Why Won’t My Dishwasher Turn On?

Discovering your dishwasher has stopped working is never going to be the highlight your day, particularly if you have to deal with the expense of phoning an engineer plus staying home to meet them just to determine the fault.

Fortunately it’s possible to determine and often resolve many dishwasher problems and appliance issues yourself without needing to call for dishwasher repair Atlanta GA, especially if you have a multimeter or other repair tools on hand.

You could realize you can fix the dishwasher power problem quite easily yourself, particularly if you are quite handy, and if not at worst you will be better placed to describe the fault when you do call a repair person.

What To Do If Your Dishwasher Won’t Turn on

In advance of searching for a replacement machine there are a number of common problems you can identify fairly easily.

Safety Warning: Always make sure your machine is unplugged before attempting repairs.

Commonplace Dishwasher Issues That Will Stop Your Dishwasher From Turning On

Before you begin checking your dishwasher for issues ensure that your dishwasher hasn’t been accidentally switched off, as well as that none of the switches on the circuit breaker have tripped.

At this point you can also check that the child lock hasn’t been activated plus try resetting your dishwasher.

You will probably require the user manual for this as models are all different but the child lock tends to be fairly easy to put on without meaning to. Similarly, if the machine has lights however will not start, the answer might be as simple as resetting the program.

Once you have ruled out these faults it’s time for the real detective work to begin.

1. Have a look at the door latch or door latch switch.
2. Test the timer.
3. Check the selector switch.
4. Examine the motor relay.
5. Check the thermal fuse.
6. Examine the drive motor.

To check these electrical components you will have to have a multimeter, or VOM (volt-ohm-milliammeter) to test the resistance plus test the electrical components are operating as they should.

Testing the Door Latch and Door Latch Switch

The first place to start is the door latches and door latch switches. Your dishwasher is not designed to start if these are broken for obvious reasons. There’s no way you would want run the machine without meaning to with the door open.

A defective switch will prevent your machine from turning on as well as completing a cycle. You can test the switch using a multimeter. The switch will usually be found under the front door panel or control panel.

Double check you have disconnected power to the dishwasher prior to removing the door panel and checking for continuity to prevent yourself from getting an electric shock.

If the latches or switches are faulty you will need to replace them.

Testing the Timer

If the door latch as well as door latch switch, are working as they are meant to the next thing to check is the timer or electronic control.

This is the part of the machine that sends electricity to all the other electrical components the machine requires to operate such as the motor, as well as the water inlet valve.

If your machine has an electronic control as opposed to a mechanical timer then it might need to be checked while connected, in which case you should call an engineer.

Checking the Selector Switch

This is the part of your machine that selects the program , it’s style and location will vary depending on the make or model of your machine. A broken selector switch or even one that has not been fully pressed down might result in the machine not to turn on.

You can usually see if the buttons are going down all the way, or you might need to unplug the dishwasher in order to gain access to the control panel to check the contact points for continuity using a multimeter.

Testing the Motor Relay

The motor relay is an alternative part that can result in your dishwasher not running, so this may be the issue if you have tested the control panel and so know that there is power going to the motor.

To investigate this you will have to find the motor plus find the relay that will usually be located next to it. This may then be taken out and checked with the help of a multimeter, if broken it may need to be replaced.

Examining the Thermal Fuse

Once you have tested all the above and are yet to find the fault the next component to check would be the thermal fuse. This may or may not be present and is there to protect the control board.

If it will need to be replaced in order to restore power to the control board.

Testing the Drive Motor

The final component you could test that could stop your machine from running is the drive motor. This is the part of the machine that moves the water around to wash your dishes.

When you have checked the other electrical components and still aren’t getting anywhere this might be the culprit especially if you noticed a loud humming coming from the machine.

You can usually locate the motor by taking off the panel at the bottom of the machine. Test it with the help of a multimeter then replace if faulty.

When to Contact a Repair person

If you don’t have a multimeter and are not confident in taking panels off your machine and checking the electrical components then you will need to call for dishwasher repair in Atlanta from Ward Appliance Repair sooner rather than later.

If you do have a multimeter and can perform the above checks then you could well be able to resolve the fault without assistance. Yet if you are unsure it’s always better to call in the professionals.

And have a look at your insurance and your home cover as appliance repairs might be covered and so the costs could not be as high as you think.