Do you notice your dishwasher taking longer to get through a cycle than in the past? Or are utility bills on the rise with no explanation for it? Perhaps you have resorted to doing dishes by hand because they are coming out of the machine cloudy or not clean.
You would be hard pressed to find a homeowner who has not had such an experience. We at 605 Appliance Pros put our customers in the Greater Sioux Falls area back in the driver’s seat when their appliances misbehave. For a professional opinion on your dishwasher, pick up the phone at (605) 597-7421.
We are something of an alternative to the national chains. A women-owned and local operation, we were put in place in 2023 by Ashlynn Radunz and her close to ten years in appliance repair. In the interest of knowing what to be on the lookout for, we have set out some of the more prevalent problems that will see water and energy go to waste.
The Case for Dishwasher Efficiency
By rights, a good modern dishwasher should put less water to use than if one were to wash by hand. Yet put a strain on it and all that efficiency is lost. An underperforming model will run its cycles longer, make your water heater work overtime and put extra water through the system.
What is aggravating is the insidious way many of these issues develop. You may not see it from one day to the next but eventually it will show in the form of added strain on the machine and higher bills.
Water and Energy Wasters
When a dishwasher begins to be profligate with resources, these are the kind of things we come across:
- The door seal is not holding and water is leaking during the cycle, so the unit has to pull in more
- Dishes are not getting clean due to a clogged spray arm, necessitating another round
- The heating element is on its last legs and will not do its job, which means poor cleaning and extended run times
- A bad thermostat allows the water to heat well beyond what is called for
- Overfilling of the tub with every load thanks to a float switch that has gone awry
- Dirty water being held up by a clogged filter or drain, hampering performance
- An old water inlet valve that does not shut off as it ought to
Each of these will put a few more gallons of wasted water and energy on your tab with every wash.
How to Tell if Your Dishwasher Is an Expense
Some of the indications are not overt, but they are there if you look for them. Be alert to any of the following:
- Cycles of much greater length than before
- Gritty or dirty dishes
- Puddles of water on the floor at the base of the unit or left in the bottom of the tub
- A bill for water or energy that has jumped with no change in how you live
- A hot wash that leaves the dishwasher cool to the touch
Two or more of these and the machine is probably overworking itself.
What You Can Do
A bit of upkeep will go a long way. Make a habit of scraping plates before you put them in; most units of today can cope with food residue so pre-rinsing is not necessary. Run an occasional cleaning cycle with the proper cleaner and give the filter and door seal a wipe down.
But maintenance is not the answer to everything. A technician is required for a faulty inlet valve or a heating element that has given out. To try and mend those without the expertise is only inviting trouble later on.
Make the Call
Should you have done your part and the signs persist, let us handle it. We deal in all makes and models and our pricing is straightforward, with nothing hidden. We have an A+ with the BBB and stand behind our work with a full year warranty on parts and labor. A free estimate is available too, so there are no surprises.
Our service area is Sioux Falls and environs, from Brandon and Harrisburg to Tea, Dell Rapids, Hartford and beyond. We are open 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.
There is no reason to put up with a dishwasher that is wasting your water and energy. 605 Appliance Pros is here to put that right. Ring us at (605) 597-7421.