Tag Archives: dishwasher repairs

Tricks to Make Your Dishwasher Function Optimally

When you purchase a dishwasher, you want it to function at its best, right? And it’s possible with these tricks given by dishwasher repair professionals:

Properly prepare the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher

You can do several things to prepare your dishwasher for proper functioning. These things include:

Secure all plastics. If you don’t, water blasts may force them to roll over and fill with water, or worse, fall into an exposed heating element (if your model has one) and melt them.  You don’t want this, do you?

Never stack items. The water spray will be unable to reach (or clean) the dish sitting on top. Remember that if water cannot reach the dishes, it will not be cleaned.

Always keep stainless steel and silver (or silver-plated) cutlery separate. If the two types come into contact in the wash, a reaction can occur, causing the silver to pit.

If you have not used your dishwasher in a while, turn on the hot water tap. Run it at the nearest sink to guarantee that hot water reaches your dishwasher.

Be cautious what you put in the dishwasher. Items made of wood, such as cutting boards and spoons, cast Iron, valuable carving tools (such as chef’s knives), jars, or containers with glued-on labels, as bits of the labels may fall off and become caught in the filter, and they don’t belong in the dishwasher.

Don’t pre-rinse the dishes.

You should avoid washing your dishes before loading them into the dishwasher. This is because modern detergent is engineered to adhere to the remaining food and clean the dishes properly.

While this is the case, it doesn’t imply you should put your plate in the dishwasher with a half-eaten sandwich on it—unless you want a mushy mess.

Instead, you should scrape large objects off your plate—into the trash or garbage disposal—and place the dish in without rinsing it.

This will not only clean your dishes, but also preserve them in good shape. If no food is adhered to, the detergent may gradually damage your dishware, carving little scratches and pits into the surface.

You also waste water—up to 27 gallons each load, compared to the three to six gallons used by a normal Energy Star-rated dishwasher.

There are certain exceptions to this, of course. With difficult foods such as eggs and oats, dishwashers can’t always perform the job perfectly on the first try.

If you have a casserole dish with very burned-on food residue, it probably makes sense to soak it a little before putting it in your dishwasher.

Place the cookware on the right rack.

You must place the right items on the rack for the best outcome. To help you out, here is a guide to follow:

Plates: Plates belong at the bottom. Lay them so that the dirty side faces the area where the water spray is heaviest, which is normally in the center of the rack. To achieve the best cleaning results, angle pots, pans, and casseroles down.

Place flat pans and platters on the bottom, snuggled along the sides and rear of the rack. Never set them in front of the door; they may prevent the dispenser from opening and the detergent from reaching the dishes.

Store utensils in the basket or lined neatly on the flatware tray. If you’re using a basket, make sure spoons don’t nest together, so arrange some handles higher, and others lower to ensure all surfaces are cleaned.

Forks go up to clean the tines, while knives should be positioned with the blade down for safety. When unloading, grip utensils by their handles to keep them clean.

Glasses and cups: These belong on the top rack. Remember to place glasses between the tines, never on top. The tip of the prong can leave a watermark, and glasses jammed between two tines can fracture.

Angle the cups as much as the rack design allows to prevent water from gathering at the base of the upside-down cups.

Still, got puddles? Unload the lowest rack first to prevent drip-down. And place the wine glasses with care.

To minimize breakage, keep them from bumping into each other or the dishwasher’s top, and ensure they sit securely in the rack. Thankfully, most modern dishwashers include unique stemware holders to keep glassware stable.

Use the proper cycle for the job.

You should be cautious of the cycle you use on your dishwasher. The rapid cycle may be okay if you’re pre-rinsing your dishes, but it wastes more water and time than simply letting the dishwasher do the work.

The shorter cycle is intended for dishes with light soil or those that have recently been soiled. For example, if you have freshly purchased crockery and want it washed for the first time.

Or perhaps you and your companion sit down to dinner and want the dishes cleaned.

For regular loads, you should use the usual cycle.

