Camera/Flashlight Inside My Dishwasher

[mark_wpduet]

So I unloaded the dishwasher and since there were no dirty dishes and it was all clean inside, I decided to grab my digital camera, put it inside 2 small zip lock bags and a flashlight inside a ziplock bag. I've always wondered what the wash action was like. I didn't think there would be much water pressure since these relatively new machines don't seem to have much.....I was pretty surprised.

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[retro-man]

interesting i have the same dishwasher and had no idea that there was that much force coming out of the jets. it does clean very well. thanks for the video.
Jon

 

[mark_wpduet]

No problem, it was pretty easy. Took like 5 min's to do......This dishwasher is definitely far from top of the line, but not very bottom of the line either. AT the time I bought it I think it was like 3 or 4 up from bottom of line. It is the quietest dishwasher I personally have ever had, but that's comparing it to older dishwashers that were LOUD....Based on how quiet it is, I didn't think there was that much pressure either. I was curious if my dishwasher looked like some of the vids I have seen on youtube where the spray jets were barely spraying anything. This is the tall tub dishwasher that has the smaller motor I think?? Based on what I've read on here.

 

[appnut]

Mark, the volume produced is pretty impressive given the smallness of the pump and amount of water. I guess you didn't see stopmeister72's video of his comparable kenmore Elite video in the "want a rinse not a purge thred" below. go take a look, it's got dishes in it.

 

[amyswasher]

I have a DU1100

Thanks the posting this. The inside looks just like this.

 

[whirlcool]

I always thought that the wash arms move faster in a DW.

 

[mark_wpduet]

appnut

I was pretty impressed with the power of the spray. Do you think the more high end dishwashers lessen the force of the jets so they can claim to be even quieter? I wonder since they are the same size motors, aren't they? No I didn't see that video you spoke of, I will go check it out.

 

[appnut]

Mark, no spray poewr isn't diminished for the higher end models to achieve the more quiet aspect. they just add more insulation around the machine. My model even comes with a sound-dampening pad that is placed under the machine when it's installed. Made quit a difference because the original installer threw the pad out and I didn't know it existed until I read through the installation instructions after he left. Seers had to come back and bring the proper part and do it right.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Gotcha

But look at this video......This is pretty pathetic wash action.

 

[amyswasher]

Yep!!

The first Whirlpool DU1100 was messed up from the beginning. The repairman didn't understand that the spray was only coming 1" from the sprayer and non at all at the other spray arms. I finally rigged the door latch in front of him and said "see what I am talking about". After two more repair calls, I returned the dishwasher and got another one just like it. The new one is on it's third computer, and dispenser. After that so far so good.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Third computer??????? Really?

Damn............the only thing that has went wrong with mine in almost six years is the rinse aid dispenser leaks! So I didn't replace it I just stopped using rinse aid.....If I open the dishwasher door after it's done about 30 min's later everything is dry anyway. I was surprised but I really don't notice hardly any difference than when I used rinse aid and I have hard water.

 

[appnut]

Mark, regarding that latest video you posted a link too, not a fair comparison. The machine didn't receive it's normal compliment of water for the proper fill. the machine started cavitating not too soon after it started pumping and continued. that's the cause of the pathetic wash action.

 

[mark_wpduet]

OH sorry. Wasn't sure if that was normal operation or not. Based on a few comments they seemed to think it was normal operation.

 

[appnut]

If the ownerrs who made the video thought that was normal, then typical users who don't know diddly about their appliances and why they don't work right.

 

[mark_wpduet]

That would include me ......I don't repair appliances. It's just that a lot of reading around forums on newer appliances and dishwasher talk; I have heard the term where the newer dishwashers merely pee on dishes as opposed to using high pressure etc. I guess reading things like that made me assume this was normal for some dishwashers. So you're saying there isn't enough water in his machine as in there could be a problem with his water pressure not filling the machine all the way as it should?

 

[appnut]

That's exactly what I'm saying.

 

[DADoES]

 
The pump/macerator (on units that have them) also may get clogged with debris such as paper labels or excess/fibrous food residue, causing the pump to be starved for water.  It may start out spraying OK due to water that has seeped into the pump through the debris during the fill period ... but once the pump starts running, the flow coming in isn't enough to keep it spraying at full force.

 

[a440]

Very impressive!
For some reason or another I see this model in thrift stores and such.
Usually the innards are encrusted with detergent. I always thought it was from pump failure.
Reading Glen's post I can totally agree with junk getting caught in the pump.
Thanks for the video! Your dishwasher seems very healthy!
Brent

 

[tolivac]

I hope something is wrong with the WP/KA machine in the second film clip-it is pretty pathetic-you could put a lawn-garden sprinkler in a box and get better spray than that!If thats an example of modern machines---forget it-will seek out older KA machines instead.I am wondering if the shredder equipped pumps in new machines have lower pressure-weaker spraying.

