labyrith in a dishwasher

[askomiele]

Hai guys...
can any of you tell me what a labyrith is doing inside a dishwasher. It's a plastic container with chanels going up and down through it. At the beginning of the filling proces it's filled with water that drains into the tub. It's attached (mostly) to the left side of the tub. Thanks anyway!

 

[maytagbear]

Interesting!

I really have NO idea. If possible, a picture would be helpful.

When I saw the title of this thread I admit that I thought along the lines of: walk the labyrinth perfectly in less than 15 minutes, and win the dishwasher in the centre; or wash the floor tiles for the labyrinth in the church kitchen's Hobart.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[MrX]

Is that not part of the water softener ?

 

[toggleswitch]

Sounds like it is a way for water to flow into but not be sprayed out of the wash chamber.

I'm guessing there is a similar thing (in American-made machines) by the vent on the door so air can get out but water can not. Not sure how Euro DW-ers dry; all that fluff about condensation drying and all...

(ducks and runs)

 

[logixx]

I think every European dishwasher has this - haven't seen in on an American machine, though.

I believe it has something to do with measuring the amount of water for the fill. I know on our B/S/H this water pocket (or however it is translated into English) fills and the minute it overfills the inlet is closed and the water is emptied into the tub. In the case of B/S/H this "water pocket" also fills with cold water during the drying cycle to start the condensation drying process (EU models only).

Here's a picture of a B/S/H "water pocket"and a link to Miele.de

Alex

http://www.miele-dauertest.de/media/aktion/GS_Dauertest/Wassereinlauf-Test.mpg

 

[foraloysius]

Yes, I think it's a pressure chamber. Some dishwashers have this instead of a water level switch. My previous AEG dishwasher had a pressure chamber. It never worked as it should so after several repairs AEG replaced it with a more modern model with a water level switch.

 

[logixx]

Oh, maybe I should mention what you can see above...

This plastic chamber is attached to the left side of the tub. The channels on the left side of the chamber are associated with filling and draining water, the larger pocket to the right stores water. The two hoses to the left are drain hoses - (only one hose exits the washer, though). The third hose is for filling, IIRC. The middle contains valves to do with water softening - channeling water through the softener or not (AquaMix mixing softened and unsoftened water). All that stuff to the right controls the water level inside the tub. It also incorporates the safety switch in case water accumulates in the DW's bottom.

It's a rather complex system of channels and - unfortunately - can cause problems if it clogs up with grease, which is not too uncommon with European Bosch/Siemens dishwashers. However, B/S/H still make great dishwasher - especially if one applies a little common-sense when using them (e.g. use hot cycles when needed, scrape food off plates,...).

Alex

 

[rolls_rapide]

It is known as the water matrix to most manufacturers...

...and on Bosch/Siemens machines, it is known as the heat exchanger.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Logixx

You are correct, the Bosch/Siemens heat convoluted drain pipe can clog.

In the UK, Finish Dishwasher Cleaner is available. However, Aldi supermarket sells its own version which is two bottles shrink-wrapped together for £2.00.

Aldi version is made in Poland, as is the Finish variant. They probably are made in the same factory.