If your business has a commercial dishwasher or glasswasher then you’re all-too-aware of the benefits of having one. You can bulk wash items on a quick cycle and get them dried and reused almost instantly – even during the same shift. So when dishwasher issues arise and your dishes or glasses aren’t squeaky clean, or worse, then it becomes a very big problem indeed.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common issues that our technicians encounter on a daily basis, and how you can fix them. For some of the electronic faults, there are simple and quick fixes that you can undertake yourself. But unfortunately, for many other issues, professional assistance is the only realistic way to eradicate the problem.
The Most Common Dishwasher & Glasswasher Issues
These are five of the most common commercial dishwasher and glasswasher issues, ranging all the way from unusual smells and sounds to limescale build-up and leaking water. If you’re ever in doubt or come across an issue too complex to address, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert KES Facilities team.
Unusual Noises
This is a quick way to ruin your day. You know exactly what your washer sounds like, so when you hear an unusual sound, it’s an immediate warning that you can’t ignore.
Any sound of whirring, banging, or clanking is reason enough to stop the cycle and cut the power to your washer. If you’re lucky, there could be something lodged in the waste pipe, or a buildup that needs to be cleaned.
But if you’re less fortunate, you might discover that the rotating motor has moved out of place, or has started to rust. If you’re confident and have the skills, then dismantle the appropriate parts and install a new rotating motor.
Another reason for unusual sounds is the brushes getting worn out and brittle, to the point where they no longer clean your items. This repair isn’t quite as straightforward.
Poor Draining Issues
Among dishwasher issues, this one is extremely common, and can tie in with any fault noises and sounds. First of all, check for any food particles blocking the pipes. However, if you hear any unusual sounds specifically emanating from the pumps (towards the end of the wash cycle), then it’s highly likely that the issue exists in the drain pumps themselves.
Water pumps are the unsung heroes within any washer assembly. They control the flow of water, drawing water in and expelling wastewater during the wash cycle. But these mechanical parts are constantly working and moving, so wear-and-tear is completely natural.
Noisy pumps, puddles at the end of the wash, and ineffective draining are likely to be caused by old and faulty drain pumps. Replacing them is normally the solution and is a relatively simple fix. If you’re lucky, it could be the pump bearings themselves that need to be replaced, and they’re usually cheaper to source and install. But on a bad day, it could be the selector switches or the timer that’s causing the issue.
For even more complicated issues, a professional technician will need to inspect solenoids and impellers.
Dishes Aren’t Clean
So we’ve talked about unusual sounds and poor draining – but dishes and glasses coming out still dirty is another pretty obvious indicator that something isn’t right. There could be several reasons for this but, normally, it’s to do with a dirty machine that just needs to be washed.
The first simple task to carry out is to inspect the filter. As you guessed, these devices capture any excess food or waste and therefore need regular maintenance. If there’s buildup to the point where they become ineffective, then your dishes and glasses won’t come out clean.
Regular cleaning also helps to keep the rinse jets effective. They’ll be able to target your glasses and dishes in the way they were designed to – when they’re obstructed by waste, their high-pressure jets won’t be as effective.
The same goes for the rinse arms, which can easily become obstructed. On other occasions, there can be a limescale buildup or some wear-and-tear on these arms as well. However, if after attempting all of this the dishes are still coming out dirty, you’ll need a professional to take a look at the dosing pump, wash pump, or the rinse cycle itself.
It’s also worth looking into having an inline water softener fitted to prevent limescale buildup inside the unit. These are particularly effective in rinse tanks, wash tanks, wash pumps and drain pumps.
Faulty Electrics & No Power
It’s a big ‘oh no’ if your machine also refuses to start up in the first place. Check the power source – is everything connected as it should be? Double-check your fuse, and make sure that the washer door is closed correctly.
If none of these fixes work, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to address the electronic repairs yourself – it’s in the interest of your own safety. There could be any number of electronic faults from faulty motor relays to dodgy drive motors, or broken switches and complete control board failure. This is when you need to know what you’re doing, otherwise you’ll only make things worse.
Overfilling, Underfilling & Leaking Water
Noticing water in places where it shouldn’t be is one of the more common glasswasher and dishwasher issues. There could be any number of reasons why your washer is underfilling and overfilling, and it may take a considerable time for you to identify the fault.
Our KES technicians, on the other hand, have the experience to quickly identify the issue and resolve it for you – often on the spot. Again, there could be an issue with the timer, or the float could be trapped. There could be issues with the water inlet valve, the filters, or the control board itself.
When it comes to leaking water and faulty filling, the quickest and most pain-free way to fix the issue is to get in touch with the professionals.
Dishwasher & Glasswasher Maintenance with KES Facilities
As you can see, dishwashers and glasswashers are complicated machines, and repairs can be simple, but more often than not, it takes experience and training to know what the issue is and how to fix it as quickly as possible.
Contact our friendly Yorkshire-based team today to see how we can get your washer back up and running. Or, if you’re worried about future breakdowns, then we’ll set up a maintenance schedule and regularly service your machine for you.
Keep your machine in expert hands and you’ll be able to enjoy business as normal.
