Dishwasher burning smell

Common reasons your dishwasher burning smell

The most common reasons your dishwasher has a burning smell are a defective electronic control board, damaged user interface control or a faulty pump and motor assembly.

62% of the time it's the
Electronic Control Board

15% of the time it's the
User Interface Control

12% of the time it's the
Pump and Motor Assembly

11% of the time it's the
Something else

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Common dishwasher repair parts you may need

Replacing one of these dishwasher parts may fix your problem.

Electronic Control Board Replacement

If you notice a burning smell coming from your dishwasher, it might be due to a faulty electronic control board. This board contains numerous wires and small components that can short out and emit a burning odor. Additionally, a defective electronic control board may send electrical current to the heating element at inappropriate times, resulting in a burning smell from inside the dishwasher tub. If you detect a burning odor from your dishwasher, it's advisable to have a Sears Home Services Repair Expert come to your home and replace the electronic control board if it's defective.

How to replace a dishwasher electronic control board

User Interface Control Replacement

If you notice a burning smell from your dishwasher, it might be due to a damaged user interface control. An electronic part on this control component could short out, creating an electrical burning smell. If you detect this smell, turn off the power and have a Sears Home Services Repair Technician inspect your dishwasher's controls and components at your home. If the user interface control is damaged, the technician will replace it.

How to replace a dishwasher user interface control

Pump and Motor Assembly Replacement

If you notice a burning smell coming from your dishwasher while it's in operation, it could indicate a problem with the pump and motor assembly. The wiring inside the pump motor may emit a foul smell as the insulation heats up and begins to smoke. Additionally, a faulty motor bearing can produce a metallic burning smell. If you detect these odors from your dishwasher, it's important to schedule a service call and have a Sears Home Services Technician inspect the dishwasher. If the pump and motor assembly is found to be faulty, they will replace it.

How to replace a dishwasher pump and motor assembly

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.

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Thorough

James called to give an estimated arrival time. He was professional and personable. He had 2 professional ideas of the problem and found 1 was correct, but he didn't stop there. He did a thorough check of the appliance. 1 small part was needed. He ordered the part to my house. Fortunately, he was able to schedule for the next week, just before Thanksgiving. As before, he called ahead, arrived and quickly fixed the problem. My appliance is working perfectly.

Kirsten A, Oxford, PA