Most dishwasher trouble in Shellharbour falls into two groups: the water won't leave the machine, or the plates come out still grubby. Both have checks you can do yourself before anyone visits.
Near the harbour there's a cosmetic worry as well. Stainless dishwasher doors pick up small brown spots from the salt in the air, and people reasonably fear the machine is rusting through. Usually the steel underneath is fine, and a stainless cleaner lifts the staining. Those brown freckles on stainless steel explains where they come from.
Water left in the base
Pull out the bottom rack and twist the filter free; on most machines it unscrews by hand. Rinse it under the hot tap, scrub the fine mesh with a soft brush, and feel around the sump underneath for broken glass, olive pips or labels off jars. Our guide to a dishwasher that won't drain sets out the order to work in.
If the filter is clean and the base still holds water, look under the sink where the drain hose joins the waste. A new sink or a recent plumbing job can leave the blanking cap in the spigot, and the dishwasher has nowhere to pump to.
Grit, film and a sour smell
Gritty plates usually mean the little holes along the spray arms have clogged. Lift the arms off, hold them up to a window, and clear any holes you can't see light through with a straightened paperclip. A sour smell comes from food trapped in the filter or caught in the door seal; cleaning both and running a hot empty cycle sorts out most of it.
What needs a technician is a machine that won't heat, a door catch that has stopped engaging, or water appearing from underneath. Shellharbour sits in the middle of the area we cover. You pay a set $125 for the visit and the fault-finding, and nothing is replaced until you've seen the price.
Questions from Shellharbour
Why is my dishwasher not cleaning properly?
Blocked spray arm jets and a clogged filter account for most poor results. Clear both, top up the rinse aid, and make sure tall pans aren't stopping the arms from turning. If the water never gets hot, the heating element or a sensor may have failed.
How do I stop my dishwasher smelling?
Clean the filter, wipe the door seal and the lower lip of the door, then run a hot empty cycle with a dishwasher cleaner. Leaving the door cracked open after a wash helps it dry. A smell that returns within days can mean water is sitting in the sump because of a drainage fault.
Do you repair Bosch and Asko dishwashers in Shellharbour?
We do. Bosch, Asko, Smeg and Westinghouse are all brands we hold authorised status for, so warranty repairs are included. Keep your proof of purchase somewhere handy.