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5 Tips on How to Prevent Your Dishwasher from Breaking

Your dishwasher is an important part of your home. Not only does it save you from the task of having to hand wash and hand dry your dishes, it also provides you with the time you can now use to spend with yourself or loved ones. Your dishwasher is a time maker and time saver, so it is important you take some time to learn about dishwashers, some of the problems they can have and how to prevent them. A dishwasher is a machine that automatically cleans kitchenware, such as dishes, cutlery and pots and pans, by spraying the kitchenware loaded onto its two racks (upper and lower) with a combination of hot water and dish detergent. According to SmileHvac.ca, the water is dispensed by jets, which then fill up a portion of the bottom of the dishwasher. It is then heated (up to 60 degrees Celsius) before the detergent is released and more water is dispensed. This causes the upper and lower spray arms (below each rack) to spin and properly distribute the water and detergent among the kitchenware. The dishwasher then drains the dirty dishwater before spraying more water to rinse the dishes again. Following a final draining, the dishwasher heats the air within itself to dry the dishes, making them ready for eventual use.

Given all that is going on inside of your dishwasher, it is reasonable that sometimes parts within it like the latch, compartments or spray arms, can jam, clog or break. Specifically, some of the more common problems your dishwasher could have include; your kitchenware coming out of the wash cycle dirty with food still on dishes, dishwater leaking onto your floor, your glassware coming out of the wash cycle with a white film on it, or maybe your dishwasher has stopped dispensing the detergent. Another problem, though perhaps not as common is that a dishwasher can get too loud and make noises it did not previously make. Loud noises could indicate a problem with your dishwasher’s motor. While you may be able to fix or at least patch up some of the issues mentioned, trying to fix the motor yourself is not recommended. It always better to contact a professional home appliance technician when dealing with dishwasher repair

Of course, the ideal scenario is that your dishwasher remains efficient and functional for a long time. As such, here are some tips that will extend the functionality and lifespan of your dishwasher.

  1. Check for any loose kitchenware such as small cutlery after unloading your dishwasher: A small spoon, fork, or even cup could have fallen underneath the bottom rack. This could cause a jam to the actual racks themselves or the spray arms below, preventing them from spinning and cleaning your dishes. This can lead to dirty dishes with food still on them. This is why when unloading your dishwasher take a close look at the bottom of your dishwasher for any loose kitchenware that may have fallen.
  2. Keep an eye on your dishwasher door to make sure it closes properly and fully: Given that we often unintentionally shut dishwasher doors too quickly or too hard, it is possible that after some time the dishwasher door may not close as firmly as it once did. This could be an issue with a latch or a compartment that is stopping the door from closing fully. This could lead to the door opening unexpectedly or water leaking onto your floor. If you are unable to fix the latch or lose compartment with a simple adjustment using your hands you need to contact a professional home appliance technician to come and repair it.
  3.  Make sure you are using the correct dish detergent compatible with your city or town’s water: In some cities and towns the water is hard water, meaning the water from the city or town’s water supply has a high mineral content. Minerals present in water such as magnesium and calcium get stuck to kitchenware, specifically your glassware. This can result in a white film being stuck on your glasses and they will need to be rewashed by hand, defeating the purpose of putting them in the dishwasher in the first place. Luckily, the solution is fairly simple as there are many specific detergents with additives that are made to prevent the white film on your glassware.
  4. Load your dishes onto the racks properly to avoid blocking or breaking your detergent compartment: Sometimes without meaning to we may load a dish on the incorrect rack by mistake, meaning the plate or bowl may be hanging slightly off the rack and blocking the dishwasher door or detergent compartment. During your wash cycle, the detergent compartment opens and mixes with the warm water to wash your kitchenware. But if a plate or bowl is blocking the compartment from opening as the cycle progresses your soap will not be dispensed and your dishes will not be cleaned properly. You should always take care to carefully load your dishes onto the correct racks to which they fit best. This helps avoid unnecessary blocking or breaking of compartment doors, such as your dishwasher’s detergent compartment.
  5. Contact a professional home appliance technician if your dishwasher has a problem or needs maintenance: As mentioned above, while you can fix some small problems yourself at home, anything that takes a longer amount of time or requires specific tools should be left to a professional home appliance technician. A professional can help you avoid making the problem worse when trying to fix it on your own, meaning they are actually saving you money. Professional home appliance technicians are properly trained and experienced in dealing with a variety of dishwasher repairs and ultimately provide the best and most efficient service available.
Dishwasher

“Dishwasher” by Editor B is licensed with CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Dishwasher

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