That is, unless your new dishwasher includes an automatic cycle. The autocycle is intended for a daily mixed load. That’s where the machine’s intelligence comes into play: it analyzes the soil level, recognizes anything left in there, and modifies the cycle accordingly.

If your dishwasher has the intelligence to run an auto cycle efficiently, you can use it for most loads, except for exceptional cases like pots and pans or baby bottles that require the sanitary cycle.

Keep the food trap clean.

Many people don’t know that the dishwasher needs cleaning and maintenance. One area you should pay attention to is the food trap.

It’s in the dishwasher’s base and smells terrible, so people avoid taking it out and messing with it. Depending on how frequently you use your dishwasher, you should clean the trap once every three to six months.

The beauty is that it’s easy to clean even by yourself without involving the services of appliance repair Alexandria professionals.

Home Appliance Best Practises

Would you like to keep your home appliances in top condition most of the time? Here are tips given by appliance repair professionals that will help you do that:

Don’t pre-rinse your dishes. Let the dishwasher run.

It’s time to forget everything your parents taught you about cleaning up after dinner. One of the hardest habits to break for most people growing up in the 1970s and 1980s is not to fully rinse off dishes.

For most people growing up at the time, mothers’ dishes were spotless by the time they went into the dishwasher. This was often because the dishwashers at that time weren’t as efficient as they are now.

Washers today are highly effective and use just a little water.

How little? Three and a half gallons or less is enough

Modern dishwashers are capable of removing dried food off plates, so you can wait until the machine is full before running it. Scraping is sufficient. You don’t need to pre-rinse the dishes. Simply make room for water sprayers to reach each dish.

What if there are only a few dishes to wash? You might have the impression that doing them by hand is less wasteful, but data suggests otherwise, even if you run a half-empty dishwasher.

A peer-reviewed study sponsored by Whirlpool on the amount of water and energy required to wash dishes by hand or machine found that running the tap to wash a plate, cup, bowl, cutlery, and some service items) used approximately 3 gallons.

That indicates that operating the dishwasher for only two people uses less water than washing dishes in the sink, providing no pre-rinsing is done.

Dishwashers produce less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of hand-washing dishes, owing mostly to the fact that they heat less water.

At full capacity, a dishwasher uses less than half a gallon in each setting.

The only way to fight this by hand is to wash and rinse in two basins instead of letting the water run, as most people do.

Unfortunately, this will not save you time. The EPA estimates that hand-washing a household’s dishes for a year takes around 230 hours, similar to a 10-day vacation.

How do the appliances do this? Dishwashers’ light sensors monitor the cloudiness of the water as it drains and regulate the water to guarantee the dishes are clean without wasting it. The whole point is that the appliances do the hard work for you.

Set the refrigerator thermostat and forget about it

The refrigerator was long considered the most energy-hungry appliance in the family home. Today, it is among the most cost-effective.

According to a 2010 World Economic Forum research, refrigerators’ energy consumption has fallen by three-fourths since 1972, despite their increased internal volume. Those stats appear even better today, thanks to improved compressors, coolants, and insulation.

Even with this information, many individuals ignore manufacturer guidelines and set temperatures too low. You should note that colder isn’t necessarily better.

Decades of advancements in insulation, air sealing, and ventilation ensure that suggested temperatures — often between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit can store food the longest without wasting energy or causing frostbite.

Simply set the right temperature and organize your food such that it is easy to find and difficult to forget.

The largest mistake you can make is storing refrigerators past their expiration dates. If you have an old model in your (hot) garage or basement, especially if you’re one of the people with a second refrigerator, get rid of it.

In most cases, you pay more for electricity than you could save by updating it.

Invest in a smart thermostat.

You may have heard that setting your thermostat to a specific temperature reduces heating and cooling costs. It does not, especially if you have to keep changing the settings.

Installing smart thermostats that learn your tastes and behaviors allows you to set an effective heating and cooling schedule while saving money each year.

The smart thermostats employ home WiFi, smartphone apps, or motion sensors to detect when people are home and modify temperatures accordingly, as well as during the day.

