Need Advice about Dishwashers..

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

I don't think any dishwasher, even a PowerClean or a Hobart KA, can handle baking dishes with food severely scorched on. I normally never put anything into a dishwasher except eat-ware (plates, bowls, cups, silverware, etc.) just because of how much space large bowls and pans take up. The things put in it are nasty, but none of it is baked on of course, just dried. Anything baked/seared on gets a sprinkle of Cascade powder and soaks for a few hours with hot water, and even then it takes some effort to scrub off. With the water in a dishwasher not actually sitting still on the soil enough to soak in, and with a machine averaging an hour or two, there's just not enough time for the heat and detergent to get deep enough to dissolve it.

The previous gen WP's are insanely easy to work on, and because no one wants to let go of their PowerClean's and even Point Voyager's, parts are still readily available. I'd also have to kick a dishwasher to the curb if I had to clean out cakes of residue from the bottom like that Bosch pictured above. The WP/KM would have pulverized it and sent it on its way, as a dishwasher should.
 
Well...

It's dead Guys. I turned it on tonight, and went to my room, and I came back into the Kitchen, and noticed it wasn't making any sounds whatsoever. Opened the door, and a strong burning smell was present. I think I was in the right place at the right time, as, I imagine things could have gotten bad had I not been there. It was humming, but, no water was circulating whatsoever. 

 

It was nice while it lasted. It was... :(
 
A service tech on another discussion group I follow recently advised someone that his company no longer instructs customers to purge the supply line before starting because current enzyme detergent formulas work better starting cool and heating gradually to the lower target temps that are programmed nowadays.

And just what kind of documentation did he provide to prove this claim? On a discussion board it could be a 10 year old kid posting, you never know. If this was really true, I think it would be printed on the back of each enzyme DW detergent box and dishwashers would have a "cool wash" setting.
 
Just like the Whirlpool-certified tech that came the other day, and told me that the little rubber pads that go over the hinge (to allow the door to be propped open) are just stoppers and that they don't actually do anything. I looked straight at him and said "Is that so? Then how is it that everytime they tear off, the door falls loosely and basically floats up and down? If the springs are tightened, the door will slam closed and won't stay down, too loose and the door will heavily slam open." It's amazing how ignorant they think people are. I guarantee you I've taken apart more WP built machines in my life than he has in his career.

As far as that UltraWash, it may just be time to say a few last words and let it go. I would say that the motor just needs to be replaced and they're not too outrageous in price, but it may be better to get something newer. I'd look for a gently-used PowerClean myself, but a Bosch may do just as well.
 
May this be the reason?

If a bearing in the motor went off slowly, this might have decreased its power and thus the cleaning wasn't optimal?
Anyway, you might get it fixed easy and cheap. Never been abled to use one (Europe), but if they are that good, keep it. If not: I can only recomend Bosch again: Efficent, silent, durable and cleans perfectly. I have yet to find something that wasn't cleaned at all. And the filter is really self-cleaning. We clean ours every 2 or 3 months and never had problems.
 
Back
Top