What to do when your dishwasher won’t start

When your dishwasher won’t start, here is what you can do!

The dishes are in the dishwasher and you close the door. You hit the start button and nothing happens. It can be extremely frustrating having to deal with issues like when a dishwasher won’t start. First, its important to remember that you can confide in a local plumber like Joe the Plumber to tackle your issues diligently. However, try these few steps to see how everything pans out. If you are still having trouble contact us immediately. Below are key points to follow;

1. Secure dishwasher plug

First make sure the dishwasher is getting power. Check your fuse box for blown fuses. If you have circuit breakers, check to see if they are tripped. Make sure the dishwasher’s plug is secure in the outlet.

2. Dishwasher door switch

If power is not the problem, take a closer look at some of the electrical parts of your dishwasher. The most common part to fail is the door switch. A door switch is used to start and stop your dishwasher. It’s a safety feature that won’t allow water to flow with the door open.

With a faulty door switch, there is a chance your dishwasher won’t start at all. Dishwasher door switches are about an inch long. They are usually black but can be red. There are metal prongs on the body of the switch called terminals. Some door switches have two terminals and some have three.

3. Check the timer assembly

If your door switch is OK, then go ahead and check the timer assembly. This controls when and how long power is sent to other controls on your dishwasher. If these controls don’t receive power, they won’t work. The timer assembly contains a motor. Check this motor as well. It is often cheaper just to replace the timer motor rather than the complete assembly.

4. Cycle selector switches

My last suggestion is to check the cycle selector switches. These switches indicate cycles for washing, drying, and setting the temperature of the water. If one of your switches is the problem your dishwasher may not start.

Dishwasher cycle selector switches tell the timer which cycle to run by opening and closing electrical circuits. Most selector switches are six to eight inches long. They are usually black and have terminals.

Contact A Local Plumber

By testing each one of these parts with an ohmmeter you should be able to determine why your dishwasher is not working. It is possible for other parts to fail but these are the most common parts to check. After you have gone through this checklist, if you are still having problems and your dishwasher won’t start, then we encourage you to contact a professional. For more related content visit our blog.

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