The installation of a dishwasher - an apparatus that helps housewives in household chores - is very difficult. Despite this, some maintenance actions (filter cleaning, additional settings) can be performed by yourself. Some of the recommendations described in this article will help you repair your dishwasher yourself.
Consider the principle by which these devices work. You can break the entire washing cycle into several stages:
- prewash;
- main;
- rinse
- drying.
These devices have both normal operating modes and several non-standard ones. The dishwasher is powered by a water supply, and water is drawn through a special salt softener. Water under pressure in the system enters the machine through the inlet valve. The float and pressure switch is designed to regulate the required amount of water. If enough water has accumulated, the water closes and begins to heat up.
It heats up to the temperature necessary for a certain step in the washing process. For example, a rinse cycle involves a high temperature so that drying takes place as quickly as possible.
After the water is heated, it is pumped into the washing area, where it is sprayed around with the help of sprinkler nozzles. The jets are directed in such a way that impeller rotation is created.
Water that has already been used is used for washing again, this becomes possible due to several stages of filtration. During washing, a certain amount of detergent specified by the program is supplied to the work area. Filtration occurs throughout the washing process, and only at the end of the water is discharged into the sewer.
After this cycle ends, the drying time comes. There are several types of this process:
- Turbo dryer. In this case, the heated moist air is vented out by a fan.
- Condensation drying. Here, drying is carried out using the temperature, which was obtained as a result of rinsing. In this case, the vapor collects on the walls and flows down.
Before washing, all dishes are loaded inside the machine onto special shelves that hold it securely during the entire process. Due to the rotation of the blades of the sprayer, water flows to all parts of the dishes.
We will find out what malfunctions are most often manifested and methods for their elimination.
The device does not respond to keystrokes. No indication
If there is no indication, first of all it is necessary to check the voltage in the network with the help of a tester or multimeter. If the device shows that there is voltage, then opening the device is indispensable. For cases where there is an indication, but pressing the buttons does not lead to anything, you can check whether the door is tightly closed. If this does not help, it will be necessary to analyze and find out why the dishwasher does not function. Do-it-yourself repair in this case involves the following actions.
Most machines have a terminal strip near the main panel. The voltage comes to him and with the help of control contacts is distributed further. The first step is to open the terminal box and check the quality of the contact broach. Due to the fact that they can oxidize, electrical connections can be broken. In this case, it is necessary to clean the contacts, and maybe then do not need further repair of the dishwasher with your own hands. Ariston recommends contacting original service centers for help.
If the above actions do not lead to anything, you will have to “ring” the power circuit in order to find out if there is damage. First you need to drain the water and unplug the machine. Using a multimeter, we check the resistance of the cores, having previously disconnected them from the terminal block. If the wire is intact, the device should show a short circuit, if not, it means that a fault has been found, and the cable should be replaced. You can replace it yourself. Well, if this does not help and the dishwasher does not work, the most correct solution would be to completely do not repair the dishwasher with your own hands (including Bosch). However, manufacturing companies themselves recommend contacting authorized service centers.
If you have a deep knowledge of electrical engineering, you can try to find a malfunction and repair the dishwasher with your own hands. This will help the circuit diagram of your machine. Again, with a multimeter, it is necessary to check all the elements of the circuit, and in this way you can find a burned out or damaged element.
For those who are poorly versed in electrical engineering, below is a small memo on reading the schematic diagrams:
- For the convenience of finding a faulty section of the circuit using abbreviations, the colors of the wires are indicated on such schemes. Black - VK, TR - tan, W-VK - black and white, BR-O - brown-orange.
- The terminal blocks are indicated on the diagram in the form of circles. These places are subject to rupture when checking with a multimeter.
- The dashed border indicates that the contacts enclosed in it are located in some block (keypad, relay case). In order to determine what kind of block it is, you need to read its designation - it is somewhere near the borders of the dotted line.
A small digression. An electric circuit always has both a beginning and an end. The principle is as follows: for any element of the circuit to work, it is necessary that plus and minus approach it. When checking the circuit, every element that has a dishwasher is considered this way. Do-it-yourself repairs in this case require patience and perseverance.
No water supply
If the malfunction lies in the fact that with an open supply, water does not collect in the machine, then most likely the water supply valve has failed or the filter mesh has become clogged. These items can be found near the water inlet, at the bottom that your dishwasher has. Do-it-yourself repair involves shutting off the water, removing the panel and visual inspection of these parts. A clogged net must be cleaned with water. Valve checking is a bit trickier. Again, you will need a multimeter, with which you need to measure the resistance at the terminals of the valve coil. Knowing the resistance, we can draw some conclusions:
- Short circuit means that there is a short circuit of the turns of the winding.
