Internal filtersEvery dishwasher has some type of filter to keep large food particles and foreign objects away from the pump assembly:
- Most modern dishwashers have self-cleaning filters that don't need any routine cleaning.
- Some
have filters in the bottom of the dishwasher that you need to
periodically clean. You don't need any tools to remove the filter, and
cleaning it is easy. Consult your owner's manual to determine which
type you have and its maintenance requirements.
If your filter is clogged, it may be causing the cleaning problem.
Drain valve
Some
dishwashers have a valve (or gate) that should open only during
draining. If debris lodges in the valve, it can't close properly, so
water drains out during the wash cycle. Most dishwashers drain into the
garbage disposer. If yours does that, listen for water flowing into the
disposer during the wash cycle. If you can hear it then, the drain
valve may be clogged.
Spray arms
There's
a spray arm at the bottom of your dishwasher--it may have a tall spray
tube mounted to the center of it. There may also be a spray arm located
directly beneath the upper rack of dishes and/or above the upper rack.
If
debris is blocking the holes in the spray arms where the water comes
out, it could cause cleaning problems. Regularly inspect each of the
spray arms and clean out the holes as necessary.
Detergent cups
Dishwashers
don't perform their best if detergent is introduced only at the
beginning of a cycle, so add detergent to both parts of the cup.
If the detergent cup isn't opening, see the "The detergent cup doesn't open" section, below.
Note:
Dishwashers
are usually wired directly to the home’s electrical system. To
disconnect the power, switch off the circuit breaker or remove the fuse
for the electrical circuit the dishwasher is attached to. Try to turn
the unit on after disconnecting the power to be sure you were
successful.
CAUTION:
If you’re not sure you’ve
shut off the power properly, DO NOT CONTINUE. Call a qualified
appliance repair technician to complete the repair.
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