Homes with heat pumps are an exception. Modern high-performance heat pumps perform best while maintaining a consistently comfortable temperature and are less efficient when attempting to heat a cold environment.

They can provide energy savings without requiring thermostat adjustments in the evening or when you get up. Don’t touch the thermostat when you have a heat pump in your home.

Replace the old appliances.

If your machine is 15 or 20 years old, replacing it will save you money and reduce emissions. Even today’s low-cost dishwashers outperform high-end appliances from a decade ago.

Pushing appliances beyond their projected lifetime only delays their replacement, wasting money and energy.

While this is the case, manufacturers say that we may be entering an era in which appliances reach their peak efficiency. At that point, we’ll rely on software updates rather than new hardware to enhance things.

Appliances are getting about as efficient as they can be. There are projections that it will get to the point where manufacturers will be helping consumers prolong the life of their products.

While this is a probability, we are yet to get there. If your appliance is old, you should simply replace it. A telltale sign that your unit is old is if it consumes too much energy.

You should also consider replacing your unit if it keeps breaking down, and you have to keep hiring commercial appliance repair Alexandria professionals.

When buying a new unit, get a high-quality one that will withstand the test of time. The appliance should have a high energy rating which gives you peace of mind that it won’t hike your energy bills.

Guide to Servicing Your Dishwasher

It’s recommended that you hire an appliance repair professional to service your appliance, as it gives you peace of mind that they are doing the right job and will leave your appliance in tip-top shape. 

While this is the case, sometimes you don’t have the money to hire the service provider. In other cases, you don’t have time to wait for the service provider to arrive and need to service the unit. 

In such an instance, you don’t have any other way out than to service the appliance yourself. To help you out, here is how to go about it. 

Remove the filters, spray arms and racks.

Because the filters and spray arms are likely clogged, you should soak them with the racks in a mixture of warm water and distilled vinegar for at least one hour. Of course, you can soak them for longer if you want to and have time for it.  

After soaking them, wash them with a brush to ensure nothing is left behind. You can use a toothpick to clean the tiny pores in the spray arm and filter. This takes time, but it makes all the difference. Once you are done, use hot water to rinse them inside and out. 

Filters and spray arms typically clip off, but if you don’t know how to remove yours, examine the handbook. Look for dirt, food particles, or mineral deposits in the filters. Scrub away the accumulated debris with a soft-bristled brush, such as an old toothbrush. To remove any leftover residue, rinse the filters with warm water.

Put your toothbrush to work.

Using a toothbrush takes time, but it is well worth it. You should use an old toothbrush and dip it in equal parts baking soda and vinegar before going over all the nooks inside to ensure no food particles remain. 

Cleaning with vinegar and baking soda produces a strong solution that dissolves dirt fast.

Using the toothbrush, you should clean the gasket and door edges. Regularly clean the rubber gasket surrounding the dishwasher door and edges to avoid mold and debris buildup. 

You should scrub the gasket gently with the toothbrush to remove any debris or residue, then once you are done, rinse it. 

Remove debris or obstructions from the dishwasher drain using a small brush or toothbrush. To avoid water backup or drainage concerns, clear the drain.

Run a cleaning cycle.

Some dishwashers have a cleaning cycle. According to the manufacturer’s directions, you should run a cleaning cycle using a dishwasher cleaner or a vinegar and baking soda mixture. This cycle helps remove built-up residue and keeps the dishwasher clean.

When the cleaning cycle is complete, and the dishwasher has cooled, open the door and inspect the interior. Wipe any residual residue or buildup inside the dishwasher using a gentle cloth or sponge. Pay close attention to the corners, fissures, and door edges and ensure they are pristine. 

Rinse the appliance with vinegar.

To ensure the dishwasher is completely disinfected and all particles have been thoroughly removed, rinse it with vinegar.

You need to replace the filters, spray arm, and racks, then place a dishwasher-safe bowl of white vinegar at the bottom and run it on the hottest and longest cycle. 

You should always use white vinegar for this. The reason is that white vinegar has low acidity, so that it won’t ruin your appliance. Avoid other vinegars, such as apple cider vinegar, as they might cause some harm. 

