Finding out your dishwasher is broken isn’t a great way to begin your day, particularly if you have to deal with the expense of phoning a repair person and taking time off work to let them in just to pinpoint the issue.
Fortunately it’s often easy to determine and even resolve many dishwasher problems alone without having to call for dishwasher repair, especially if you happen to are able to find a multimeter.
You might find you are able to resolve the problem quite easily yourself, particularly if you are quite handy, and if you can’t at least you will have a better idea of the issue when you do have to call an engineer.
In advance of searching for a replacement dishwasher there are a few possible faults you should be able to identify without too much issue.
Safety Warning: Never attempt repairs while your dishwasher is plugged in.
Before you start checking your dishwasher for faults make sure that your machine hasn’t been unplugged, 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 often require the manual for this due to the fact that models are all different however the child lock tends to be quite easy to put on without meaning to. Similarly, the machine may have power however will not start, in this case the solution might be as easy as resetting the cycle.
Once you have eliminated these problems it’s time for the real investigations to start.
To test these components you will have to have a multimeter, or VOM (volt-ohm-milliammeter) to test the resistance as well as check the electrical components are working as they are meant to.
The first place to start is the door latches as well as door latch switches. Your dishwasher is designed not to operate if the door latches are faulty for obvious reasons. There’s no way you would want to be able to accidentally begin the dishwasher with the door not closed.
A faulty switch will prevent your dishwasher from turning on plus operating. You can test the switch using a multimeter. The switch will usually be found behind the front door panel or control panel.
Double check you have disconnected power to the machine before removing 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 you have tested your door latch and door latch switch and ascertained they are working as they should the next component to test is the timer or electronic control.
This is the part of the machine that sends electricity to all the other components the machine requires to run including the motor, and the valves.
If your dishwasher is controlled electronically as opposed to mechanically then it might need to be checked while plugged in, this can be dangerous and should only be done by someone who is professionally trained.
This is the part of your machine that selects the cycle and will vary contingent on the make and model of your dishwasher. A faulty selector switch or even one that has not been fully engaged could result in the machine not to run.
You can usually visually check to see if the buttons are depressing fully, or you may have to disconnect the dishwasher in order to gain access to the control panel to test the contact points for continuity with the help of a multimeter.
The motor relay is an alternative part that may result in your machine not running, thus this may be the issue if you have tested the control panel and so have ascertained that there is power going to the main pump.
To investigate this you need to locate the motor as well as locate the relay that will usually be mounted next to it. This could then be taken out as well as tested with the help of a multimeter and it might need to be replaced.
When you have tested the above issues and are still looking for the issue the next part to check is the thermal fuse. This may or may not be present and is designed to protect the control board.
If the fuse is blown it will need to be replaced in order to restore power to the control board.
The final part of the dishwasher you could test that could stop your machine from working is the drive motor. This is the component that circulates the water to wash your dishes.
Once you have checked the other electrical components but still aren’t getting anywhere this could be the issue especially if you noticed a loud humming coming from the machine.
You can usually gain access to the motor by taking off the lower access panel. Test it by using a multimeter then replace if broken.
If you don’t have a multimeter or are not confident in taking panels off your dishwasher and testing the parts then you will be better off calling a repair person.
If you do have a multimeter and can perform the above tests then you could well be able to resolve the fault without assistance. Yet if you are unsure it’s always better to contact an engineer.
And have a look at your insurance plus your home cover as dishwasher repairs could be covered which means the costs might be less than you were expecting.
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