Finding out your dishwasher isn’t working isn’t a great way to begin your day, especially if you are also faced with the expense of calling out a professional plus taking time off work to let them in just to pinpoint the problem.
Fortunately it’s very feasible to pinpoint and often resolve a number of dishwasher faults yourself without needing to call for dishwasher repair, especially if you happen to are able to find a multimeter.
You could find you can sort out the problem quite easily by yourself, especially if you are quite handy, and if not at least you will be better placed to describe the fault when you do have to phone an engineer.
Before you begin looking for a new machine there are a number of common problems you can troubleshoot without too much issue.
Safety Warning: Always make sure your machine is unplugged before testing or replacing any electrical components.
Before you begin going through the following list of possible faults make sure that your dishwasher hasn’t been inadvertently switched off, as well as that none of the switches on the circuit breaker have tripped.
At this point you may wish to also check that the child lock isn’t on as well as try resetting your dishwasher.
You will probably need the user manual for this due to the fact that models are all different but the child lock tends to be fairly easy to put on without meaning to. Similarly, if the machine has lights yet will not start, the solution may be as simple as resetting the program.
When you have eliminated these issues it’s time for the real investigations to begin.
To check these components you will need a multimeter, or VOM (volt-ohm-milliammeter) to test the resistance and test the parts are working as they are meant to.
The first place to start is the door latches plus door latch switches. Your dishwasher is not designed to start if these are not working for obvious reasons. You wouldn’t want run the machine without meaning to with the door ajar.
A broken switch will stop your machine from starting as well as running. You can check the switch with a multimeter. The switch is generally situated under the front door panel or control panel.
Make sure the machine is disconnected prior to accessing the door panel plus checking for continuity to prevent yourself from getting an electric shock.
If the latches or switches are broken you will need to replace them.
If the door latch and door latch switch, are working as they are meant to the next thing to check is the timer or electronic control.
This is the part of the machine that distributes electricity to all the other parts the machine requires to run such as the pumps, plus the valves.
If your dishwasher has an electronic control rather than a mechanical timer then it could need to be tested while live, in which case you will need to call a repair person.
The selector switch is the component that selects the program , it’s style and location will vary depending on the make or model of your dishwasher. A broken selector switch or even one that has not been fully pressed down might result in the dishwasher not to turn on.
You can usually visually check to see if the buttons are going down all the way, or you may need to unplug the dishwasher in order to access the control panel to test the connections for continuity with the help of a multimeter.
The motor relay is another component that could result in your dishwasher not running, thus this might be the problem if you have tested the control panel and so have discovered that there should be power running to the main pump.
To check this you will have to find the motor plus locate the relay that will usually be located next to it. This may then be taken out as well as checked with a multimeter and you may have to replace it.
If you have investigated all the above and are yet to find the fault the next part of the machine to test is the thermal fuse. This will only be found on some models and is there to protect the control board.
If you locate the fuse and discover it is blown you will need to replace it in order to restore power to the control board.
The final part of the dishwasher you could investigate that may prevent your dishwasher from operating is the drive motor. This is the component that moves the water around to wash your dishes.
Once you have tested the other components but still haven’t discovered the issue this might be the cause of the problem especially if you noticed a loud humming coming from the machine.
You can usually locate the motor by removing the lower access panel. Test it with the help of a multimeter and replace if not working.
If you don’t have a multimeter or are not confident in taking panels off your machine and testing the components then you will be better off calling an engineer.
If you do have a multimeter and can perform the above checks then you could well be able to resolve the issue without needing a professional. But if you are not sure it’s always better to contact an engineer.
And have a look at your insurance plus your home cover as dishwasher repairs might be covered meaning the expense may be less than you were expecting.
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