Dishwasher
Dishwasher not cleaning dishes properly
Dishes come out with food still on them. Is the dishwasher broken?
Straight answer: Poor cleaning is usually water not reaching the dishes: a clogged filter, blocked spray arms, low water fill or a weak wash pump. A few checks at home sort out half the cases; the rest need a look at the pump and valve.
$99 CAD visit & diagnosis · 30% off your first repair · 90-day labour warranty
Or give us a buzz: 705-302-0105 · Mon–Sat, 9 AM–7 PM
What it usually means
- Filter and sump clogged, recirculating dirty water
- Spray arm holes blocked or the arm not spinning
- Inlet valve not filling enough water
- Wash pump or circulation motor weak
- Water not hot enough, or the heater element failed
Safe to check yourself
- Clean the filter and run a cycle with the dishwasher empty and a dishwasher cleaner
- Spin each spray arm by hand and check the holes with a toothpick
- Don't block the lower spray arm with tall pots
- Run the hot tap at the sink until it's hot before starting the cycle
Unplug the appliance or switch off the breaker before touching anything behind or under it. If you're not comfortable, skip the checks and call; the visit covers all of this.
Time to call when
- The spray arms don't move during a cycle (listen or check with a mark)
- The water in the bottom is barely warm at the end
- Cleaning stays poor after a full filter clean
What the visit looks like
A technician comes to your place, diagnoses the dishwasher and tells you what it needs and what it costs. You decide; nothing starts without your okay. $99 CAD covers the visit and diagnosis anywhere in our area.
Dishwasher repair: what to expect 
Good to know
Is it worth repairing an older dishwasher that cleans badly?
If it's a pump or valve on a decent machine, usually yes. If it's the main wash motor on a 12-year-old unit, maybe not. The visit gives you the number to decide with.
Should I switch detergents?
Pods help with dosing, but detergent rarely explains a sudden drop in cleaning. Sudden means something changed mechanically.
Other dishwasher problems
- Dishwasher not draining (E24, E25, 5C, OE codes)There's water sitting in the bottom of my dishwasher after the cycle. Why?
- Dishwasher not drying dishesDishes come out clean but soaking wet. Can that be fixed?
- Dishwasher won't start or has no powerMy dishwasher is dead, or the lights are on but nothing happens when I press start. Why?
Still stuck?
Tell us what it's doing and your town. We'll sort out the rest on the call.