Set them aside for later use since the replacement parts do not come with replacement screws. Disconnect from supply tube. Remove the old pump seal with flathead screwdriver.
4. Install replacement part. Put seal in housing and connect pump outlet to water supply tube. Make sure outlet is aligned with holes and screw into position.
5. Put the dishwasher back together. Reinstall bearings and spray arm apparatus. Make sure it spins with friction or tension.

Special thanks to Fred’s Appliance Academy for this helpful tip.

By Tech Tips , , , , , , , 0 Comments Read more...
23 Nov

Dishwasher Troubleshooting

**NOTICE**
Due the danger and complexity of electronic equipment repair, the following technical tip is intended for professional reference only. Please refer to manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability or safety of this information. 

Dishwashers are one of the hardest working appliances in the kitchen. When they break down, it’s beyond annoying — who wants to wash dishes by hand?

One of the most common problems with dishwashers is emitting strange loud buzzing noises. This is a clear sign something is wrong and needs to be fixed. It’s very unlikely the problem will just miraculously go away on its own.

There are a few possible causes of buzzing noises, including dishes not stacked properly, machine not sitting level on the ground, pump intake is defective or pump seals are dry. Sometimes, it’s simply a case of general wear and tear, especially if the unit is old. Here are some things to try to stop the sounds:

Ensure Dishes Stacked Properly

The most common cause of a dishwasher buzzing noise is just that dishes aren’t stacked properly. When this happens – especially with plastic cups and containers – they can rub up against another dish and cause a noise. Properly load the unit to see if the noise stops.

Check If Dishwasher Level

It’s possible that the unit is not sitting level on the floor or it’s rubbing against its cabinet or the kitchen bench. Here’s how to check that the dishwasher is level:

  1. Use a bubble level to check balance.
  2. If it’s not properly leveled, adjust the dishwasher legs until it is level.
  3. If it’s level, ensure dishwasher isn’t moving against the bench at the top or sides. If it is, lower the level so there’s a clear gap between the top of the dishwasher and the bench.
  4. If the level is changed, turn on dishwasher ensure the problem has been solved.

Check Pump Intake

The next component to check is the dishwasher’s pump intake, which catches large food particles and other pieces of debris to prevent the unit from getting clogged. Sometimes a small piece of glass or plastic can get stuck in the pump intake, which causes a buzzing noise. When this happens, remove the debris and the noise should stop.

Here’s how to check the pump intake:

  1. Locate the pump intake and open.
  2. Clean it out thoroughly.
  3. Plug back in dishwasher, turn on to a cycle, and see if the noise has stopped.

Dry Pump Seals

If the dishwasher is new or hasn’t been used for awhile, the pump seals can sometimes become dry, causing strange noises when it’s running through a cycle. This is because water usually lubricates the seals, which won’t happen when it’s not in frequent use.

To fix this problem, you need to:

  1. Locate pump seals.
  2. Pour about 1 quart of water into the bottom of the dishwasher.
  3. Turn dishwasher on to a cycle, and check if the problem has been solved.

Dishwasher Still Making Buzzing Noise?

If none of these actions solves the issue, it may just be normal wear and tear that won’t be able to be fixed easily. It may be time to replace the unit if the buzzing sound is unbearable.

Special thanks to Fred’s Appliance Academy for this helpful tip.

By Tech Tips , , 0 Comments Read more...
11 Dec

Dishware Still Wet After Drying in Dishwasher

**NOTICE**
Due to the danger and complexity of electronic equipment repair, the following technical tip is intended for professional reference only. Please refer to manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability or safety of this information. 

When properly functioning and using a heated dry cycle, your dishes should come out of the dishwasher spotless and dry enough to put away. There’s nothing more frustrating than water droplets dripping from newly-cleaned dishware. If this is happening, here are some common causes to check:

Dishwasher Out of Rinse Aid

Lack of rinse aid is the most probable reason for dishes to come out wet, so check this first. Rinse aid is a solution that is added with the rinse water. It helps water slide off dishware more easily. By the time the dry cycle begins, there should be less moisture on the dishes and cutlery. Rinse aid helps dry faster and remove water spots, so it’s not just a gimmick product. Without rinse aid, the heated dry cycle typically is not going to be enough to remove all the water droplets.

However, if you’ve never used rinse aid and previously dried dishes are coming out wet, you’ll need to investigate other potential reasons.

Dishwasher Overloaded

Correctly loading a dishwasher can be a true art form and lesson in organization. But when you try to cram in too many pots, pans and glassware, water can get trapped with no place to drain and heated drying will be less effective — not to mention dishes won’t get fully clean. Consider doing two separate loads or wash dishes by hand instead of overloading the machine.

Heated Dry Malfunctioning

Dishwashers have a variety of drying functions: heated dry, sanitize (high heat kills germs as well as dries dishes) or night dry (heat dries lingering condensation periodically through the wash). Regardless of which you use, they all require a working heating element. This heating element, which also heats water to the proper temperature, creates heat to dry your dishes. If it is not functioning properly, dishes will come out wet. Plus, because water is not getting heated, dishes will likely not come out as clean as normal.

The easiest way to determine if a heating element is faulty is to open the dishwasher immediately after the dry cycle ends. Dishes should be warm to the touch. If they are cold and wet, the heating element has failed. Fortunately, replacing a heating element is a very simple repair.

Faulty Vent Motor or Fan

If dishes are warm after the dry cycle, inspect the vent and motor in the door of the dishwasher. These components push out the hot, moist air circulating during drying. If the fan or motor have failed, the moist air will still vent, but not as efficiently. As such, moist air can become trapped inside and settle back on the dishes.

 

Visit Fred’s Appliance Academy to learn more about the training provided in appliance repair.

Special thanks to Fred’s Appliance Academy for this helpful tip!

Want more tips? Click here to see all electronics and appliance tips!

 

 

By Tech Tips , , , 0 Comments Read more...
05 Mar

Whirlpool Dishwasher Pump Replacement

**NOTICE**
Due the danger and complexity of electronic equipment repair, the following technical tip is intended for professional reference only. Please refer to manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability or safety of this information. 

When a dishwasher won’t clean dishes, one of the first likely causes is the pump outlet. This part connects the main water supply tube to the pump and spray arms. If it cracks, water pressure decreases and will not properly shoot out of the spray arms to effectively wash food particles away. Here’s how to fix a Whirlpool dishwasher in just a few minutes with replacement part 8194582.

1. Unplug appliance. Even though this repair doesn’t involve electrical components, unplugging or flipping the circuit
breaker to major appliances (especially major appliances with water) better ensures your safety.
2. Access spray arms. Open the dishwasher door and remove lower rack. Unscrew spray arm central piece and fully remove, along with arms and bearings. One metal bearing is in the spray arm apparatus, and the other is below resting on the pump outlet.
3. Remove pump outlet. There are eight screws holding the pump outlet in place below the spray arm apparatus. Use a
screwdriver to remove the screws. Set them aside for later use since the replacement parts do not come with replacement screws. Disconnect from supply tube. Remove the old pump seal with flathead screwdriver.
4. Install replacement part. Put seal in housing and connect pump outlet to water supply tube. Make sure outlet is aligned with holes and screw into position.
5. Put the dishwasher back together. Reinstall bearings and spray arm apparatus. Make sure it spins with friction or tension.

Special thanks to Fred’s Appliance Academy for this helpful tip.

By Tech Tips , , , , , , , 0 Comments Read more...