Signs That It’s Time to Replace Your Dishwasher
Appliances always seem to fail at the worst times. Dishwashers have a life expectancy of between 9 and 10 years, but when your dishwasher will actually break down depends on a number of factors, such as its manufacture, maintenance, and use. If your dishwasher is getting older, there’s always a chance that it could fail! And while it’s never convenient to have a dishwasher break down, if you learn the warning signs of an old and failing dishwasher, you can have a good idea of when you will need to replace it.
- Your Dishwasher Isn’t Cleaning the Dishes
This might be one of the most logical warning signs of a failing dishwasher: dirty dishes! Of course, if your dishes aren’t cleaned after a load, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to turn around and buy a brand-new dishwasher. Double check that your dishwasher isn’t cleaning your dishes by running the dishes through a second load, and make sure you’ve arranged the dishes in the best possible way to get them completely cleaned. Once you’ve double checked by running the dishwasher again, and if your dishes are still dirty, it may be because of the dishwasher’s filter or sprayer arm. You can easily clean your dishwasher’s filter and sprayer arms out using Landmark’s how-to article. After deep cleaning the dishwasher, if it is still not cleaning your dishes properly, you should call your home warranty company or dishwasher repair company to see if there is something that can be fixed.
- Your Dishwasher is Leaking
Pooling water outside of your dishwasher is never a good sign! This means that you have a leak somewhere in your dishwasher, which can cause water to get into places it really shouldn’t. A leak can cause rust and warped floors, so the sooner you can get your dishwasher fixed, the better. Take a look at the seals and hinges around the outside of your dishwasher. If you can spot the source of the leak, see if it’s something easily fixable! If not, make sure to call your home warranty company or dishwasher repair company to fix the leak. Landmark Home Warranty covers the hinges and seals of your dishwasher as long as they have failed from normal wear and tear, so you’ll end up paying less money to have it repaired or replaced if your home is covered under a Landmark plan.
- Your Dishes Aren’t Warm After Washing
You can identify another sign of a failing dishwasher by touching your dishes after running a load. If your dishes aren’t warm to the touch after, this could be a sign that your dishwasher has reached the end of its lifespan or, at the very least, needs a repair. This most likely means that the heating coil in your dishwasher that heats up the water and partly dries your dishes isn’t working. This can make it so your dishes aren’t being cleaned, but more importantly, they aren’t being sanitized. According to the FDA, water must be above 170°F to kill most germs. If your dishes aren’t coming out hot, your dishwasher isn’t working properly. Make sure request service from Landmark Home Warranty to get a contractor to diagnose the problem and save money on a repair or replacement.
- Your Dishwasher is Under-filling or Overfilling with Water
If your dishwasher is overfilling with water or under-filling, it could be because of a problem with the dishwasher’s float switch, inlet valve, or a leak in the dishwasher’s casing. If you’re noticing dirty dishes, not enough water, or too much water in your appliance, it’s a good idea to call your home warranty company. It may be a sign that your dishwasher is failing and needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Your Dishwasher Isn’t Draining
When you open your dishwasher, is there still a pool of water at the bottom of the appliance? This could be a warning sign of a failing dishwasher. Although it could just be a clogged drain or filter (and you can easily remedy this by using Landmark’s handy guide on cleaning and maintaining your dishwasher) it also could be a sign of larger trouble. Poor draining can lead to rust in the bottom of the dishwasher, leading to leaks and the end of the dishwasher’s lifespan.
If your dishwasher is just not turning on, make sure that the appliance is turned on and the circuit breaker it is on hasn’t tripped. If it is completely dead, if you have a Landmark Home Warranty plan, you can open a service request and get your dishwasher repaired or replaced for a small service call fee. Knowing when your dishwasher’s end of lifespan is nearing is always helpful to prepare to purchase a new appliance. However, with a home warranty from Landmark, having an appliance fail doesn’t have to mean financial and logistical stress. A home warranty takes care of the cost of repairing or replacing the appliance, as well as the logistics of finding a qualified contractor who can make the repair. If your dishwasher is old, and showing signs of wear and tear, save yourself time and money by purchasing a Landmark home warranty plan.