- Resistance is zero - open winding.
- If resistance is present, it means that the matter is not in the winding, but in the valve itself.
Be that as it may, you will have to remove the valve and acquire a new one that matches the broken characteristics.
Water is drawn, but washing does not start
The first step is to listen: is the engine working - the main element that your dishwasher has? Do-it-yourself repairs will be needed both in case of work, and in the opposite case. If it works, it means that it could jam the engine or pump. In addition, the motor windings could be damaged. Whether this is so can be checked with a multimeter, similar to checking a valve. That is, in the case of a short circuit, we have an interturn circuit, and if the resistance is zero, the coil is open. There are few options for solving this problem - either replacing the electric motor or repairing the service.
If the engine does not make any sounds, then you will have to look for a malfunction in the control circuit, resorting to the help of a circuit diagram.
Water does not drain
The most common causes of this malfunction are drain plugs or dirty filters. It may also be a faulty pump. To check this, remove the pump and check the windings with a multimeter. If you cannot repair your dishwasher with your own hands, Beko and other manufacturers will offer their professional help.
Leaking dishwasher
This trouble may occur due to wear on the door seal. Deterioration can be detected visually, and if it does occur, you need to purchase a new one and replace it. If a puddle has formed under the machine, you should find the place where it leaked. Most often, water flows from a pump seal, feed hose or drain system. Do-it-yourself repair of the dishwasher - Bosch and other manufacturers - involves replacing these parts.
Strange sounds
If instead of the usual noise you hear sounds that are completely uncharacteristic for the car, it is worth checking the camera for the presence of fragments of glass and metal objects. It is also possible that the bearings have worn out.
In the event that, in addition to a strange sound, you notice a poor washing quality, impeller wear is possible. After checking the camera for foreign objects, you should disassemble the engine and the pump to check the wear of the bearings and repair the dishwasher with your own hands. Electrolux recommends purchasing original spare parts, otherwise you may lose your warranty.
Water does not heat up
The lack of water heating may be due to a malfunction of the heating elements, a temperature sensor or a timer. The condition of the heating elements can be checked with your own hands, having a multimeter at hand. If the device shows zero resistance, then you have a direct road to the store for a new device.
It is very problematic to check the quality of the temperature sensor and timer on your own, because for this you need to know the algorithm of the electronics that is responsible for heating. Do-it-yourself repair of the dishwasher - Bosch or other brands - in this case requires special vigilance.
Do not dry dishes
Dishwashers, which have in their functionality the option of turbo-drying dishes, with this malfunction, have damage to the power supply circuit and the fan windings. The process of checking the windings is described above, for its execution it is necessary to get to the fan, or rather, its terminals. If the fan windings are intact, then check the power supply circuit with a multimeter.
Touching the car body
Do-it-yourself repair of the dishwasher (including Electrolux) tends to replace one part. Most likely, the problem is that it "struck" the heater. It is necessary to turn off the machine and remove the heating element. Visual inspection should detect its defect. In order to make sure the punctured heater is broken, you can conduct a small check.
It is necessary to lower the element itself into a container with salt water and use a multimeter to measure the resistance between it and the brine. If it is, it is a breakdown of isolation. However, such a check is not a panacea; some defective heating elements do not show themselves on this test. Breakdown occurs due to
hard water and poor care. Therefore, in order not to have to repair the dishwasher with your own hands (Siemens, for example, like other well-known brands), you must carefully operate your device.
Dishwasher overheating
It happens that, after water enters the apparatus, steam begins to pour out of it, and washing the dishes does not start. This is mainly due to a breakdown of the temperature sensor or heating control system. Most often, the temperature sensor fails. A sensor with the same specifications must be purchased and replaced.
White streaks and stains form on the dishes
This point indicates that an incorrect rinse aid quantity has been selected for the correct washing process.
If universal detergents are used, this effect is sometimes manifested. These tools are designed to simplify the washing process. They contain a rinse aid, however, to achieve a better result, it should still be added separately. To be precise, the clouding on the dishes is a sign of an excess of rinse aid. If, as a result of washing the dishes, it turns out in drips, the amount of added rinse aid should be reduced. In this case, do not need to repair the dishwasher with your own hands. Indesit and other manufacturers advise the use of professional detergents, and then guarantee that the dishes are clean.