Top Dishwasher Troubleshooting Tips

Is your dishwasher acting up? Our YouTube® playlist has a diverse selection of easy-to-follow solutions for the most common dishwasher problems.

Continuing our pledge to meet all your appliance care needs, the pros at Sears Home Services have crafted a series of dishwasher troubleshooting videos to help keep your dishwasher running in tip-top shape. Whether you’re looking for details on regular maintenance, best practices or a DIY dishwasher repair how-to — you’ve come to the right place.

Here’s a rundown of the most popular maintenance tips from some of our top-performing videos:

Improper Loading

You never learned how to properly load your dishes and other tableware.

Trust us: It’s all about how you load. When it comes to how to load a dishwasher, nailing down the proper method makes all the difference in whether your dishes come out squeaky clean — or are in need of another rinse cycle.

1. Learn your angles -- Load the most soiled dishes at a downward angle to ensure water reaches each crevice. Do the same for concave dishes to make sure liquid can drip off the surface for proper drying.

2. Resist crowding -- We know how tempting it is to jam-pack your dishwasher. But loading plates and bowls too closely won’t allow soap and water to cleanse the blocked areas. Always use the dishwasher rack as a spacing guide.

3. Don’t block the soap dispenser -- Never place larger items, such as cutting boards and cookie sheets, directly in front of the soap dispenser. If detergent is prevented from being released during the cycle, you’re just wasting water and energy.

Mineral Deposits

That pesky white film keeps showing up on your dishes. They just don’t look or feel clean!

Notice a white film, especially along the interior of your dishwasher or on your glassware? This is a classic sign there are high levels of mineral deposits in your part of the country.

1. Test your water -- Determine your hard water level. You can take a water sample to the appliance department at your nearest Sears store, and we’ll test it for you.

2. Soften your water -- If your water is deemed too hard, use a water softener to filter out excess minerals.

3. Clean your dishwasher regularly -- You should give your appliance a thorough cleaning every two months to remove stains. Additionally, when using a rinse aid, adjust the dial setting to match your hard water level.

Dirty Dishwasher Filter

Your filter is all gunked-up.

Give your filter some TLC. If your dishwasher model has a removable filter, clean it regularly to improve the performance of your appliance.

1. Remove the filter -- Take out the bottom rack by sliding it toward you and gently pulling it up. Next, turn the upper filter assembly counterclockwise to remove it as well. Grasp the lower filter by the circular opening and pull it forward to detach it.

2. Give it a good cleaning -- Hold the filters under warm running water until the dirt is dislodged. You may also use a soft brush — but avoid a wire one — to clean stubborn areas.

3. Reinstall it -- Place the lower filter under the locating tab on the bottom of the dishwasher. Once you replace the upper filter, make sure it’s positioned correctly by ensuring it doesn’t turn freely.

Not Filling With Water

Your dishwasher isn’t filling with water.

Don’t panic: There are a couple of easy troubleshooting tips to help discover why this is happening — before you call in a Sears repair and service technician.

1. Make sure water is on -- If your dishwasher was recently installed, make sure your water source has been turned back on.

2. Assess the overfill float -- This is located underneath the bottom rack of the appliance. Be sure it’s not obstructed — it should move freely and be set in the down position.