We’ve said it before, the dishwasher is the work horse of the kitchen.  An appliance likely used every day and one that truly makes life easier for everyone. But how do you know when it’s time to repair or replace this most-valued of appliances? As the old adage says, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and it’s important to assess the functionality of your dishwasher and note if there are any signs that trouble may be ahead.  We’ve compiled a list of common issues that may indicate a service or replacement is needed.

1- Dishes aren’t getting clean. 

If your dishes are routinely coming out with grime or food still stuck on, this could be something fixable like the spray arms being clogged or the soap dispenser not opening all the way. But dirty dishes without signs of any obvious problem can signal your dishwasher is failing.

2- Strange noises.

Dishwashers these days should run almost silently so if yours is making noises it could be an indication that the pump or motor is malfunctioning.

3- Water on the floor or signs of rust and cracks.

While water on the floor around the dishwasher may simply mean there’s a cracked or worn gasket, it could also be a sign of a larger problem. And if you notice rust or cracks in the unit, that’s a sign there is water definitely going where it shouldn’t. Leaking water can wreak havoc on a home so it’s important to get an issue like this checked out immediately.

4- Age.

The general guideline is that if your dishwasher is older than ten years, it may be time to replace it. This isn’t to say that once you hit ten years, you throw out a perfectly-functioning dishwasher. If you’ve cleaned and maintained your dishwasher over the years, you may be able to extend its lifetime usefulness. But ten years is often a good measurement, as older models may simply not be as efficient and you could see significant savings in water and electric bills with a newer model.

5- Repairs too costly.

While a new spray arm, door latch, or control board are components that can be replaced, you’ll want to consider whether it makes more sense to continue to make repairs on a unit or look into replacing it with a newer model. A good rule of thumb is that if the costs to repair are 50% or more of the price of a new dishwasher, it might be time to replace versus repair.

At Better Housekeeping Shop we not only sell appliances, we also have a Service Team comprised of professional technicians with decades of experience.  Our factory-trained experts service all major appliance brands, even if they weren’t originally purchased from us.  If you think your dishwasher needs a service, don’t hesitate to give us a call, 732-741-4310.