A bad agitator won't get your dishes clean.
A dishwasher that doesn't clean dishes could be the victim of a broken agitator. The agitator inside the dishwasher cabinet, sometimes also called the washer arm, spins around under the pressure of water forced through it by the dishwasher pump. The spinning action on the agitator helps to distribute water throughout the inside of the cabinet and power away food on the dishes.
Water Supply
The agitator in dishwashers spins through the force of water pumped through it by the washing machine pump. If there is no water reaching the washing machine, the pump won't be sending any water through the agitator and it won't spin. Verify that the water supply for the dishwasher is turned on and running. Dishwashers are typically connected to the nearest hot water supply, which in most kitchens is located underneath the kitchen sink. Turn the hot water supply knob to the left to ensure that the water is on.
Electrical Supply
Dishwashers need an electrical power supply to operate and pump water inside the cabinet and through the agitator. Check the dishwasher lights, and listen for noises to see if the appliance is coming on. The dishwasher may have tripped the circuit breaker at one point. Go to the main circuit breaker to see if the circuit for the dishwasher has reset itself. If so, move it back to the "On" position. If this is a portable dishwasher plugged into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet, check the outlet to see if it has tripped off and, if so, hit the "Reset" button to turn it back on.
Agitator Blocked up
Although it passes through a number of filters and clarifiers on the way to your house, the water supply for your home can still contain dirt and silt when it enters your home. If you live in an area with hard water or water that has a high lime concentration, this can also leave deposits on your water fixtures. Both lime and silt can clog up the agitator, causing it to stop spinning. If this is the case, remove the agitator from the agitator hub and clean it in a bath of hot water and vinegar. Use a nylon brush to clean up any encrustations on the agitator body.
Dishwasher Pump
The pump for the dishwasher pulls the water into the appliance and sends it through the agitator. A bad or burned-out pump won't pull in water. Bad pumps are fairly easy to detect. You may smell a burning odor around the dishwasher or see smoke. Another sign is if the dishwasher turns on but only makes a clicking sound or grinding noise when it enters the wash cycle. Swap out the bad pump with a new one to take care of this dishwasher problem.
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