If the detergent in your dishwasher is not dissolving, your dishes will not come out as clean as they should. Not to mention the fact that you will end up with residue building up in your appliance.

This can have further negative effects on your dishwasher and more extensive repairs may become necessary. If you notice undissolved detergent in your dishwasher after a wash cycle, here are some possible causes.

Low Temperature

The water in your dishwasher should be heated to 120 – 160F. Anything cooler will not dissolve the detergent. If your dishwasher is not heating up the water to the appropriate temperature, there could be a problem with the heating element or thermostat. You should call a technician to diagnose and repair the problem.

Faulty Inlet Valve

Your dishwasher has a water inlet valve that controls the flow of water into the appliance. If this valve is faulty, it may not allow enough water to flow into the appliance. Too little water will result in a failure to dissolve the detergent completely.

Dispenser Door Jammed Or Blocked

If the door on the detergent dispenser is jammed or blocked, it may not open completely. The door must open completely in order for the soap tablet to drop into the hot water. If not properly released, it will remain, at least partially, in the dispenser.

Faulty Circulation Pump

A working circulation pump will spray water in the dishwasher and, when the dispenser door opens, it will wash out all of the detergent from the dispenser. If the pump is not working, you will most likely hear a strange noise immediately after it has filled with water.

Clogged Spray Arm

Check the holes on the spray arm and take care of any blockages. If the holes are blocked, they will not be effective at spraying water throughout the appliance. Food particles can clog these tiny holes very easily which is why they should be inspected and cleaned regularly.

Spray Arm Not Spinning

The spray arms need to spin in order for water to be evenly distributed throughout your dishwasher. If they do not spin, the water will not move around as it should. A technician can best diagnose and repair this common fault.

Too Much Detergent

Finally, make sure that you are not using too much detergent. Always follow the instructions on the package and, remember, the smaller the load, the less detergent you will need.

In so many cases, proper cleaning and appliance maintenance will help keep your dishwasher running and prevent detergent-related issues. It’s also good to check the owner’s manual for guidelines regarding the best type of detergent to use since every dishwasher is different.

If you encounter any of the problems mentioned above, give Care & Repair Appliances a call at (647) 812-2863. Our team is trained, experienced and certified to repair dishwashers of all makes and models. We always arrive prepared with the tools and various parts to perform dishwasher repairs on the spot.

When an error code appears on the display of your Miele dishwasher, it can be particularly stressful. The first thing that most people worry about is what the code means and how much it will cost to fix the problem. If you notice the F78 error code on your dishwasher, this is a circulation pump fault. Here are some of the common causes of this error and some solutions.

Try to clear the error code

Before you worry about whether or not something really is faulty, you can try resetting your appliance. To do so, follow these steps:

• Turn off your dishwasher for 30 seconds.
• Turn your dishwasher on again.
• Select the wash cycle you wish to use.
• Press the ‘Start’ button.

In some cases, a quick reset will resolve this problem. If this does not work, further investigation and repairs might be needed.

Door contact switch connection interruption

Every dishwasher has a contact switch located somewhere on the door. This tells the computer that the door is closed. If the computer detects that the door is open, it will not start or it will stop mid-cycle. If the switch is faulty, this can send a false signal telling the computer that the door is open. To determine whether or not this is the case, you can follow these steps:

• Check the voltage on the electronic input and output.
• Check the voltage on the wiring harness.
• Check the voltage on the circulation pump.

When you find the faulty part, it will need to be replaced and retested. Once the faulty part is replaced, your dishwasher should work just as well as it did before.

Faulty circulation pump

There are a number of problems that can affect your circulation pump. These include excess or low voltage, a defective frequency converter electronic or even a blockage. Repairing the fault will depend on the fault itself. In many cases, the circulation pump will need to be replaced in order to resolve the issue.

Appliances have come a long way over the years and there are so many working parts. Diagnosing and repairing dishwasher faults require experience as well as the right tools. At Care and Repair, we are available throughout the Greater Toronto Area and you can contact us 7 days a week at (647) 812-2863 for our Miele Appliance Repair service. Our professional and speedy dishwasher repair service will ensure that your Miele dishwasher is running again in no time.