Most dishwasher components can be accessed from the front door; in fact, most repairs to dishwashers are made by opening the front door.
The first thing you need to do is get to the control panel. You must remove the screws that surround the panel itself; sometimes they are located under a type of mold or plastic, in order to make the design look smoother. Knobs are usually held by a tight friction fit or by a series of small screws; sometimes, depending on the dishwasher, the entire panel must be removed to have access to the inner workings of the machine.
In most dishwashers, once the panel is removed, the rest of the door can be removed by taking the screws out; these screws may also be covered by trap molding or plastic. These screws must be taken out to access the hoses, motor, inlet valves, motor, and other components, and then you may remove the lower access panel. This can usually be done without removing the entire door.
Here are some simple tips suggested by certified professionals that you can use to diagnose your own dishwasher:
- Make sure the dishwasher is receiving power. If it is plugged into the wall, just make sure the cord is not harmed and the plug is fully inside the wall outlet. Another thing to check would be the switch that controls the outlet. Make sure it is turned on. Modern “built-in” dishwashers are connected directly into a circuit; make sure the main entrance panel does not have a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker; if so, then make sure to restore the circuit. If the residence is older, the dishwasher is most likely connected to a separate entrance panel.
- Assuming the circuit is receiving power, and then the problem may be coming from a faulty switch from the wall outlet. To test the switch, just use a voltage tester, take the switch cover off and insert the probe of the voltage tester in one of the holes and the other probe into the other hole. If the tester starts lighting up then the switch is fine, if it does not then it is faulty and needs to be replaced.
- Always make sure that the door is latched properly for the dishwasher, or it won’t work if it’s still open. If it does not close properly, then the latch is faulty and must be replaced.
- Make sure that the water heater in the residence is working properly by checking the flow of water from the kitchen sink. Another thing to check would be the temperature of the water. Make sure the hot water is hot enough; this too can be checked in the kitchen sink. If no hot water is coming or it is not hot enough, then the heater may be faulty and should be inspected by a licensed professional.
- Make sure all knobs and buttons are set correctly; recent models have sensitive buttons, so just a double check is always good.
If the above checked out and dishwasher is still not working then a deeper inspection is required.
Because the latch of a dishwasher is used often, it may wear and tear faster than other parts. This brings certain mechanical problems to the user. The latch can lose its tight fit over time, which causes the door to not shut properly. This, in turn causes the dishwasher to not function. Sometimes, the issue can be resolved by re-adjusting the latch and fitting it back into its place; if that does not seem to solve the problem, the latch must be replaced. For more questions, visit our live chat feature!