GE Monogram DW - Is it getting enough water?

[johninpeekskill]

Hey everyone,

I'm wondering if you all have any suggestions?

I have a GE/Monogram DW model ZDT870SSF0SS. There's nothing blocking the soap dispenser, the filters are all clean and I run the hot water before I start the machine and the soap never completely dissolves. I either find part of a pod or, as you see the the photo, there's detergent left behind. This was Cascade Complete powder. I usually use the Cascade Complete pods.

I've tried to take apart as much as I can to clean the interior and the jets. I'm constantly wiping out the machine interior and it's quick to smell funky. It gets run pretty much once a day.

Thanks in advance for your ideas.

John

 

[petek]

What is the temperature of the water coming out of your faucet and what is the temperature of the water in the machine when the wash cycle begins?

 

[johninpeekskill]

Water Temp

I've got an old school non-digital thermometer I use to test meat on the grill. When I run the hot water I'm getting 135 - 140. I started the DW on a rinse cycle and the first fill water in the tub was at about 100.

 

[appnut]

That first fill still gets cooled down due to the dishwasher cavity being room temp and with your dishwasher having a stainless interior, that takes much more to raise the temperature of the dishwasher cavity.

 

[petek]

But what is the wash cycle temperature? Maybe it's not hot enough to dissolve everything and you're getting a buildup of gunk. That's my first go to. Second is to be sure the bottom spray arm is actually revolving by opening the door a few times during the wash cycle and looking to see if it's in different positions from the previous.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

water level

What is the water level in the machine?

 

[johninpeekskill]

Wash Water

I waited until the soap opened - water temp was still about 100.

 

[petek]

100 deg is far off the mark. Something is amiss. Is this a new machine or did it just start happening? Did previous machines have this problem??

 

[johninpeekskill]

Follow-up

It's maybe 9 years old? I don't believe the last DW had this issue. It was not always this way with this machine. Been getting worse, of late.

 

[petek]

offhand then I would say the heater has been failing or failed completely

 

[gelaundry4ever]

water

The water level should just below the heater, above the pump intake for maximum recirculation.

 

[appnut]

I would suggest adding abut a quart of hot water after if finishes a fill period and see if that would improve resuts as that would probably give the machine a near typical full charge of water for full circulationn strength. If that improves, then the fill valve is choked with sediment. Particularly if you have hard water.