Sanitized Light Flashing

[mcoeconomist]

Hi everyone, I did a search for a dishwasher help/message board and found your site.

I have a Kenmore Elite Ultra Wash HE that I purchased in 2009. I've noticed that occasionally after a cycle the "sanitized" light will flash instead of staying illuminated like it normally does. The only thing the manual said was that this mean the water didn't reach the temp needed for the sanitizing cycle. This only happens occasionally though. Is there anything I can do to solve this issue? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[cuffs054]

My Frig DW does a similar thing. The sani will stay out. Usually happens when cold outside and not enough purge to get hot to DW

 

[appnut]

Before you start the dishwasher, make sure you run the hot water tap at the sink until hot water is flowing through the tap. then start the machine. I've had a Kenmore Elite since 2007 and never once have had this problem when using the sanitize rinse option. Also, this could happen if you open the door of the machine while running during the main wash phase of the cycle. If you need to add something to the dish load add it during the prewash phase--the first 8 minutes of the cycle.

 

[DADoES]

 
Just a suggestion ... the household supply line could cool if there's a long distance between your water heater and dishwasher and the wash phase of the cycle runs for a long time.  The final rinse is when the sanitation function occurs so it may have trouble reaching the required temperature if the fill is not hot enough at that point.  Running the kitchen hot tap again mid-cycle may help to insure the supply line is purged of standing cool water.  Ideally this should be done near the end of the wash period, prior to the rinse fill.  You'll need to monitor the machine's operation to get familiar with when that occurs if you need to get a handle on the time-frame.

 

[mcoeconomist]

Ok

@dadoes

Ok, that could be what the problem is. The dishwasher normally takes around 3 hours from start to finish. I usually set it to run during the middle of the night when energy costs are lower. I will run a load during the day though and turn the hot water on towards the end of the cycle and see if that makes a difference. Thank you

 

[appnut]

I have to tell you, my water heater has variable temperature range when it "sets> for a while. Being around 115 to 120. Even when it's 20 degrees outside, I've never had this problem and I don't run the water mid-cycle as DaDoES suggested. I even ran mine in the middle of the night the other night when it was 22 outside and it sanitized just fine on pots & pans cycle with sanitize option.

 

[alr2903]

Bob, is your house on a foundation or concrete slab? In extreme cold weather and long runs of pipe, it really makes a differece.

 

[appnut]

It's a foundation/slap. All the pipes are in the foundation. It's quite a long way. It takes 45 seconds of the 55 second purge fill before the hot water will reach the machine after the long wash period. cycles take longer in winter because of longer to reheat water again.

 

[mcoeconomist]

Re Pipes

I didn't consider the distance between the water heater and the dishwasher, I guess that would make a difference. But like I said the flashing sanitized light seems to happen at random. The majority of the time the light stays illuminated which I assume means the water reached the appropriate temp. I also use the "Hi Temp" option, but maybe that only applies to the wash cycle and not the sanitize cycle. Other than that I've had no trouble from the dishwasher. The dishes come out clean every time without any pre-rinsing.

 

[alr2903]

Mcoeconomist, I think Bob and others hopefully solved the problem. I had to let the hot "run" at the sink the smallest possible constant stream. Last week it was 9F. here. We currently have a one dial wonder (2008). I don't know how much of a temp swing would effect DW's with electronic controls. I was thinking if you experienced extreme cold that could of added to the mystery. alr

 

[appnut]

High-temp optioin only heats the main wash phase to 140 or 145 degrees. Sanitize rinse heats the final rinse only to 155 degrees, normal temp for that is 140. If sanitize is selected, it SHOULD heat main wash to 135 or 140 and then the final rinse to 155. Higth temp only heats the main wash to 140 and final rinse to 140.