Dishwashers are expensive, and many homeowners will delay replacing theirs as long as possible. However, dishwashers are only meant to last about a decade. While it’s okay to put up with small problems such as a detergent cup that does not open easily, there are a few signs that your dishwasher needs to be replaced altogether.
Your dishes aren’t coming out hot. Your dishwasher has an element inside it that heats water to a temperature that will thoroughly kill germs. If your dishes are not hot immediately after a wash cycle, you might be brewing a germ cocktail in your dishwasher.
It doesn’t drain completely. If there is still a pool of water at the bottom of your dishwasher after a cycle, you have a problem with your drain. This might be a simple plumbing problem like a clog in the line, or a more complicated problem like a cracked drain. Broken drains can lead to leakage and floor damage.
The door does not latch properly. This can indicate the need for a simple repair, like a latch replacement. It can also mean that the entire unit has warped and no longer fits well together. A warped unit cannot hold water inside it and will need replaced to prevent floor damage.
There is rust. You should never see rust inside or outside your dishwasher. This indicates that water is leaking and reaching places where it should not be. If you are concerned that your dishwasher is rusting on the bottom, you can check quickly by sweeping underneath and looking in the dust for flakes of rust.
There are cracks. There should never be cracks on either the inside or the outside of a dishwasher. Dishwashers are designed to keep water inside; a crack obviously compromises this. Spare yourself an expensive flooring repair by replacing your dishwasher as soon as the cracks begin to show.
Like many other malfunctioning home appliances, a broken dishwasher can do damage far beyond the cost of repair or replacement of the appliance. Water-damaged floors and other types of damage can be both inconvenient and expensive. Save yourself money by replacing your dishwasher if one or more of these five signs appears.
American Home Shield has another way to save money. Learn how a Home Warranty from AHS can protect your budget and prevent you from paying expensive repairs out-of-pocket.
