Whirlpool dishwasher burning smell

Common reasons your Whirlpool dishwasher has a burning smell

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

47% of the time it's the
Electronic Control Board

23% of the time it's the
User Interface Control

8% of the time it's the
Pump and Motor Assembly

22% of the time it's the
Something else

Schedule your dishwasher repair now!

We can help! Our service technicians have repaired over 100,000 Whirlpool dishwashers. We can fix yours no matter where you bought it.

Call (646) 440-2692 or schedule online now.

Most common repairs needed to fix a Whirlpool dishwasher

Electronic Control Board Replacement

A burning smell coming from your dishwasher could be caused by a defective electronic control board. The circuit board has a myriad of wires and small components that can short out and burn up – causing a burning smell. Also, defective electronic control board can send electrical current to the heating element at the wrong time and cause a burning smell to come from inside the dishwasher tub. When you smell a burning odor coming from your dishwasher, have a Sears Home Services Repair Expert visit your home and replace the electronic control board if it’s defective.

How to replace a dishwasher electronic control board

User Interface Control Replacement

A burning smell coming from your dishwasher could be caused by a damaged user interface control. An electronic component on the user interface control can short out and cause an electrical burning smell. When you detect an electrical burning smell coming from your dishwasher, disconnect power and have a Sears Home Services Repair Technician visit your home and examine the controls and components of the dishwasher. The technician will replace the user interface control if it’s damaged.

How to replace a dishwasher user interface control

Pump and Motor Assembly Replacement

When you detect a burning smell coming from your dishwasher while it’s running, a faulty pump and motor assembly could be causing the odor. Wiring inside the pump motor will produce a rancid smell as wiring insulation gets hot and starts smoking. A bad motor bearing can produce a metallic burning smell. When you detect these types of smells coming from your dishwasher, it’s time to schedule a service call and have a Sears Home Services Technician check out the dishwasher and replace the pump and motor assembly if it’s faulty.

How to replace a dishwasher pump and motor assembly

What to expect when you experience a Whirlpool dishwasher burning smell issue

How is the burning smell problem fixed?

Correcting most burning smell problems usually involves replacing the electronic control board, user interface control or pump and motor assembly. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.

Sears Home Services recommendations for a dishwasher burning smell

When the dishwasher has a burning smell it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of dishwasher failures.

What to look out for with a dishwasher burning smell diagnosis

Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your dishwasher problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.

What our customers say about us

With more than 1.3 Million 5 Star Reviews, you don't have to take our word for it

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