 

[appnut]

Rex, if you had read the posts from Glenn & myself, you would know there is definitely something wrong with that 2nd machine. It's either the water valve is semi-obstructed with debris and not allowing the full amount of water intended for a fill to occur, low water pressure on fills, or the pump is somewhat clogged with fibrous food or paper. It's a common problem the flimsy chopper in these machines braks and food debris accumulates and also keeps the machine from performing correct. I can tell you from experience it apparently can take several cycles to rid the soil collecting chamber of food soil if a load is particularly heavy. Case in point, when I was running all the stuff from my mom's kitchen (when their retirment apartment was shut down two years ago this coming December) that I got, I was running all the stuff through the dishwasher before I put it away after it was unpacked. Obviously just needing a very light wash. Howegver, every load (5) got run on Smart Wash and because the pump did a clean/purge phase during the pre-wash cycle as it's supposed to do when it senses heavy food soil, it defaulted to a heavier wash than I would have preferreed, but I did learn something about the dishwasher.

 

[yogitunes]

Has anyone seen the Maytag clear tub display in stores years ago......finally a chance to see what happens inside....they need to bring this back as well as washers that operate in the stores, to see what happens before you buy.....

how many of us have cut plexiglass installed on our machines to see how they work?......

 

[logixx]

Well, I don't use plexiglass but cling film... Certainly cannot complain about too low pressure - I regularly find small items (lids etc.) wedged into the cutlery basket in the sump after the cycle.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Loreality?blend=2&ob=1#g/p

 

[cphifer5115]

I can tell you that the high end dishwasher use just as much force to clean your dishes as the louder models do. they use sound damping materials to make the unit quiter. the insulation you see on the outside of the tub (if you have ever installed one) is for absorbing sound not to keep the water hot. I used to work for Maytag in their dishwasher assembly plant in Jackson, TN til Whirlpool bought the Maytag corp. in 2006 then closed our plant in Aug. 2009 and moved all dishwasher production to Findlay, OH. I can also tell you that the stainless steel tub dishwashers are quirter than the plastic tub models. I have that is also fully intergrated which mean the buttons are across the top of you unit instead of the fornt that way small children can be pushing on them.

 

[amyswasher]

The third time was the charm!

The first time the guy came out (for the second dishwasher), the dispensers were not working. He came out and checked on it and hooked it up to his laptop. Had to wait three weeks for him to come out to replace them. On that visit, he replaced them and still same thing. He sat on my kitchen floor and was on the phone with higher ups for an hour trying to figure it out. Trip number three it was fixed right. I am so glad I bought the warranty from Sears. Now I wonder if they would fix rusting racks(I doubt it) but it would be nice. My dishwasher is three years old bought in 2007.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Rinse

I wonder if the reason my dishwasher is so healthy is for the simple fact I run citric acid and or vinegar through it periodically? I certainly do not use the dishwasher as a garbage disposal (although the Maytag cake commercial makes you think you can), but I do not pre rinse anything. About six months ago I heard a funny noise and it was a grinding sound......I thought something was going wrong because it usually grinds at the FIRST of the wash but in this case the grinding or funny humming sound started at like the middle of the main wash but it finally quit after a few cycles......

I wonder if your circuit boards went out three times due to lightning?

My only complaint is the rinse aid dispenser. It leaks so I don't use it. I notice that almost all dishwashers use this exact same style detergent and rinse aid dispenser. No clue what caused mine to start leaking but several issues were found when I googled it

 

[mark_wpduet]

Oh.....if ever this dishwasher goes.......

I think my NEXT dishwasher will be this one in white. With the Whirlpool discount I can get it for around 385 dollars.....But I certainly am not going to replace a perfectly working dishwasher. I hope it lasts another six years but I doubt it will.

http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/MDB8859AW.html

 

[amyswasher]

circuit board

wasn't telling the dispenser to open the detergent cup. I could use the dishwasher as long as I used the gel packs that didn't dissolve until the wash cycle. The person told the repairman to go ahead and replace both so they don't have to come back out. They only come out here once every 1-3 months here. Also sometimes the dishwasher would run all night.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Speaking of the detergent cup......One thing very odd about mine is that when the cycle is done, the detergent cup pops open when opening the dishwasher to unload as if it's been closed the entire time, but you actually "hear" the detergent cup "pop open" when the wash cycle starts and there's nothing blocking it preventing it from opening. Never have a I seen a trace of detergent left on anything. I'm hearing it open during the wash but when I open the door it pops open? How strange is that. Oh well. It works

 

[amyswasher]

mine does that all the time

Something blocking the door from opening all the way. It will open some of the way. The detergent will wash out and do what it is supposed to do. I think it is the silverware rack, I put it on the front, hooked on the bottom rack.

 

[mark_wpduet]

nothings blocking it

on mine.......It just opens part way. I can't figure out what's keeping it closed part way and nothing is blocking it at all.