Reasons why the dishwasher does not wash dishes well and fix it yourself
Many housewives have a special dishwasher in the kitchen that helps clean the dishes from dirt. Many models work without problems for several years, but sometimes the quality of their washing deteriorates. Therefore, it is necessary to understand in advance the reasons why the dishwasher does not wash dishes well.
Main reasons
There are six main reasons why dishwashers start to work less well and clean dishes from dirt.
Leftover food
It is necessary to regularly clean the product from food residues so that they do not clog inside the device. However, many owners of such household appliances are engaged in timeless cleaning.
The following parts should be cleaned regularly:
- Reservoir. Plaque often appears on it, which is removed weekly.
- Coarse filter. It is installed on the intake pipes. Such a filter is clogged with food debris or accumulated corrosion.
- Sprinkler.A lot of limescale and food particles appear in this part, which leads to deterioration of the pressure. In order for the water to flow properly again in the dishwasher, the sprinkler is removed and thoroughly cleaned.
- Main filter. This part is installed at the bottom of the tank. The mesh of the product is often dirty and therefore washed once a week.
Wrong program selection
Some people do not use the device correctly, and because of this, it is worse for cleaning dirty dishes. Most often, the quality of the device deteriorates due to the incorrectly selected program. The water heating temperature and the duration of the dishwasher equipment depend on the mode of operation.
For example, when using the program for lightly soiled utensils, the water only heats up to forty degrees. Therefore, this mode is not suitable for washing dirty dishes or pots. Therefore, before using the dishwasher, you should read the instructions and descriptions of each program available.
Dishwasher overload
Each dishwasher model has allowable load standards, which it is recommended not to exceed. Therefore, it is necessary to determine in advance how to load such equipment and how many dishes to put on it. However, sometimes people do not follow these recommendations and overload the dishwasher tub. This leads to the fact that the dishwasher ceases to wash the plates well from food debris. In order for the device to start working properly again, you need to unload all the excess dishes.
If that doesn't fix the problem, the dishwasher is working increasingly poorly for some other reason.
Unsuitable detergents
If the dishwasher has ceased to effectively clean the dishes and streaks appear on its surface, you should pay attention to the detergents used. Some of them are not suitable for certain vehicle models.
In addition, the use of counterfeit or simply substandard dishwashing detergents leads to deterioration in washing.
If you have such a problem, you can use the tool you used earlier. You can also try to replace the detergent composition with a higher quality and more expensive one.
Ladder
If a dishwasher has become less efficient at washing dishes and removing dirt from the surface, you should check for limescale.
This is a common problem that almost all dishwasher models face. Most often, limescale forms due to the use of too hard water when washing. Over time, lime deposits on the surface of metal parts. Because of this, the water begins to spray worse. To remove the scale layer, you need to pour citric acid into the dishwasher and run it for 10-15 minutes. After that, all the scale should disappear from the dirty surfaces.
blockages
Sometimes not only the white bloom that low-quality water leaves on the surface leads to poor cleaning of dishes. Blockages due to buildup of towels, food, or other debris are also considered a common cause of poor cleaning. Blockages often appear inside fine or coarse filters. Sometimes debris can be found inside the spray arms.
In order not to encounter obstructions inside the dishwasher, they are regularly cleaned using effective detergents. They help dissolve accumulated debris in sprinklers or filters.
Common fault repair methods
Before proceeding to the elimination of common breakdowns, you should familiarize yourself with the repair methods.
A heating element
All models of dishwashers are equipped with a special heating element responsible for heating the water. Most often, it is this component that suffers from the formation of traces of scale. In addition, the heating element fails more often than other parts due to combustion.
If it breaks, the water stops heating and the dishwasher uses unheated liquid.
It is not worth washing dishes in cold water, and therefore, once the heating element fails, it is necessary to immediately replace it with a new one. It is quite difficult to carry out repair work on your own, it is better to seek help from a professional who specializes in the repair of household appliances.
circulation pump
Dishwashers are equipped with a circular pump, which is responsible for pumping water through the system. If it breaks, the water stops flowing and the machine does not start. The circulation pump cannot be repaired and will therefore have to be replaced. In this case, you need to install the same pump as before.
Sprinkler turbine
The sprinkler device is equipped with a turbine, which is responsible for the rotation of the structure. If it breaks, the sprinkler stops spinning and because of this, the water stops washing the dirty dishes. It will not work to repair the wheel, it is better to buy a new one immediately and install it.
Temperature sensor
A thermal sensor is considered an irreplaceable part, since it is he who is responsible for measuring the temperature of the water. This device sends a signal to the heating element to heat the liquid if it is very cold. If the thermal probe is broken, the water will not start to heat up and you will have to do the dishes without preheating.
A broken temperature sensor must be replaced.
Control module
Modern dishwashers are equipped with software modules, using which signals are sent to technical units about the need to heat, drain or draw water. If the control module stops working, the unit will not start or work properly.If any problems arise with the module, you will need to do so by flashing it.
Turbidity sensor
Expensive dishwasher models are equipped with sensors that monitor the turbidity of the liquid. It is he who transmits information about the state of the water to the control unit. If the sensor fails, the control module will not receive information about the degree of soiling of the dishes and will not start washing. The turbidity sensor will need to be replaced with a new one.
Common errors during repairs
Several common mistakes are made when repairing dishwashers:
- disassembly of equipment connected to the power source;
- using unsuitable spare parts;
- careless dismantling of equipment using force.
In which cases it is worth contacting specialists
Sometimes it is not worth doing the repairs yourself, and it is better to turn to a specialist. This is done in the following cases:
- when the machine stops heating the water;
- after a sensor failure to determine the temperature of the liquid;
- when the device has stopped pumping water.
Conclusion
Over time, dishwashers stop working well. Therefore, it is recommended to understand in advance the causes of such a problem and the main methods for its elimination.