How To Troubleshoot Your Dishwasher Before Thanksgiving

The days are getting shorter, and the air is getting colder. In other words, Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season are just around the corner! As I’m sure you already know, for many Americans, this means getting together with your family and loved ones, eating a whole bunch of good food, and being thankful for the smaller things in our lives. Anytime you’re feeding a whole group of people and eating food, you can be sure that your dishwasher is going to take a beating. This is precisely why it’s a good idea to do a little bit of preventative dishwasher maintenance before throwing your machine into the ring!

Simple Tips To Troubleshoot Your Dishwasher

Now, if you’re having an issue with your dishwasher, you might be tempted to worry that you’ll need to call in professional help. But don’t panic just yet!

Most dishwasher problems are common and can be resolved by pinpointing your issue’s location and then repairing or replacing the broken components. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the most common issues you might run into.

No Power – Dishwasher Won’t Start

One of the most common issues we see is a dishwasher that no longer starts, and that doesn’t seem to have any power whatsoever. The first thing to check is to make sure that the unit is, in fact, properly plugged in and that the outlet is getting power.

To check this, it’s best to take a look at your home’s main electrical panel and make sure that no breakers have been tripped. A breaker may have been tripped in some cases but may not have fully flipped the breaker switch. Therefore, even if the breaker still appears to be on, it’s a good idea to flick it to the off position for a few seconds and then turn it back on. Then, recheck your dishwasher to see if this has resolved the problem.

If you still don’t have any power, turn the break off once again, and then carefully inspect the unit’s power cord to ensure that it’s not cut, torn, and damaged in any way. If it is, you’ll need to replace it entirely, which is a relatively straightforward job.

Leaks – Dishwasher Won’t Drain

For any homeowner, a leaking dishwasher can quickly spell disaster. This is commonly caused by either a worn out door seal, a clogged drainage system, or a loose connection. All of which, fortunately, are easily resolved at home.

Start by checking the door gasket on your unit for any signs of visible damage. The gasket should still be soft and spongy, forming a tight seal when the door is closed. So if your door gasket is hard, cracked, or damaged in any way, this is likely the source of your problem. Alternatively, you might have a clogged up draining system, which can usually be resolved by checking the strainer inside your unit to ensure that it’s not blocked up with old food particles and waste.

You could also have a clog somewhere else in your home’s plumbing system. However, this usually isn’t the case.  Finally, it’s a good idea, especially before having a large Thanksgiving meal, to ensure that your unit’s supply lines and drainage lines are connected securely to ensure that they won’t leak when you run a few loads of Thanksgiving dishes through it back to back.

Besides that, if you still need help diagnosing your leaking dishwasher, don’t hesitate to contact us today!

Dishes Aren’t Cleaned

While it’s disappointing when your dishes come out nearly as dirty as they were when they in, this is usually caused by either overloading your dishwasher or by faulty/broken spray arms. When loading your dishwasher, there must be plenty of room around each dish so that the soap and water will actually clean them. However, if you already ensure to load your dishwasher properly, you might have a faulty spray arm that either isn’t rotating during a wash cycle or isn’t spraying properly.

You can check your spray arm by manually rotating and checking to see if you feel any resistance or hear grinding/cracking noises while doing so. If this is the case, you likely have a broken bearing and might need to replace your unit’s spray arm completely. If you’re unsure of how to diagnose this, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today, and we’ll assign a qualified technician to help you diagnose and resolve your issue!

Signs that You Should Be Looking for Professional Help

If you’re still unable to diagnose the source of your dishwasher problems, don’t hesitate to contact us today for a quick and easy quote. Your dishwasher’s main control board may have been fried in some cases, which is a much more complicated repair to perform. Other than that, if you suspect you have clogged plumbing or any major electrical issues with your unit, you’ll likely need to call in an appropriate contractor to resolve the issue.

Preventing Dishwasher Issues

To keep your dishwasher functioning properly at all times, it’s vital to take the time to clean and maintain your unit routinely. Therefore, once or twice per year, we recommend checking all your unit’s power and plumbing connections, as well as checking the door gasket for any signs of wear. It’s also a good idea to try running an empty wash cycle, using half a cup of borax instead of detergent, every couple of months. This ensures to kill any mould, mildew, or bacteria that may be building up inside your unit.

Dishwasher Repair Near You!

If you need help diagnosing your dishwasher problems, or need help with any other home or commercial appliances, don’t hesitate to contact us today!

We have a skilled team of professional appliance technicians, who are always on standby, waiting to hear from you!