The vinegar will dissolve any remaining food particles you may have missed when cleaning your appliance. This practice works like magic when it comes to descaling the dishwasher.

While vinegar is an efficient descaling agent, you should avoid using it on all dishwasher components. Use vinegar sparingly on any rubber or sensitive parts, such as the gasket or seals, as it may cause harm. You can see specific directions and recommendations in the dishwasher’s owner’s manual.

If you have highly tenacious limescale or mineral deposits or reside in a hard water location, you may need to repeat the vinegar descaling process or consider using a commercial dishwasher descaler as directed by the manufacturer.

Deodorize the appliance with baking soda.

Although the preceding step may have cleaned the appliance sufficiently, you can go further and sprinkle a cup of baking soda at the bottom of the dishwasher before running it on the longest and hottest cycle. This eliminates any remaining stains and deodorizes the machine.

How you go about it is that you close the dishwasher door after pouring the baking soda and leave it there for hours or overnight. Baking soda will absorb the scents as a result of this.

After the baking soda has had time to sit, wipe off the interior, including the door, walls, and racks, using a damp cloth or sponge. This aids in the removal of any residual baking soda and absorbed odors.

Finally, run a rinse cycle in the dishwasher without any dishes or detergent to guarantee that all baking soda residue is gone. This will assist in draining out any leftover baking soda, leaving your dishwasher clean and odor-free.

Using baking soda regularly can help prevent odors from accumulating in your dishwasher. If you continue to smell strong or persistent scents, it could be a symptom of a larger problem, such as a clogged drain or a problem with the dishwasher’s plumbing. 

In such instances, reviewing the manufacturer’s manual or seeking assistance from a professional dishwasher repair Springfield technician is essential.

When seeking the services of a technician, ensure that they are experienced and know what they are doing. You don’t want someone that ends up causing more problems than were originally there. 

Finish the job

Once you are done, you should return everything where it was before, and if the outside of the appliance is dirty, get rid of the dirt using a clean piece of cloth. 

Mastering Dishwasher Maintenance: A Guide to Repair and Care

Mastering dishwasher maintenance is essential for running your machine smoothly and ensuring that your dishes are always sparkling clean. Regular maintenance and timely repairs can help prevent costly breakdowns and extend the life of your dishwasher.

In this guide, we will cover some key tips and tricks for maintaining and repairing your dishwasher. Here are these tips as given by appliance repair professionals:

Clean the dishwasher

By keeping your dishwasher clean, you can prevent clogs and other common issues that can cause your machine to break down. You also prevent clogs, remove any lingering odors, and ensure that your dishes are always sparkling clean.

Start with removing large debris or food particles from the bottom of the dishwasher. You can do this using sponge or a soft brush to gently scrub the bottom of the dishwasher, making sure to remove any visible debris.

You should then remove the filters from the dishwasher and clean them thoroughly. Most dishwashers have two filters: a fine filter that traps small particles and a coarse filter that traps larger debris. Use a soft brush or a toothbrush to clean the filters, and remove any food particles or debris that may be stuck.

After cleaning the filters, run a cycle with vinegar to remove any lingering odors. You can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar for this step. Add a cup of vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher and run a normal cycle without any dishes. The vinegar will help remove any odors and leave your dishwasher smelling fresh and clean.

Finally, clean the exterior of your dishwasher, including the door and the control panel. Use a soft, damp cloth to wipe the exterior, removing any dirt or fingerprints gently. Be sure to avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners, as these can damage the finish of your dishwasher.

Repair the dishwasher

When it comes to repairs, there are some common issues that you can troubleshoot and fix yourself. For example, if your dishwasher is not filling with water, you may be able to resolve the issue by checking the water supply and ensuring that it is turned on and functioning correctly. If your dishwasher is not draining properly, you can try cleaning the filters and removing any debris blocking the drain.

You can fix some of the dishwasher problems by yourself, but when you encounter more severe issues, it may be best to call a professional for help.

