Unless you wish to wash dishes by hand, you'll need to diagnose and fix that dishwasher problem.
For anyone who is used to having a dishwasher, having it break down is a serious problem. Those of us who have become accustomed to loading up the washer and flipping the switch can't fathom the idea of having to wash dishes by hand again. However, it still happens sometimes. The good news is that there are a few common problems with dishwashers that you can easily diagnose and may be able to fix without calling out the handyman.
Dishwasher Not Running
One of the most obvious concerns about a dishwasher is if it will not come on at all. Before you panic and grab the phone to get the repairman out for a service call, try diagnosing this problem yourself. It could be something very simple keeping your dishwasher down. If it appears there is no power reaching the dishwasher, it may not be the dishwasher at all. If it normally has lights on the front and none are on it is an additional indicator that no electricity is getting through.
Check your electric panel or fuse box. Make sure that the switch didn't trip because of a power surge or overload of some kind. If you realize one switch if facing the wrong way, and that switch controls the dishwasher, just turn it back on. Odds are it'll be fine.
Dishwashers will also not come on if the door is ajar. Make sure it is latched. Sometimes repeated opening and closing can knock the hinge out of line and prevent your door from closing. It can be adjusted from the front panel at the bottom of the unit on most models.
Dishwasher Is Full Of Water
The inability for the dishwasher to drain is caused by one of a few factors, according to Hometips.com. Remove the cover from the air gap on the back of the sink (it's a chrome cylindrical thing with a hole in it) and use a wire to clean it out. Check the drain hose coming from the dishwasher for clogs or kinks. Removing the strainer, if possible, and cleaning it out could also be a solution to this problem.
There is also a strong possibility that the drainage problem is in the pipes coming from the sink the washer is connected. A clog in the p-trap under the sink will back up into the dishwasher and cause it to fill up during the rinse.
Dishes Are Still Dirty
The whole purpose of a dishwasher is to get the dishes clean. If your dishes are coming out dirty, then there could be several reasons.
Check the manufacturer's instructions and make sure you are not overloading the dishwasher. Make sure you are using proper detergent and scrape solid food off the plates before you load them, according to FamilyHandyman.com.
If these factors aren't the cause, then the problem may require the cleaning or the rotating spray arms, which can get clogged with debris over time. The float switch, housed in a plastic cylinder-shaped device near the dishwasher door may also need to be removed with a wrench and cleaned as well.
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