Whirlpool has had a strong presence in the market since the 1990s. Today it is a sought-after and popular brand. Many people enjoy using washing machines and dishwashers from this particular manufacturer. However, no one is immune from unexpected surprises. It happens that the dishwasher does not turn on, the water drain stops working, or water flows out from under it. In most cases, the repair is carried out by the master. But breakdowns are not always so serious that the call of the master is inevitable. In many cases, you can cope on your own if you correctly determine the cause of the malfunction.
Causes of possible malfunctions
If you have been using the dishwasher for more than 5 years, and the warranty period has long ended, the cause of the failure may simply be the wear of the components. And if you recently purchased the appliance, and the dishwasher is no longer working, the matter may be as follows:
- outlet failed. The situation is simple, the outlet needs to be repaired or replaced;
- unreliable manufacturer, poor assembly, low-quality components. This happens with Chinese dishwashers or devices from other little-known manufacturers;
- before loading the dishes, you do not clean it from food residues, and the filter becomes clogged;
- the dishes are loaded incorrectly, which is why the upper or lower section is not washed out properly. How to load the dishes correctly is indicated in the instructions;
- the dishwasher is connected incorrectly in terms of technical requirements, for example, the drain hose is too long, loose connections;
- the door is not hermetically closed: the device will not turn on if the door is not latched. It happens that the door does not close due to a factory defect.
If none of the above is the cause of the breakdown, then the point is the failure of the components or components of the dishwasher. The most common problems:
- The dishwashing process does not start.
- The control panel does not work.
- Dryer does not work.
- Water drain does not work.
- The dishes in the upper section are not washed.
- Water overheats or does not heat up.
The process of washing dishes does not start
When the selected mode is turned on, the indicators light up, water is drawn, but the washing process does not start. This can happen due to the fact that the filter located under the dish loading chamber is clogged. The filter must be removed, cleaned and put back. This is also possible if the nozzles are clogged: the device will not be able to spray water. Use a toothpick to clean the nozzle holes. Due to clogged nozzles, pressure may drop, and overall dishes such as pots will not be washed.
The reason may also be a malfunction of the electric motor, in particular, the winding. Using a multimeter, you need to check the engine for an open circuit or short circuit.
The worst option is when you need to change the motor and control board. To replace the motor, unplug the machine, turn off the water, put it on the back, disconnect the bottom panel, disconnect the chips from the pump. Then loosen the pipe clamps and disconnect the pipes, disconnect the terminals. The engine has been removed. Install the new one in reverse order. Sometimes simply removing and cleaning the engine helps.
Control panel not working
To replace the control unit, also unplug the machine from the mains, open the device and unscrew the screws that hold the inner door cover a little, remove this cover and carefully lean against the machine so that the wires do not break. Disconnect the wire that connects the panel to other parts, unscrew the screws that hold the control panel and disconnect all wires, connect a new control board and replace all removed parts.
Dryer not working
The reasons for this can be very different. Check if the dishes are loaded correctly in the machine. If the dish is upside down, water will remain in it. Make sure to select a program with drying. Also, the dishes will not dry if the rinsing is not carried out properly. If there is not enough rinse aid, there will be no complete drying.
A very typical reason why the machine does not dry the dishes is a broken heating element. The heating element itself, as well as the control module or temperature sensor, may fail. Most often, the heater burns out due to the accumulation of scale. With the help of a special agent, it is necessary to regularly clean the dishwasher from scale.
To replace the heating element, you will have to disassemble the lower part of the machine. Then you need to disconnect the connectors leading to the heater, unscrew the fastening nuts. Then you need to open the door and remove the front of the heater, while leaving it inside the machine.
Hold the sprinkler so that it is easier to detach the heating element. Take the heater out of the machine. The next step is to install a new node. Install the new part so that it is under the rear sprinkler.
Secure the heater with fixing brackets. Do not damage sprayers. Install the heater in the dishwasher, assemble the machine back.
Water drain does not work
If the water does not go down the drain, the drain pump may be faulty or the drain may be clogged. This problem is typical for many dishwashers, including Whirlpool. First of all, you need to check the drain pump, whether it is clogged, as well as the resistance of the windings. Often the water does not drain due to clogging of the pump. If everything is in order with the pump, you need to check the entire drain, including the siphon. The hose or filter may be clogged – they need to be cleaned.
Behind the filter is the pump impeller, which can be clogged with small objects. Carefully clean it, there may be pieces of broken dishes. Water will not leave even if the drain hose is located very high, and part of the water flows back into the dishwasher.
Often the sewer elbow itself is clogged. Clean it with a special tool. Sometimes you still need to change the drain pump. It is located next to the pump. Unplug the machine, remove the outer door panel, disconnect the wires, remove and replace the pump.
The dishes in the upper section are not washed
It happens that in Whirlpool dishwashers at the bottom the dishes are washed perfectly, and in the upper compartment they stop washing at all. Cleaning the car with special tools does not help. There are signs that water is not entering the upper compartment of the machine. First of all, check if the dishes from the lower and middle shelves do not block the access of water to the top, whether the dishes are placed correctly in the machine. Dishes on the lower and middle racks should be spaced as close as possible and the machine should not be overloaded. In addition, inspect the upper rocker arm, whether it is clogged and whether it rotates normally.
You can try to remove any removable internal parts of the machine, clean the debris around the grinder mechanism and wash all the parts with dishwashing detergent and a brush. Then run the sink, without putting back the removed parts, using vinegar. While the dishwasher is running, wash the removed parts. When the machine has completed the cycle, put back the removed parts.
Water overheats or does not heat up
It happens that in the Whirlpool dishwasher the water overheats or does not heat up at all. One of the reasons is the failure of the temperature sensor. Its malfunction leads to overheating of the water, and the dishwasher stops working. Or the cause is a broken thermostat. It controls the water temperature and sends this data to the software node, which sends a signal to the heater for heating. If the temperature sensor fails, the water is not heated. Problems with water temperature will also occur at low water pressure, which can be caused by problems with the pump or nozzles. Also, the water is not heated if the heater is faulty – heating element. Scale is very harmful to him. If you use the equipment for a long time, it can simply burn out. The way out is to replace the heating element.
We hope that our review will help you find the causes of problems and deal with the most common problems in the operation of the Whirlpool dishwasher. When getting down to business, do not forget about the safety rules when working with electrical appliances, be sure to unplug the equipment from the mains.