Besides fixing your unit when a problem comes about, you should also regularly inspect the unit as a preventative measure. During the inspections, you should inspect all parts of the appliance and fix even the smallest problem that might be there.

Besides inspecting the unit and giving you peace of mind as you know that the unit is in top working shape, it also helps you pick the problems before they come about.

Again, you can do the inspections yourself, but for the best results, let an experienced professional help you.

When hiring a repair professional, you need to be strategic in going about it.

Begin with researching and comparing different repair services. Start by gathering a list of potential repair services in your area. You can ask friends or family members for recommendations, or search online for reviews and ratings. Be sure to compare prices, services offered, and customer satisfaction ratings to make an informed decision.

You should then verify the technician’s credentials and experience. It’s important to hire a skilled and experienced technician to repair your dishwasher. Ask about the technician’s credentials, training, and expertise to ensure they can handle your repair.

Communicate the issue. Before the technician arrives, gather as much information as possible about the problem with your dishwasher. This may include error codes, the make and model of your dishwasher, and any symptoms you have observed. You can help the technician diagnose and fix the problem more quickly and efficiently by providing precise and detailed information.

Ask about the repair process and cost. Before the technician begins the repair, ask about the steps involved in the process and the estimated repair cost. This will help you understand the scope of the repair and prepare for any potential expenses.

Parting shot

Mastering dishwasher maintenance is essential for running your machine smoothly and ensuring that your dishes are always sparkling clean. Regular cleaning and maintenance and timely repairs can help prevent costly breakdowns and extend the life of your dishwasher.

When hiring a dishwasher repair Fairfax professional, hire the most experienced.

Does It Matter Which Way Dishes Face In A Dishwasher?

Dishwashers have a spray arm that spins around and cleans all the dishes on its path. With this knowledge, you must be wondering whether it matters the direction you place the dishes facing, right?

Well, for proper cleaning, it matters the direction your dishes or bowls face. Bowls always go to the top rack. Those in the rear should face forward, while those in the front should face towards the back. This way, water will effectively reach them and give them the clean look you want.

For the plates to get clean, place them facing the center of the bottom rack.

Other valuable tips to get the most from your dishwasher

Besides strategically placing your dishes and bowls, you should consider plenty of other tips to get the most from your dishwasher. These tips as given by appliance repair professionals include:

Load the dishwasher properly

Everything begins here as there is no way you will get the most from your dishwasher if you don’t load it properly.

Before you do the loading, scrape off all large food pieces. Please note that you don’t have to pre-rinse the dishes—scraping them off is enough as they tend to come out much cleaner this way as they have some soil for the detergent to cling to and lift away.

When placing the bowls, angle them in such a way that the dirties surface faces downward, while leaving enough space for water to flow up and around each surface. There should be no nesting.

When it comes to the silverware, mix them up in the holder or alternate the spoons with one handle up and another down, to prevent the spoons from nesting against each other, covering the surfaces from detergents.

Before closing the dishwasher door, confirm that the spin arms are moving freely without hitting any surface. You also should check that you haven’t blocked the detergent dispenser with any large item.

Use hot water

The water you use to clean the dishes significantly determines the quality of your results. Dishwashers perform the best when the hot water is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. At these temperatures, the dishwasher will clean the dishes and remove any stains that might be present.

The best way to ensure that hot water always reaches your dishwasher is to use a water heater. Before cleaning the dishes, turn on the hot water tap in your kitchen sink and let the water get hot.

Use the right dishwasher detergent.

Like water, the detergent you use on your dishes goes a long way in determining your results. As a rule of thumb, use the right amount of detergent and choose one that provides the necessary ingredients for a deep clean.

If you have hard water in your system, use more detergent for every load or a booster.

Ensure that the detergent you use is fresh and not clumping for the best outcome. If using liquids, give them a good shake before using. Also, break up any lumps in the powdered formulas.

Don’t overload

While the dishwasher saves you time and effort, don’t try to overdo it by cramming all the dirty dishes in the appliance, as it won’t do proper cleaning, and you will have to redo the cleaning, which beats the whole purpose of owning the dishwasher in the first place.

