FAQ – Dishwashers
Why won’t my dishwasher drain?
If your dishwasher isn’t draining then there may be a blockage. Before getting someone out to check it for you, there could be a simple solution and checks that you can do yourself.Before you do anything, you must ensure that you turn the dishwasher off at the mains to prevent any accidents. Please check for any obstructions, such as food that may be stuck in the filter, therefore stopping the water from draining through. To locate the filter, pull out the bottom rack in the dishwasher and look at the centre of the dishwasher cavity. This is the filter. Clear any blockages or debris. To stop this from happening again, perform weekly checks to ensure there is no build-up of food, if there is just run the filter under the tap to wash and clean it out.
If this doesn’t work, check the hose, if it is kinked or blocked then the appliance will not drain. This hose is located at the back of the dishwasher, and if it is kinked or blocked it will again prevent water from draining.
Is the drain hose fitted in the correct position? If it is laying on the floor before rising to the waste outlet it is too low and the pump will not work. You should also check there is enough room for the hose to drain properly, you can check this by pulling out your dishwasher from the wall.
You can also check that the spigot on the sink outlet has been cut off, allowing water to drain from your appliance.
If you have carried out all of these checks and the water is still not draining, then it is best that you call a professional to look over your machine to detect what the problem is.
The dishwasher is too small to fit the dinner plates.
You can make more room for large plates by adjusting the top basket. The top rack is height adjustable and by lifting it into the higher set position, you will create more room in the lower rack.If you know the model number of your dishwasher, you can refer to the instruction manual for a step-by-step guide on how to adjust the baskets.
If you do not have a dishwasher that has a height adjustable top rack then we recommend hand washing the plates, as forcing them into the dishwasher may result in damaging the machine. It will also most likely result in the plates not being washed properly and could prevent other items in the load from being washed too.
It might help to take a look at our dishwasher capacity guide for an idea on the most effective way to load your dishwasher.
Water is coming into the appliance from the sink.
Unfortunately this is an installation fault. Please contact your installer to remedy the incorrect plumbing.Where do I find the model number and serial number?
Our useful guide for finding your dishwasher rating plate should help.My dishwasher will not fill and the error message says ‘inadequate water supply’.
Just to be sure, check that the door is completely shut, as the machine will not fill with water if the door isn’t shut properly. This may sound obvious but there could be something small causing an obstruction.If the door is closing without issue, then check that the water supply is on. Also check that the inlet hose is not kinked or crushed and is in the correct position to fill the appliance. This can be found at the back of the appliance so you will need to pull the machine out to see. You should also check if the pipe connection is screwed on and tightened properly. If not, screw it back on by hand only, using pliers or other tools can damage it.
If your dishwasher continues to say there is inadequate water supply then you need to get a professional to look at your machine. Call our customer care team on 01949 862012 and our friendly helpful team will be happy to help.
How do you level a dishwasher?
The top of your dishwasher should be fitted right up to the underside of the worktop. This is both for aesthetics and to provide stability for the appliance. Each model comes with height adjustable feet. These can simply be twisted to alter the height of the appliance to suit your kitchen.If your machine isn’t level, then water can gather at the lowest point within the machine. You do not want this to happen as depending on which way it is leaning, overtime the water will start to smell. This odorous water can also encourage mould to grow within your dishwasher. Levelling the dishwasher will ensure that the appliance fits under the counter properly and prevent any water from gathering. If the machine is left for a long period of time without being levelled, there’s a chance the dishwasher noise levels will increase too as it puts more pressure on the mechanisms within the machine.
To level your machine, measure the opening under the counter between the floor and the machine, then measure the rear of the machine from the floor to the top of the dishwasher. Once you have these measurements ensure that the rear end of the machine is one and a half inches lower than the opening height at the front. You can adjust this by using the height adjustable feet.
The back feet are missing.
Use the dishwasher model number and refer to the individual instruction manual for this appliance. Some dishwasher models have one foot, located in the middle at the rear of the appliance. This is operated at the front of the dishwasher by inserting a flat screwdriver into the mechanism and turning it until you reach the desired height.Help! My cutlery is rusting.
Don’t worry, rusting is a natural chemical reaction. Rinse your cutlery under some cold water before loading into the dishwasher, as foods contain salt it could cause corrosion. By rinsing the cutlery it will remove these substances.Another way to stop rusting and staining on your cutlery is to load the dishwasher and set the machine to wash straight away. If you leave cutlery sat in the machine, it could lead to staining whilst the food remains on the cutlery. So a handy tip is to load the machine and put it straight onto wash, as this will reduce the staining and rusting of your cutlery. You should also ensure that you take the cutlery out of the dishwasher after it has finished, and dry it properly.
Make sure you don’t overuse dishwasher detergent as this can also affect the wear and tear of your cutlery, just make sure that you use your dispenser and don’t pour detergent directly over the cutlery as this can damage it.
It is also advised that every 1-2 weeks, after you have used your dishwasher you put on an empty rinse to clean the machine, this will get rid of any food that may still be present. This will also ensure that the dishwasher is clean and ready for the next load.
To remove rust from cutlery that has already been damaged, soak your utensils in lemon juice or white wine vinegar, then scrub clean.
You can find more useful dishwasher tips like this in our buying guide.
My dishwasher keeps tripping the electrics.
Firstly, check the power supply to the appliance is large enough for the dishwasher. The required power supply is listed on the appliance rating plate, which can be found on the side of the door.If this is OK, check that the socket being used to power the appliance is not faulty. Please note, that we always recommend that this is completed by a competent or qualified person only.
If both are OK, please contact our friendly team to investigate further, you can reach our customer care team on 01949 862012.
The dishwasher will not start a cycle.
Is the décor door fitted correctly? If the door is holding the appliance door slightly ajar, it may appear shut but the programme will not be able to start.Did you open the door to empty the dishwasher before the end of the previous drying cycle had finished? If so, the dishwasher will still think that it has a drying cycle to complete and will not start the new programme. You will need to turn it off and on again to start the new cycle.
Poor wash results?
If you are using all-in-one tablets, which contain salt and rinse aid for the average amounts required in the UK, you may need to try using separate powder, salt and rinse aid for better results.Are you using the correct wash programme for the load? A heavily soiled load will need more than a quick wash to get it sparkling again, try altering the programme selected.
You should also check if the spray arms are being blocked. If a large tray or pan is blocking the rotation of the spray arm, the dishwasher will not be able to clean effectively. This is a very common as you want fill the machine, but overfilling it could affect the wash, or in this case block the spray arm, hindering the process. It would also be useful to check if the spray arm nozzle is clogged, if it is, try removing the nozzle and cleaning it out.
If the water jet is not reaching the crockery, try arranging the load so that items do not touch each other.
Poor drying results?
Is the rinse aid level correct? Try increasing the level and adjust until drying improves. It would also be useful to try loading the crockery at an angle so that surplus water can drain effectively.If you are using all-in-one tablets, which contain salt and rinse aid for the average amounts required in the UK, you may need to try using separate powder, salt and rinse aid for better results.