
Encountering dishwasher dilemmas like dishes refusing to dry or stubborn food residue can turn kitchen cleanup into a headache.
The most common reasons your dishwasher is not cleaning the bottom rack are a faulty pump and motor assembly, clogged water valve or a defective PCB (printed circuit board).
31% of the time it's the Pump and Motor Assembly
23% of the time it's the Water Valve
16% of the time it's the PCB
30% of the time it's the Something else
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When the dishwasher is not cleaning the bottom rack, it's probable that a faulty pump and motor assembly isn't generating sufficient water pressure and flow through the water delivery system to rotate the spray arms and disperse the spray. You might notice loud noises like buzzing or grinding emanating from a faulty pump and motor assembly. If your dishwasher becomes noisy and fails to clean the dishes effectively, it's advisable to have a Sears Home Services Repair Expert inspect your dishwasher and address the issue.
If debris or deposits clog the fill valve inlet screen, it might not allow enough water into the dishwasher to fill properly, leading to low water level. You might notice loud noise from the circulation pump when the dishwasher isn’t filling with water. If debris or deposits stop the water valve filling the dishwasher all the way, turn off the water supply to the dishwasher and arrange for a Sears Home Services Repair Expert to replace it.
When your dishwasher isn't cleaning the bottom rack, it might be due to a faulty PCB (printed circuit board). When the board's internal memory and logic are corrupted, it can fails to send electric current to the circulation pump to properly clean dishes in the bottom dishrack. A malfunctioning relay or electronic component on the PCB board could be the culprit behind this issue. Assessing the board's condition can be challenging. To address this problem, schedule a visit from a Sears Home Services technician to diagnose and fix your dishwasher when it's not working.
Clogged spray arm holes, improper loading and a blocked spray arm are the leading causes of a dishwasher not washing dishes in the bottom rack.
Follow the dish loading guidelines in your owner’s manual to ensure proper washing of dishes.
Here’s a popular and helpful video that shows how to properly load a dishwasher and avoid washing problems:
When loading your dishwasher, make sure the dirtiest part of the dish faces down so it gets direct spray from the spray arms. Place dishes with concave surfaces—like the bottoms of coffee mugs—at an angle on the dishrack to allow water to drain easier and improve drying. Always check that all spray arms spin freely before you start the dishwasher cycle.
Remove labels from jars and bottles before loading in the dishwasher, or hand wash these items because the labels can fall off during washing, clogging the screens and pumps inside the dishwasher.
The top rack is best suited for cups, glasses and lightweight plastic items. Place cups and glasses in the rows between tines—not over them, which can cause glasses to break.
Put all your plastic dishes and storage containers on the upper rack—some plastics can melt if they’re too close to the heating element at the bottom of the dishwasher tub.
Wedge the lids of storage containers between the tines and a glass to prevent the lids from coming loose and falling to the bottom of the tub. Or, use no-flip clips to hold lids or larger plastic items such as cups, bowls or storage containers, in place during washing. These clips fit the tines on most dishwasher model, regardless of brand. Order plenty of clips and use them to keep all your plastic items in place.
Larger cooking utensils also should go on the upper rack, with spoons facing down so they don’t collect water.
Follow these expert tips for loading the bottom rack:
Follow these loading tips to help your dishwasher get your dishes as clean as possible and keep them damage-free.
This helpful video provides a comprehensive guide to help you resolve cleaning issues in your dishwasher (including not cleaning dishes in the bottom rack):
Follow the expert tips in this video for:
By using this advice, you can make sure that the dishes in the bottom rack and throughout your dishwasher get clean during every cycle.
If your dishwasher still won’t clean the bottom rack after following all of these troubleshooting tips, schedule dishwasher repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix the washing problem.
Fixing a dishwasher not cleaning the bottom rack typically involves replacing the pump and motor assembly, water inlet valve or the electronic control board. However, there may be other issues preventing dishes on the bottom rack to get clean, so a full diagnosis is essential to fixing the problem. In some dishwashers, a clogged or broken spray arm can inhibit cleaning of dishes on the bottom dishrack. Getting an accurate diagnosis by a repair technician is essential to fixing the problem right.
Cleaning problems at the bottom of the dishwasher can stem from loading problems or damage to the lower spray arm. Check your owner’s manual for proper dish loading instructions and make sure the spray arm isn’t blocked by dishes. Look for damage to the lower spray arm and have a service technician replace that part if it’s damaged. Having this problem professionally fixed by an appliance repair expert will ensure that the issue gets fixed efficiently and permanently.
To fix a dishwasher that’s not cleaning dishes in the bottom dishrack, our Sears Home Services technician will start by thoroughly checking the bottom spray arm for damage or clogged spray arm holes. If the tech finds no problems with the spray arm, further diagnostic tests will be performed to check the pump, diverter and other components in the dishwasher that can cause the cleaning issue. Once the cause if found, the technician will repair or replace parts needed to fix the problem. Our experienced Sears Home Services technician will be able to quickly find and fix the cause of cleaning problem no matter what type of dishwasher you have.
If the bottom rack emerges grimy, weak water pressure or blocked spray arms might be missing that lower area. Don’t keep re-washing those plates—book dishwasher technician.
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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
Service Call
Luke was great. Polite and knowledgeable even though the dishwasher was older than he!
James G, Hillsboro, MO
Daniel
Daniel went above and beyond to fix my dish washer. Very pleasant to deal with.
Paul F, Hghlnds Ranch, CO
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