Dishwasher burning smell

Why would my dishwasher smell like it's burning?

The #1 cause of a burning smell coming from the dishwasher is a plastic item contacting the exposed heating element in the bottom of the dishwasher while the element is heating.

Open the dishwasher door and check for an item at the bottom of the tub next to the heating element. Remove the item if you find one.

Follow dishwasher loading guidelines to help prevent plastic items from falling down below the bottom dishrack and contacting the heating element.

Use No-Flip Clips

Secure small, light-weight plastic items in the dishracks using no-flip clips so they don’t fly around inside the tub during the dishwashing cycle and make their way down next to the heating element.

If your dishwasher didn’t include no-flip clips, you can buy them as an accessory to help your dishes get cleaner and avoid that plastic burning smell.

Here’s a link for that part: No-Flip Dishwasher Clip.

Load Dishes Wisely

Follow the guidelines in your owner’s manual and in this video to smartly load dishes in your dishwasher to promote properly cleaning and avoid problems:

As shown in the video, wedging plastic lids between cups and glasses in the top rack will help them stay put during the wash cycle.

If you didn’t find a plastic item melted against the heating element when you detect a burning smell coming from your dishwasher, then a short in wiring or a component could be causing the problem.

For safety, disconnect power from the dishwasher and have a service technician examine the appliance before using it again.

What to expect when you experience a dishwasher burning smell issue

How to fix a problem with a burning smell in the dishwasher

Fixing most issues related to burning smells typically requires replacing either the electronic control board, user interface control, or pump and motor assembly. However, since there are numerous possible causes, a thorough diagnosis is crucial for resolving the problem. It's important to get an accurate diagnosis to understand the cost of the repair.

Use these Sears Home Services recommendations to resolve a dishwasher burning smell

When you discover that your dishwasher has a burning smell, there could be several reasons behind it. To prevent unnecessary part replacements, we suggest having a Sears Home Services professional conduct diagnostic tests to pinpoint the root cause of the problem. Our technicians have extensive experience in diagnosing all types of dishwasher failures.

What to be aware of with a dishwasher burning smell problem

Identifying issues with modern appliances can be hard without the right knowledge and training. Trying to fix your dishwasher problem without using proper diagnostic techniques might mean just guessing and changing parts. Appliances, especially in the last decade, have become very advanced, with lots of electronic parts that are tricky to test. Fixing the latest appliance models yourself is getting harder and harder.

A dishwasher that emits a burning smell can have overheated wiring or melting plastic. Running it further risks permanent damage or a safety hazard. Rather than waiting, call a dishwasher repair near me.