We require many different plumbing appliances and fixtures in the house for various household chores and activities. We have faucets and showers for supplying clean water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing. We also have sinks and toilets for waste disposal. Other plumbing appliances are more sophisticated, such as washing machines, garbage disposals, water heaters, and dishwashers. These sophisticated appliances require proper care and maintenance to enhance their functionality and ensure their longevity. But even with proper care and maintenance, these plumbing appliances can still breakdown due to a number of factors. One of the most important plumbing appliances at home is the dishwasher. As the name implies, the dishwasher is used for cleaning dirty dishes. You simply put the dirty dishes inside the dishwasher and then run it for some time and the dishes will be all clean and shiny. But as mentioned above, this amazing appliance can fail from time to time. Sometimes the problem could be serious and you have to request DC plumbing services to have your dishwasher repaired. But you can also try to fix some minor faults on your own. Here are a few simple DIY repairs that you can implement on your faulty dishwasher.
Check The Water Temperature
If your dishwasher is not performing its duty properly, then you need to diagnose the problem. Sometimes the problem is caused by hot water problems. If your dishwasher is not cleaning your dirty dishes properly, then it could be a problem of low water temperature. You need your dishwasher to clean and sanitize those dirty dishes thoroughly. For this to happen, the water used in the dishwasher should be sufficiently hot. If your dishwasher does not heat the water for cleaning dishes on its own, then you have to rely on the hot water produced by your water heater. This device is usually set at 120 degrees. But to clean your dirty dishes properly, you need to adjust this temperature to 140 degrees when using your dishwasher. As you can see, you can easily solve the unclean dishes problem by adjusting the thermostat in your hot water heater when using your dishwasher.
Inspect The Spray Arm
If the spray arm in your dishwasher is not spinning properly, then you will suffer the unclean dishes problem. Most of the time the spray arm malfunctions because of trapped food remnants and other debris. You can easily fix this problem by removing the cap from the spray arm and inspecting it. Use a wire to remove any trapped debris and then close the cap and insert the spray arm back in the dishwasher and the problem is gone.
Clear The Nozzles
Another common but minor dishwasher problem that you can fix on your own is clogged nozzles. The nozzles that produce water for cleaning the dishes can also get clogged by food particles, debris, or even mineral buildup. When inspecting the spray arm and other parts of your faulty dishwasher, make sure that the nozzles are cleared and cleaned to ensure that the water comes through as intended.
Inspect The Door
The door of your dishwasher plays a very important role. It prevents water from leaking from the appliance onto the floor. If your dishwasher is leaking, then it means that the door latches are not closed properly. Check for any blocking debris that might be preventing the door from closing properly. Remove this debris, close the door, and the leaking problem is gone.