Finding out your dishwasher isn’t working is never going to be the highlight your day, especially if you are also faced with the expense of phoning a professional and staying home to meet them just to diagnose the fault.
Luckily it’s possible to diagnose and often fix many dishwasher problems by yourself without needing to call for dishwasher repair, especially if you happen to are able to find a multimeter.
You may realize you are able to sort out the fault quite easily yourself, particularly if you are mechanically minded, and if you can’t at worst you will have a better idea of the issue when you do call a repair person.
Before you begin looking for a replacement machine there are a number of possible problems you should be able to identify without too much issue.
Safety Warning: Never attempt repairs while your machine is plugged in.
In advance of going through the following list of possible issues make sure that your dishwasher hasn’t been accidentally unplugged, and that none of the switches on the circuit breaker have tripped.
At this point you should also check that the child lock isn’t on and try resetting your dishwasher.
You will most likely require the manual for this due to the fact that models vary however the child lock is often fairly simple to activate accidentally. Similarly, the machine might have power however will not start, in this case the solution might be as easy as resetting the cycle.
Once you have ruled out these faults you can start the real troubleshooting.
To check these electrical components you will have to have a multimeter, or VOM (volt-ohm-milliammeter) to test the resistance as well as test the parts are working as they are meant to.
The first thing to test is the door latches and door latch switches. Your dishwasher is not designed to run if the door latches are not working for understandable reasons. There’s no way you would want begin the machine without meaning to with the door ajar.
A defective switch will stop your dishwasher from turning on as well as operating. You may wish to check the switch with a multimeter. The switch is generally located under the front door panel or control panel.
Make sure you have disconnected power to the machine before accessing the door panel plus testing for continuity to ensure you do not get an electric shock.
If the latches or switches are not working you will need to replace them.
If the door latch and door latch switch, are working as they are meant to the next component to check is the timer or electronic control.
This is the component that sends electricity to all the other parts the machine requires to operate including the pumps, and the valves.
If your dishwasher is controlled electronically as opposed to mechanically then it might need to be tested while connected, in which case you will need to call a repair person.
The selector switch is the part of the machine that selects the cycle and will vary contingent on the make as well as the model of your machine. A faulty selector switch or even one that has not been fully engaged could result in the machine not to start.
You should be able to visually check to see if the buttons are going down all the way, or you could be required to unplug the dishwasher and have a look at the control panel to check the contact points for continuity with the help of a multimeter.
The motor relay is an alternative component that may result in your dishwasher not running, so this could be the fault if you have checked the control panel and have discovered that there should be power going to the main pump.
To check this you need to find the motor as well as locate the relay that will usually be mounted next to it. This may then be taken out plus checked with the help of a multimeter and it could have to be replaced.
If you have tested the above issues yet still haven’t found the fault the next part of the dishwasher to investigate is the thermal fuse. Note: Not all dishwashers have a thermal fuse.
If you will need to replace it in order to restore power to the control board.
The final component you can investigate that could prevent your dishwasher from operating is the drive motor. This is the part of the machine that circulates the water to wash your dishes.
Once you have checked the other components yet still haven’t discovered the issue this could be the cause of the problem especially if your machine has previously been making a loud humming noise.
You should be able to access the motor by taking off the panel at the bottom of the machine. Check it with the help of a multimeter then replace if not working.
If you don’t have a multimeter or are not confident in taking panels off your machine and testing the parts then you will need to call a repair person sooner rather than later.
If you are happy to undertake the above troubleshooting then you might well be able to fix the fault without needing a professional. But if you are not sure it’s always better to contact an engineer.
And examine your insurance as well as your home cover as appliance repairs could be included which means the costs may not be as high as you think.
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