Here’s a quick guide to help you know when your dishwasher is about to die. Dishwashers are a lot like cars. They can break down without warning nor any prior signs of trouble and leave you in a huge predicament. The good news is that dishwashers do have warning signs to signal them reaching the end-of-life, so if you know what to look for and how long it will run for before dying, then you can plan around and avoid that awkward situation where you are in the middle of dinner party because your dishwasher died!
The dishwasher starts to make scary noise
If you’ve ever been in the middle of a load and heard something that sounded like the house was being invaded by aliens, then chances are your dishwasher has developed a problem. A good way to tell whether this is actually happening is if there’s a noticeable change in sound when you start the machine up again. This could indicate that something is stuck inside or that there’s some sort of mechanical failure going on.
The dishes come out still dirty or smelly
If you have to run the cycle twice or more just to get your dishes clean, chances are your machine is on its last leg. If you’ve ever been in a restaurant that didn’t have a clean dishwasher, you know how bad it can be when they’re not working properly.
The dishwasher is leaking
The dishwasher is leaking. It’s an annoying, inconvenient thing to have happen in the kitchen, and it’s really not something you want to have happen right before guests come over. So if your dishwasher has sprung a leak and you just can’t seem to get around to fixing it, here are some signs that you might need to replace it soon:
If your dishwasher is more than 10 years old, it’s probably a good idea to check for leaks as part of your regular maintenance routine. Over time, seals can wear out or become brittle and crack, allowing water or detergent to seep out into the cabinet below (especially if there’s low water pressure). This can be a costly problem for homeowners insurance policies that don’t cover appliance damages.
If you’ve already checked for visible leaks from the bottom of the machine, try looking from above – many dishwashers install in recessed cabinets that cover the area around the drain pipe. If the cabinet doesn’t look level with the rest of the countertop or floor, there could be a leak underneath.
You notice spots or stains on the dishes
When you notice spots or stains on the dishes coming out of your dishwasher, it might be time to replace it. The first signs of a failing dishwasher are usually pretty obvious: either the dishes don’t come out clean or they come out with a film on them. When this happens, don’t worry—you can still save your dishwasher. Just try these tips and tricks before you decide that it’s time to buy a new one.
There are lots of things that can get caught in your dishwasher and ruin the inside of it, but fortunately there are also ways to prevent these things from happening. If you have hard water or lime buildup in your kitchen, you should use the Jet Dry rinse aid to keep the inside of your dishwasher clear of buildup. It’s easy to forget about this step, but it’ll help prevent spots from forming on your dishes.
We hope that this article has been useful in terms of coming to a general understanding of when your dishwasher is getting ready to kick the bucket. While it’s not difficult to diagnose, it isn’t always easy to know when to replace your dishwasher. We feel confident in recommending that you replace your machine should any of the symptoms that we discussed above start occurring on a near-regular basis. If those issues only pop up on occasion, then we believe that you can safely ignore them until they become a real problem in the future.