If your dishwasher is overcrowded, the detergent and water can’t effectively circulate to clean the dishes thoroughly. In some cases, the situation is even dire as the dishes don’t clean at all.

If you have large loads that need cleaning, don’t try to clean all of them at once—separate them into smaller loads. You can also roll up your sleeves and hand wash some items.

Use the right cycle settings.

Thanks to advances in water and energy usage, dishwashers have different settings ideal for different dishes. To tell which setting you should use for your dishes, refer to your manual.

Dishwasher repair Northern VA professionals highly discourage against using the standard setting for all your washing as it’s a recipe for disaster. For example, if you use the standard-setting on fragile wine glasses, there are chances of the glasses cracking and don’t want this, do you?

Are Dishwashers Worth It?

Are you on the fence about buying a dishwasher and wondering, are dishwashers worth it? Dishwasher repair experts recommend every homeowner own a dishwasher. And no, this isn’t because the repair technicians want more homeowners to service machines for. It’s because dishwashers come with plenty of benefits. Some of these benefits include:

You save time

Studies show that homeowners spend an average of 60 minutes every day washing up after meals. If you are like me, this is a pretty long time that you would spend doing other things. And the good news is you can get back this time by using a dishwasher in your cleaning.

Loading a dishwasher takes approximately 9 minutes meaning that you have a whopping 51 minutes to spare and do the activities you have always been yearning to do.

Some dishwashers even come with timed programs that range from 30 minutes to 120 minutes, so you can set the dishwasher and let it run while you engage in other activities.

You save water

If you are saving money cleaning the dishes with your hands, a recent study showed that using a dishwasher reduces the amount of water used by up to 74%. Some of the modern appliances even consume less water, so you spend less and less.

It’s easier

This is a no-brainer. To clean the dishes with a dishwasher, you simply need to put the dishes in the unit and wait for it to do the work. The dishwasher does all the work without your involvement. Like when working with any other machine, it’s much easier to work with the dishwasher as you aren’t directly involved with it.

It’s safer

If you have fragile grasses and other crockery, it’s much safer to clean them using the dishwasher as you won’t be risking your hands in the event they break. You also won’t put them at the risk of dropping when handling them with soapy hands.

You have cleaner dishes.

Cleaning the dishes using a dishwasher not only takes less time and saves your energy, but it also gives you cleaner results. Most dishwashers have a steam gloss feature that makes your dishes appear cleaner, brighter, and shinier.

You get rid of germs.

To eliminate germs from your dishes, the water needs to be above 60 degrees centigrade. When you are cleaning the dishes by hand, this is a temperature you can’t achieve, as water above 27.5 degrees centigrade is too hot to touch. And as you can guess, this isn’t high enough to kill the germs.

The water inside a dishwasher is heated up to 75 degrees, so your dishes not only get out clean and spotless, but also germ-free.

It’s kinder to your hands.

To clean dishes with your hands, you have to deal with soaps, chemicals, and scrubbing the stubborn dishes. As you can imagine, this isn’t being kind to your hands, is it?

With a dishwasher, you simply need to put the dishes in the machine, and it does all the work while you are preparing the meals or having a chat.

What should you consider when buying a dishwasher?

As you can see, dishwashers come with plenty of benefits, and there is no reason you shouldn’t buy one. While this is the case, you shouldn’t buy the first machine you come across—you should take your time and ensure you buy the right one. Some of the factors to pay attention to when making the purchase include:

Washing cycles

How many washing cycles does the machine have? The most important cycles are a regular wash, light wash, heavy wash, and economy settings. To have a great time with your machine, ensure the dishwasher has all the necessary cycles.

Performance features

The number of washing levels influences the performance of the machine. This is how and where the water jets are distributed. Go for a machine with a three-tire system or more as it will provide a better experience.

Are dishwashers really worth it?

As we have seen, dishwashers are worth it, and you should go for them. You should note that buying the unit isn’t enough—you also need to clean and maintain it. At least once a year, let an appliance repair Fairfax professional go through it and fix any issues it might be having.