Is Your Dishwasher Broken? 5 Ways to Troubleshoot Before Calling for Repair

You open the dishwasher and see food stuck to plates, cloudy glasses, greasy film everywhere. Before calling for help, know that most problems have simple fixes you can handle in 30 minutes. Basic dishwasher troubleshooting beats an unnecessary service call.

In Calgary, technicians find that 8 out of 10 dishwasher complaints come down to maintenance, not broken parts. Hard water makes certain issues more common, but solutions stay the same.

Skip DIY Troubleshooting If:

Some problems need professional attention. Call someone if you notice:

• Water leaking onto your floor
• Burning smell or smoke
• Dishwasher won’t turn on at all
• Loud grinding or banging noises
• Dead control panel

Turn off the breaker for anything electrical.

Check #1: Your Filter Is Probably Clogged

Most people don’t know dishwashers have filters that need cleaning every month. This causes more cleaning problems than anything else. Calgary’s hard water makes it worse with food bits and white mineral scales that block water flow.

How to Clean Your Dishwasher Filter:

Pull out the bottom rack and find the cylindrical piece at the bottom center. Then:

1. Twist counterclockwise and lift out
2. Rinse under hot water while scrubbing with a brush
3. For crusty buildup, soak in white vinegar for 15 minutes
4. Once water runs clear, twist it back in
5. Once water runs clear, twist it back in.

This one step solves the issue for most people.

Check #2: Spray Arms with Blocked Holes

Spray arms shoot water through small holes that clog easily. When this happens, you get uneven cleaning. Top rack items stay dirty while bottom rack looks fine, or vice versa.

Clearing Spray Arm Blockages:

Find the spray arms under each rack. Most twist off or unclip. Then:

1. Hold them up to light and look at each hole
2. Use a toothpick to clear blockages
3. Soak in vinegar for 20 minutes if there’s white buildup
4. Spin by hand before putting them back to make sure they turn freely

Folks should do this every three months.

Check #3: You’re Loading It Wrong (We All Do It)

Cramming too many dishes blocks water from reaching everything. Big items like cutting boards can stop spray arms from spinning. Bowls facing up fill with dirty water instead of draining.

Here’s how to load correctly:

• Bottom rack: Plates and bowls facing center
• Top rack: Cups and glasses upside down
• Utensil basket: Mix forks and spoons so they don’t nest
• Before closing: Spin spray arms by hand to check nothing’s blocking them

Check #4: Detergent and Rinse Aid Problems

Too much detergent leaves film. Too little means dirty dishes. Calgary’s hard water needs rinse aid in the dispenser. This isn’t optional. It helps water slide off dishes instead of drying in spots. Check if your detergent has clumped from moisture. If fixing a dishwasher that runs but leaves dishes dirty has been ongoing, try pods made for hard water.

Check #5: Water Isn’t Hot Enough

Dishwashers need water between 120-150°F to cut through grease and dissolve detergent. Calgary winters make this harder because incoming water gets cold. If you see greasy films or detergent pods that don’t dissolve, temperature is your problem.

Quick Water Temperature Fix:

Two simple steps:

1. Run your kitchen faucet until water gets hot before starting the dishwasher
2. Check your water heater is set to at least 120°F

In winter, this makes a big difference.

When DIY Fixes Don’t Solve the Problem

You’ve cleaned the filter, cleared the spray arms, fixed your loading habits, adjusted detergent, and checked water temperature. Dishes are still dirty.

Now you’re dealing with mechanical or electrical problems. Broken wash pumps, bad heating elements, damaged door seals that need testing equipment and replacement parts.

This is where DIY repair hits its limits. A dishwasher that won’t drain even with a clean filter usually means drain pump failure or blocked drain lines that need special tools to reach.

Dishwashers last 9-12 years. If yours is getting close to that and needs expensive repairs, replacement might make more sense. Under 7 years? Repair is usually the better call.

A technician can diagnose the problem and tell you straight whether fixing it makes sense or if you’re better off buying new.

Start Maintenance Before It Becomes a Problem

Keep your dishwasher working with these monthly tasks:

• Clean your filter (set a phone reminder)
• Check spray arms and soak in vinegar every three months
• Always use rinse aid
• Run the kitchen tap until hot before starting a cycle

Calgary’s hard water buildup can fool you into thinking your dishwasher is broken when it just needs cleaning. Give these fixes 30 minutes. Still not working? That’s when you call for professional help.