Dishwasher not drying: causes and remedies

The invention of the dishwasher is considered revolutionary. Not only because it made household chores easier and faster, but also because it is associated with a female name unlike many others. It was Josephine Cochrane – a 19th century woman who loved parties and China – who designed a machine that could wash her dishes without ruining or breaking them, something that often happened to servants.

Obviously, the models we see in stores today are different from the one patented by Cochrane: the dimensions have adapted to modern homes, consumption has been optimized, and functions and programs have become much more specific to meet different types of needs. Contemporary machines wash, sanitize and dry plates, pots and glasses, delivering them to their owner as good as new. In this way, they make cleaning dishes much less tiring for their owners.

It is true that the dishwasher is not yet considered an essential household appliance like the refrigerator, the oven or the washing machine, but none of those who have one at home have ever regretted its presence.

Unfortunately, like all appliances, the dishwasher is subject to wear and tear and may have some problems with its operation over time. For example, you may open the door of the machine and take out plates and glasses that are still wet. Why doesn't the dishwasher dry the dishes properly? Is it a technical problem or errors in its loading and programming?

Summary

• Why Doesn't My Dishwasher Dry? Solving the Mystery
  • Dishwasher not drying: causes due to incorrect maintenance
  • Dishwasher Drying Not Working: Technical or Brand Issues?
    • Dishwasher not drying: heating element problems?
    • What if it was the temperature sensor?
    • Or a thermostat problem?
    • The dishwasher does not dry: watch out for the electronic board!
• Beyond the drying problem: the dishwasher leaks water from underneath
  • Bad smell dishwasher

Why Doesn't My Dishwasher Dry? Solving the Mystery

Finding yourself with wet dishes at the end of the wash cycle is quite disappointing. It is true that it would be worse to take the dishes out of the appliance still dirty because it would mean that there is a fault in the operating mechanism, but it is still not a comfortable situation. You have to start drying the dishes and utensils manually, wasting time and energy that could be invested in other things. It is not acceptable, especially if you have a machine that is supposed to do this job.

So, what to do? Throw away the dishwasher that doesn't dry or figure out what the problem is and try to fix it? The second option is always preferable when dealing with household appliances, even when the warranty has expired. In most cases, in fact, the appliance can be fixed by a competent hand by replacing the broken part. It can also happen that there is nothing wrong, but that the problem arises from incorrect use or poor maintenance of the appliance. This is what happens most of the times when you find yourself with a dishwasher that doesn't dry well.

Dishwasher not drying causes due to incorrect maintenance

The drying function in your dishwasher may cause problems not because one of the appliance's components breaks, but because something went wrong when loading it or when choosing the rinse aid or detergent.

First of all, which dishes are still wet after washing? Plastic ones or porcelain ones? In the first case, it could just be the material that tends to stay wet and nothing else. If we're talking about porcelain, however, things get more complicated, but that doesn't mean the issue is serious. The program set could be responsible.

Functions such as ECO and BIO include very quick drying cycles that are not always sufficient to eliminate all the water drops present in the appliance. The quick wash does not include similar operations at all. You can check what the different programs offer in the instruction manual.

It could also be a problem with the detergent or the tablet. Those who clean the dishes with detergent before putting them in the machine are more likely to find them still wet at the end of the cycle. This is because the presence of excess foam inhibits the action of the rinse aid and, consequently, the drying results. The use of the all-in-one tablet is not recommended. This is because it could release the rinse aid either too early or too late, causing problems when drying.

Another aspect to which you need to pay particular attention is the position of the dishes inside the appliance. If there are many of them and they are placed one on top of the other, it is clear that drying will suffer as the hot air will not be able to reach all the plates or glasses. The washing itself could also be compromised.

Dishwasher Drying Not Working: Technical or Brand Issues?

So far we have seen possible causes due to distractions or a healthy ignorance about detergents and dish arrangements. But, unfortunately, if the dishwasher does not dry it could also be due to technical problems with the appliance. It does not depend on the brand of your dishwasher or the model you have chosen. If the Whirlpool dishwasher does not dry it is not due to its structure, so similar to that of many other equally valid models. The problem lies elsewhere.

Dishwasher not drying heating element problems

If your Whirlpool dishwasher (or any other brand) is not drying well, the problem may be with the dishwasher heating element. If it is faulty and the water is not hot enough for the final rinse, the dishwasher will not dry the dishes. You can check yourself if it is indeed the heating element. You need to use a multimeter in the ohmmeter position. Once you have disconnected the heating element connectors, place the two tester probes on its terminals. If there is no continuity, the heating element is broken, and you need to have it fixed.

What if it was the temperature sensor?

In a dishwasher that has been in operation for a few years, it is possible that the temperature sensor breaks. This component is responsible for informing the electronic board of the degrees reached by the water. If the liquid does not reach the temperature set by the program, drying could also be compromised. This could happen even in good appliances like those from Hotpoint-Ariston!

Or a thermostat problem?

Another reason why the dishwasher no longer dries dishes well is to be found in the thermostat. This is a thermometer that allows the appliance to bring the water to a certain temperature. A defect in the thermostat can cause problems in washing and drying.

If your Indesit washer dryer does not dry, contact a Coimbatore Service technician.

The dishwasher does not dry watch out for the electronic board!

Any type of dishwasher failure can depend on the electronic board. This is the part that manages all the functions of the appliance. Therefore, it can also block the heating and drying of the dishes.

If the problem is in the circuit board, you have no other way to repair your dishwasher – Ignis, KitchenAid and Bauknecht or whatever brand it is – than to have it replaced. This is an operation that you could also do yourself. However, asking for the intervention of an expert will help you to avoid causing further damage and to be sure that everything will be back in order.

Beyond the drying problem: the dishwasher leaks water from underneath

Failure to dry is not the only dishwasher problem that might immediately catch your eye. You should notice fairly quickly if your dishwasher is leaking water from underneath. This fault is certainly much more serious than the other: you can dry your dishes by hand, but if your dishwasher is leaking water… there is definitely something wrong.

There are several parts that could be compromised: the solenoid valve, the water pump, the dishwasher pressure switch, the washing circuit. To be sure of what needs to be changed and where to intervene, you should call a specialized technician who can identify the exact cause of the problem in a few steps.

Bad smell dishwasher

Another situation that you probably won't have a hard time spotting is the presence of a bad smell coming from your appliance. If your dishwasher smells, it is likely that you will find stagnant water at the bottom of the appliance. This occurs when filters and pipes are clogged with food residue or the accumulation of water limescale. It absolutely needs to be repaired.

In the most fortunate cases, it could be a bad smell due to little use of the appliance or poor assembly of the same.