Kitchen appliance hub
Dishwashers: troubleshooting and repair-or-replace guidance
Find safe first checks for standing water, poor cleaning or drying, leaks, startup problems, and unusual sounds, with repair-or-replace guidance in one place.
Start with the symptom
Common problems
Won’t drain
Clean the filter and disposal connection before replacing the pump.
Compare costs for this problem →Dishes stay dirty
Clean spray arms and filter, and verify hot-water temperature first.
Compare costs for this problem →Leaking water
Stop use if water reaches wiring. Check the gasket and supply line.
Compare costs for this problem →Homeowner-safe help
Related guides
Dishwasher smells bad? Check the filter, door seal, and standing water
Food caught in a removable filter or along the door seal can smell between cycles. Dirty water returning to the tub, persistent sewer odors, or a burning smell calls for a different response.
Read guide →Dishwasher making strange noises? Check the load, spray arms, filter, and timing
Swishing, clicking, and low humming can be normal, while rhythmic knocking often comes from dishes touching a spray arm. Repeated loud grinding, buzzing, or squealing can signal debris, a water-supply problem, or a pump fault.
Read guide →Dishwasher won’t start? Check the door, control lock, delay, and power
A door that is not fully latched, a locked control panel, delay start, an interrupted command, or lost power can make a dishwasher appear dead even when no part has failed.
Read guide →Dishwasher leaking? Check the door seal, suds, loading, and hoses
The leak location and cycle stage can distinguish a blocked door seal, oversudsing, redirected spray, drain backup, or visible hose problem from an internal fault.
Read guide →Dishwasher not cleaning dishes? Check loading, the filter, and spray arms
Crowded racks, a blocked spray arm or dispenser, a dirty filter, the wrong cycle, or cool incoming water can leave food behind without proving the pump has failed.
Read guide →Dishwasher not drying dishes? Check rinse aid, loading, and cycle settings
Wet dishes do not always mean a failed heater. Rinse aid, loading angle, material type, and the selected drying option can make a large difference.
Read guide →Dishwasher won’t drain: causes and safe checks
Standing water often starts with a dirty filter, kinked hose, disposal connection, or interrupted cycle.
Read guide →Repair or replace a dishwasher: use cost, age, and leak risk
A clogged drain path may cost little. A leaking tub or multiple major failures can change the answer quickly.
Read guide →Make the next decision
Compare age, repair cost, and replacement cost.
The checker organizes the options using the appliance and symptom you choose. It does not replace diagnosis by a qualified professional.
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