It’s easy to call a plumber, but do you know if he will fix your dishwasher? In the past, plumbers have been generalists. They were willing and able to fix clogged drains, toilets that won’t flush, leaky faucets, and burst pipes. As new technology appeared on the market, however, the roles became increasingly defined. A professional that works on sinks and faucets become a plumbing technician.
A professional that installs dishwashers, become appliance installers. Today, for most homes and apartments, there is a clear distinction between which professional you need. A plumbing technician will not install an appliance and usually does not do major household projects. An appliance installer will rarely provide drainage or sanitation services.
On the other hand, it would certainly be convenient if they were able to fix your dishwasher. For this reason, some are able to perform appliance installation services as well as plumbing work. When you call a plumber for help, be sure that they will repair your dishwasher and fix the leaking, before you pay them. Appliance repair is considered by many technicians to be more difficult than simple problem fixing work, but it is certainly possible due to their expertise. If you want to know whether or not your plumber can repair your dishwasher, just ask.
Most Common Dishwasher Issues
A plumber may provide related appliance installation services, but sometimes the final job requires the expertise of an appliance technician. This is especially true when there are problems with your dishwasher. Fortunately, most common dishwasher issues are easy for any qualified technician to diagnose and fix. Some of the most common problems include:
Broken Door Spring Repair
A broken door spring makes your dishwasher difficult to open and close. This isn’t a complicated repair, but it can be challenging without the right tools. Fortunately, a professional could and should have the tools and experience related to and needed for the job.
Broken Door Latch Repair
The latch is attached to the door using two screws. If these screws become loose or fall out completely, they often get lost. When the screws are gone, your dishwasher won’t open or close properly and may not work at all. A simple fix requires only two screws that are identical to the originals. Once replaced, your dishwasher should operate normally again in no time at all.
Leaky Water Connection Hose
Sometimes when you connect the water supply hose to your dishwasher, you may get a leak. This is especially true when the hose and appliance were not designed for compatibility. Fortunately, this problem can be easily fixed with an inexpensive replacement drain hose.
Detergent Dispenser Door
A dishwasher’s detergent dispenser door is typically closed using a magnet or spring-loaded latch. When either mechanism breaks, your dishwasher won’t operate normally because it doesn’t dispense the soap needed to clean the dishes. You’ll need to inspect both your dishwasher and your dishwashing supplies if you suspect that this might be the reason for the problem.
Broken Spray Arms
The spray arms in a dishwasher are responsible for distributing water throughout its interior during each wash cycle. If one of these arms becomes loose or breaks, your dishwasher may malfunction. Unfortunately, broken spray arms are often difficult to locate and repair because the parts are not sold separately. However, some dishwashers have removable arms that can be replaced in a matter of minutes if your plumber has the right tools.
How do I Properly Drain a Dishwasher?
A dishwasher is meant to be emptied after use. It is important that you know how to drain a dishwasher in order to avoid a clogged machine and flooding your kitchen floor with dirty water.
- The dishwasher’s drain hose should only be attached to the garbage disposal or plumbing fixture. If there is no garbage disposal or plumbing fixture nearby, you will have to drain the water some other way.
- Before you drain the dishwasher, it is necessary to turn off its hot and cold supply lines by closing the valves located underneath the sink where you just installed your dishwasher or had it professionally installed many years ago. You can do this with an adjustable wrench which is included with every plumber’s tool kit just in case they get called out on an emergency service call.
- In order to open the dishwasher’s drain valve, you will need a large pair of pliers as well as a screwdriver. Insert the screwdriver into the opening on top of your kitchen sink to pry open the cap from its position, and then insert one end of the pliers inside the cap’s inner ring. Flip it around until its latch is released and it opens up completely. Finally, use a bucket to catch any drain water that may still be left in your machine due to residual buildup. Unhinge your dishwasher hose from where it is attached underneath or attach a smaller hose if necessary prior to draining any water so that none gets wasted.
- The process for closing the drain valve should be done in the reverse order by first pinching the pliers upon closing of the cap, and then flush it with a screwdriver to make sure that it latches properly.
- After you have finished draining your dishwasher hose, you will then need to reattach it back into place underneath or alongside your kitchen sink before turning on both hot and cold water supply lines to clear any debris from inside your machine.
Dishwashers are often filled with hard water deposits if not cleaned frequently enough. Most of the problems are related to this. When they become clogged, dishes may not get cleaned and rinse properly which can lose you money on energy costs over time. In order to prevent mineral buildup from taking place in your dishwashing machine’s interior after each use, we recommend that you freshen up its cleanliness by using white vinegar mixed with warm water inside the soap dispenser. Allow it to soak overnight so that the vinegar has enough time to do its job of removing hard water buildup before emptying it out in the morning.
