Gel packs and liguid gel equals clogged dishwasher

By JDenyer232
Rank: Wiz
Rating: 93%, 22 votes

posted on Feb 23, 2009

Use powders or powdered tabs only. Gelpacks can plug up dishwashers quickly, that gel coating doesn't always dissolve all the way and will plug up the drain pump and drain valve. As an appliance repair person I spend more time cleaning the gook out of dishwashers from these gelpacks. Save your dishwasher, use only powders that contain no chlorine bleach, some of the cheaper brands contain chlorine bleach, Chlorine over time can cause plastic valves and parts in the drain system to fail. Whirpools use a rubber drain flap, chlorine cause this flap to become hardened and not function properly.

Comment by JDenyer232, posted on Mar 03, 2009

Brett,

While Gelpacs will gook up your washer, your problem sounds more like it is heat related. The heater may not be functioning, the sanitized light is blinking to let you know that your dishwasher was unable to attain a high temperature for a certain period of time. If the heater is not functioning then the dishes will not get clean. Try a simple test. Start the dishwasher while it is empty. After it fills stick a thermomter in the water to take the temp, Allow the diswasher to run for 10-15 minutes in the main wash cycle, measure water temp again, it should be much higher in temp. If not then you have either a bad heating element, a bad heater element relay, or possibly a bad door switch. You can buy a multi-meter at your local hardware store and test the components to find which one is bad. If you have never performed electrical tests before then either call in a pro, or get a good book on how to use a multi-meter. Hope this helps.

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Comment #1

posted on Jun 05, 2009

By Lauren_FixYa
Rank: Guru
Rating: 97%, 257 votes

Awesome Tip, thanks!

Comment #2

posted on Jun 03, 2009

By djc58
Rank: Apprentice
Rating: 83%, 3 votes

I too no longer use gel packs, but for a SAFETY reason! One night my dishwasher was running and I smelled something burning! Turns out it was the gel pak on top of the hot coil. No fire, but it scared the bjesus out of me! I now only use the tabs!

Comment #3

posted on May 30, 2009

By wchweirich
Rank: Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes

I also had problem with Gelpacks clogging the dishwasher drain. After less than one box of Sunlight Power Packs, the water was not draining. I removed the Screens from the GE Triton Dishwasher and cleaned the gunk and ran an empty wash on sanicycle and the problem was fixed. For the ramaining Power Packs We will cut them open and toss the Gel pack.

Comment #4

posted on Mar 01, 2009

By brett92703
Rank: Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes

JDenyer--
I have a Whirlpool GU1100XTLQ0 dishwasher. Two months ago the sanitized light on the front control panel began blinking after the dishwasher completed its normal wash cycle. Utensils and plastic containers are still soiled. Pots and pans have white spots on them. Before that, the sanitized light was lit solid and everything was coming out very clean. I think the blinking light is telling me that there's something wrong. I do use the Cascade detergent pacs that contains a little gel in each pac. Do you think the gel packs are the problem? If so, how do I clean the gook out of the dishwasher? Thanks for your help.

brett

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