Make It Start with a Door Switch – Dishwasher Repair

You wouldn't even know your dishwasher had one until it isn’t working. These little switches are tucked inside the control panel of your dishwasher and most times are a part of the door latch. The door latch pulls the door securely to the main body of your dishwasher and prevents water from leaking during a cycle. If your dishwasher doesn't start, it could be due to a faulty door switch.

How the door switch works

When the dishwasher door is open, the switch is off. Inside your dishwasher tub will be a metal or plastic prong. Close and latch the door. The prong will depress the door switch completely and the circuit will close allowing the dishwasher to start. Check the prong to make sure it's not loose or bent and it's properly activating the door switch.

It is important to disconnect the dishwasher from its power source before attempting any repair. You can unplug the dishwasher from the outlet, remove the fuse from your fuse box, or flick the breaker switch on your circuit panel. This will prevent you from getting an electric shock.

What a door switch looks like and where it's located

Typically a dishwasher door switch is an inch long. It can be black or red and has metal prongs called terminals protruding from the body. Some door switches have two terminals and some have three.

The terminals can be a common terminal (COM), normally closed terminal (NC) or a normally open terminal (NO). Switches with only two terminals will either have a COM and a NO, or a COM and an NC. Door switches with three terminals have COM, NC, and a NO.

Your dishwasher's door switch will be behind the control panel on the front of the unit. It may be necessary to remove the inner panel of the door first. You can do this by removing a few screws. The screws at the bottom of the door are for the hinges. You do not need to remove the whole door for this repair.

Once the inner panel is removed you may find another smaller panel covering the back of the control panel held in place with screws or clips. By removing this panel you will gain access to the latch assembly housing the door switch.

How to remove the switch

Carefully use needle nose pliers to pull the wires leading from the harness off the terminals. For door switches that have a locking clip, depress the lever as you gently pull the harness away from the terminal.

Take your time while removing switches that are a part of the latch assembly or that have a bracket. If you rush and break the switch's housing you will end up having to replace more parts.

How to test your door switch

Use an ohmmeter to test the switch for continuity. This test is for door switches with three terminals.

1. Set your ohmmeter to measure resistance at a scale of Rx1.
2. Touch the metal tips of the test leads together and zero your ohmmeter by adjusting the thumbwheel in the front of the meter until the needles reads "0" on the scale.
3. Touch one meter lead to the COM terminal and the other lead to the NO terminal. Do not push in on the actuator.
4. Your meter should give a reading of infinity, meaning the circuit is open, and there is no continuity.
5. Without moving the meter's leads, press down on the actuator until you hear a 'click'.
6. With the 'click' of the actuator, the meter should produce a resistance reading of zero ohms. This means the circuit is closed and continuity is present. (You will only hear this click with a door switch with three terminals.)
7. Keep the meter lead that is touching the COM terminal in place, but move the other meter lead from the NO terminal to the NC terminal.
8. When the actuator is released, you should receive a resistance reading of zero ohms.
9. Now set your ohmmeter to its highest resistance scale and touch one meter lead to the NO terminal and the other meter lead to the NC terminal.
10. The resistance reading between these two leads should be infinite.
11. Finally take a resistance reading from both the NC terminal and the NO terminal to any metal mounting hardware that is a part of the switch assembly. You should receive a normal reading of infinity.

Any readings that differ from the tests above are signs of a defective door switch that will need to be replaced.

Replace the old switch with a new one, using the same process as explained above. Reassemble the inner door panel and reconnect your dishwasher to its power supply. Don't forget to replace your fuse or turn the breaker switch back on. Run your dishwasher through a cycle to make sure it's working properly.

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My Dishwasher is Not Starting - What Can It Be?

The dishes are in the dishwasher and you close the door. You hit the start button and nothing happens. What now?

First make sure the dishwasher is getting power. Check your fuse box for blown fuses. If you have circuit breakers, check to see if they are tripped. Make sure plug from your dishwasher is secure in the outlet.

If power is not the problem, take a closer look at some of the electrical parts of your dishwasher. The most common part to fail is the door switch.

A door switch is used to start and stop your dishwasher. It's a safety feature that won't allow water to flow with the door open. With a faulty door switch, there is a chance your dishwasher won't start at all.

Dishwasher door switches are about an inch long. They are usually black but can be red. There are metal prongs on the body of the switch called terminals. Some door switches have two terminals and some have three.

If your door switch is OK, check the timer assembly. This controls when and how long power is sent to other controls on your dishwasher. If these controls don't receive power, they won't work.

The timer assembly contains a motor. Check this motor as well. It is often cheaper just to replace the timer motor rather than the complete assembly.

My last suggestion is to check the cycle selector switches. These switches indicate cycles for washing, drying, and setting the temperature of the water. If one of your switches is the problem your dishwasher may not start.

Dishwasher cycle selector switches tell the timer which cycle to run by opening and closing electrical circuits. Most selector switches are six to eight inches long. They are usually black and have terminals.

By testing each one of these parts with an ohmmeter you should be able to determine why your dishwasher is not working. It is possible for other parts to fail but these are the most common parts to check.

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Sanitair Vacuum Cleaners – Bringing Commercial Cleaners Home

Sanitair vacuum cleaners might be more famous for their commercial than domestic use, but these cleaners are fast gaining popularity in the household cleaning world. Combining the ease of use of a regular domestic cleaner with all the cleaning power of a commercial vacuum, Sanitair vacuum cleaners are one tool made for work that you really won’t mind taking home with you.

