Q: I have a dishwasher that isn't really that old, but it no longer cleans the dishes. The plates have food stuck to them and the glasses have water spots. When the unit is operating there is a smell like plastic burning, which I think is the heater. There are no leaks and the motor sounds just fine. Do I need to replace the dishwasher, or can it be fixed?
-- P.P., Indiana
A: Can an appliance be fixed? Yes. Do you need a new one? Probably! Appliances more than 10 years old may be cheaper to replace than to repair when you consider the total life expectancy of the unit. Newer models use less energy and less water, so in the life of the super-duper newer models you may break even. But, if you're like most homeowners, you can't go out and purchase a new appliance just because the older one is broke.
You say the motor's fine and the unit's not leaking and there's a smell of hot plastic. Sounds like the unit is low on water when washing. The hot smell is probably the heater in the unit being exposed to low water levels. Low water also reduces the effectiveness of the sprayer and the dishes will come out dirty and spotty.
The water supply to your home comes from either the municipal water supply or from a well. Either way there are dissolved minerals in the water that will, over time, clog the filters, pumps or valves inside your appliances. The water supply valve can be replaced by a technician or by a handy homeowner with lots of tools.
Once the water supply is restored, keep the mineral deposits from building up by adding orange juice or lemon juice to the dishwasher from time to time. The acidity of the juices will dissolve the minerals. DO NOT use chemicals that can remain on the dishes or vinegar that can damage plastic parts inside the unit.
With the dishwasher empty, close the door and start the fill cycle. When you hear the sprayer start to turn, stop the unit and add the juice. Let the water and juice mixture rest for about an hour, then turn the unit back on and let it run through the rest of the cycle. The dishwasher is then ready to be used.
Other victims of hard water and mineral deposits are the ice maker, coffee maker and sink faucet. You can eliminate hard-water minerals by installing a water softener on the water supply pipe to the home between the water meter or well pump and the water heater. Mineral deposits also form inside the water heater and cause excessive wear and added expenses in operating the heater.
(Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home-improvement questions at PO Box 268, Evansville, IN 47702 or send him e-mail at d.barnett@insightbb.com.)
Resources American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
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