Portable Dishwasher

The present day lifestyle necessitates the inclusion of a number of time and labor saving devices in a household. And, despite all the precautionary measures that one takes, at some time or the other one or the other of these equipments is bound to get out of order. Generally, the faults are not so technical that an average householder can’t repair and it is always helpful to know the basics of the machine to carry out the necessary minor repairs and save the expense involved in calling an expert for doing the needful.

Here we’ll familiarize with the common faults that a dishwasher develops and tell you how to diagnose and repair the same without the assistance of an expert.

Generally a dishwasher may develop any of the following faults:
It wouldn’t start at all, though you switched it on.
The dishes are not as well cleaned as it generally does.
It may fail to drain the contents after cleaning operation.
Here’s how you should systematically proceed to know what went wrong.

1) If it fails to start after you have switched it on, the first thing you need to check is to find if it’s properly plugged in and the circuit breaker is responding. If these two are O.K., proceed to check the door switch, selector switch and the timer.  If you find any of these components broken, replace that. If all that is O.K. and still it refuses to function, it means there is some flaw with its internal wiring and you need to call in an expert.

2) If the dishes are not coming out clean, it points to insufficiency of water, or there may not be any water coming at all. Make sure that the water shut-off valve under the sink is on. Else, the machine may have a faulty internal water valve that needs to be replaced or serviced by an expert. However, before calling in an expert you may check if there are any clogs in the spray arm and remove them by hand, if needed. Having taken care of that, you have to ensure that the machine is getting water at the right temperature, usually 120o. In case the problem persists, try adding soap to both the cups.
Often the users complain the formation of smoky film on the dishes. It is a sure indication that hard water is being used for cleaning. You should clean the machine with a dishwasher cleaner as per the recommendations of the manufacturer. Some of the better known cleaners include: Washer Magic, Glass Magic and Glisten. The last named cleaner acts as a deodorizer and can be used with any machine that has a porcelain tub.

3) Coming to the last, the dishwasher doesn’t drain out the refuse. There are quite a few checks, seven to be exact, that you can conduct on your own before calling an expert. At first, check up the air gap, located near the faucet of the sink. You may be required to unclog it. Unscrew the top cap and rinse it thoroughly. Second, inspect the drain hose connecting the air gap to the garbage disposal. Clean it and refit the same. Third, check the driving belt of your pump. It might be worn out or could have gone lose over prolonged use. Just replace that. Fourth, some models have separate impellers for washing and draining. Check the drain impeller and if found broken at the shaft or at t he blades, replace it. Fifth, many dishwashers use a drain solenoid for draining water out. It may be stuck. Try to loosen it by hand and if it doesn’t work, replace the pump assembly. Sixth, check if the motor is stuck. You may try to set it to motion by spinning it by hand. If it refuses to start, you have to replace the motor. Finally, you have to check the status of wash timer ant replace that, if found busted.

You see be it a dishwasher or any such domestic gadget that goes out of order, calls for a logical sequence of steps to identify the fault and once you know where the fault is, it can easily be repaired.