You would expect a commercial vacuum like a Sanitair vacuum cleaner to offer superior cleaning power – after all, commercial Sanitair vacuum cleaners have to vacuum the dirt and debris created in a busy environment frequented by perhaps hundreds or thousands of people. With that in mind, your first thought might be why would you need a Sanitare vacuum cleaner? The simple answer is that Sanitair vacuum cleaners offer much more than just a powerful clean.

Reviews of Sanitair vacuum cleaners consistently report that these cleaners are as easy to lift and manoever as any domestic vacuum – in fact many of the well-known domestic vacuum brands are more hefty and difficult to get around. Combine this with the superior durability of commercial devices like Sanitair vacuum cleaners, and you are surely on to a vacuum winner.

The advantages of using Sanitair vacuum cleaners don’t end there. Their commercial construction means that a Sanitare vacuum cleaner offers more dirt storage capacity than most conventional domestic cleaners, reducing the frequency with which you have to empty the vacuum. The powerful HEPA filtration included in Sanitair vacuum cleaners also ensures that not only is this a powerful cleaner, but a Sanitair vacuum cleaner also clears your living environment of the dust and debris that can exacerbate allergies.

Sanitair vacuum cleaners don’t just offer a commercial strength clean for your home; they have so much more to offer. For a low maintenance, easy to use vacuum, a Sanitare is the right cleaner for you.

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Basic Appliance Repair Tips

Appliance repairs often strike at the most inopportune times. Unfortunately, they can leave a gaping wound in your budget, if you don't plan for them. Here are a few ideas and tips to consider, that will help ease your next appliance repair problem.

Before You Do It Yourself

Make sure the appliance isn’t covered by a service agreement or warranty. If it's still covered under warranty, you will need to find out how to use the warranty properly. First call the company offering the warranty and ask them for clarification on using the warranty properly (DO NOT void the warranty by trying to fix the appliance yourself). After that, your next step is to contact (or take) the appliance to an appropriate maintenance or service company. Have them do the repairs under the protective cover of your warranty. Also, you should make sure you are properly reimbursed for all charges after having your appliance repaired.

Do It Yourself

If there is no warranty or coverage on your appliance, your next step is to track down the owner’s manual, and try and make the repair yourself. You shouldn't repair an appliance without having the service manual with you. When the manual or warranty isn't an option, your next choice will be to look under the lid, or inside of the appliance, and find the basic instruction guidelines. Most appliances have a small set of operating instructions, printed on the appliance somewhere, which MIGHT help you solve your problem. For most of us, though, these steps probably won't be enough.

Finding an Appliance Repair Service Company

If you aren't able to make the repairs yourself quickly and easily, then you will need to find an appliance repair service to do the job right, and get your appliance working again. There are several ways you can find an appliance repair company in your area. You can...

1. Hunt down and dust off that huge yellow pages book, lying somewhere in the dark, outer recesses of your home.

2. Ask a friend or family member who they use for their appliance repairs

3. Visit www.LocalApplianceRepair.com and find an appliance repair service in your city, with just a couple of mouse clicks.

4. Visit an online directory, like Yahoo's ™ yellow pages

5. If you’d like input from an independent source, on reliable local appliance repair companies, call a major real estate firm (in your area) and ask who they use for their appliance repairs.

Appliance Repair Services

A majority of repair companies have technicians available who can repair most household appliances. Major appliance repair companies will typically make service calls to your home. Small appliances often get repaired at the local repair shop, instead of at your home. If it's a small appliance, you want to make sure they offer repair or replacement services for it. This would include items such as microwave ovens, oven fans, heaters, Kitchen aid ™ mixers, other small miscellaneous kitchen appliances, and maybe even power tools.

Questions to Ask Repair Companies

Once you have the names of a few appliance repair service companies, you may want to ask any or all of these questions when you call...

1. Ask when the soonest they can come out to make the repair? If the timing is adequate, ask how punctual they are (and if they have a guarantee on the time)? There's nothing worse than waiting all day for a repair that won't happen that day.

2. Ask if they offer a guarantee on their work and their parts?

3. Ask about a written estimate; service call charge; fees; or a combination of written estimate with final bill?

4. Ask if it is possible to add service call fees to your monthly utility bill.

5. Gas, electrical, radiation, and refrigeration repairs require special considerations. Qualified Repair technicians must have experiences with gas, electrical, and refrigeration issues. When they repair gas appliances and microwave ovens, appliance repair technicians need to be aware of dangers form gas and radiation leaks. When you need to have your stove fixed or your gas lines checked for leaks, you definitely want to call a home appliance repair person for help. Mostly, just make sure they are qualified to fix the specific appliance you need repaired.

6. If you're interested, you can ask them if they offer a monthly service plan. Having a consistent appliance repair technician and service can keep your home appliances humming right along, and may also help prevent unwanted breakdowns. This would give you peace of mind for all your major home appliances, and keep all your appliances protected under one convenient repair plan. You can also ask questions, which might include concerns about appliance installation, operation and repair.

Hopefully some of these tips will help ease your next appliance repair problem. Once you have exhausted all of these steps, and if the repair still didn't work, then it might be time to look into buying the new appliance you've been dreaming of. But we'll cover that in another article.

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