Dishwasher leaving dishes dirty? What you can do before you call.

There's few things more frustrating than when an appliance is not working how you need it to. A broken dishwasher is no exception. So what can you do if you have that dinner party planned and suddenly the dishwasher decides it's time to act up? Here are a few common things we see that may get you back on track without an immediate repair.

First off, let's talk about how a dishwasher works. Whether you have a deluxe, high end unit or a simple, basic dishwasher they are all going to mostly function the same. I like to break down a dishwasher cycle into three parts: fill, swish, and drain. If your unit isn't doing one or more of this things, the appliance isn't going to work correctly.

Check your filter. If you're saying to yourself, "I didn't know my dishwasher had a filter" it's probably time to clean the filter. These are located in the base of the unit and normally twist out for easy cleaning. You can use a small amount of dish soap, warm water, and an old toothbrush to clean off all the debris. You may see a bit of water under the filter when you take it out. That's ok! Water will flow to the lowest point and that little excess helps keep the rubber hoses and seals lubricated. When you go to reinstall the filter, make sure it's secure. Most filters will "lock" in place by twisting it the opposite way that you used to remove it. Some dishwashers will also have a small screen that traps debris, so check for that as well.

Make sure you've loaded the unit properly. I know it sounds simple, but I can't tell you the number of jobs I've been out on where the dishwasher wasn't working and I found a fork had fallen down, blocking the spray-arm. Same goes for tall pots and pans. Another thing to check is the dispenser door. This is the little door that holds the detergent pod. Make sure it's not blocked and that the detergent can fall onto the bottom of the dishwasher at the appropriate time in the cycle.

Let's talk for a moment about the purge (not the movie). Purging the unit is recommended for almost all dishwashers. Purging is where you run hot water at the sink next to the dishwasher before starting the cycle. Dishwashers only fill for about a minute, and if you don't purge, you'll be bringing in cold or lukewarm water. The unit will heat the water with the element in the bottom, but if you start with hot water going in it will break down the detergent more effectively and you'll get a better clean.

When should you call for service? If you've tried all these things and still have dirty dishes coming out, you may need a more involved repair. If the unit is flashing an error code, leaking, not filling or draining, or the detergent pod is still intact at the end of the cycle, it's probably time to call.

If you need service, give us a call and we'd be happy to get you back up and running. We service dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves, ovens, cooktops, washers and dryers and many more household appliances. We're located in Murfreesboro, but service Nashville and the surrounding area including Brentwood, Franklin, Smyrna, Arrington, Lavergne, Antioch, Nolensville, Goodlettsville, Lebanon, Mount Juliet, College Grove, Columbia, and Shelbyville. If you're anywhere close to Nashville, we probably service your area. We also service Chattanooga and Memphis and their suburbs as well. Click the link below or give us a call at 615-896-2933 and we'll get you on the schedule!

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