• A noisy dishwasher should be inspected to make sure the spray arm is not hitting against the contents.control panel of dishwasher image by JoLin from Fotolia.com
  
  Dishwashers are not indestructible, but many are far more durable than you might expect if you could see just how many things must go right in order for your dishes to get clean. A dishwasher is a complex piece of machinery that includes a pump-and-motor assembly, door switch, thermostat, hoses, gaskets, spray arm and heating element. Any one of these things can go wrong, and troubleshooting the problems correctly can help save you from a bigger headache in the form of a repair bill.
  
  

Dirty Dishes

• The most frustrating problem with a dishwasher is probably when you open it up to find spots on glasses and food particles still on plates. The problem could be as simple as trying a new detergent. Another way to get past this is pre-washing and better loading. More complex problems involve water pressure being too low, the detergent dispenser being faulty or a clogged sprayer arm.
  
  

Leaky bottom

• A dishwasher that leaks from the bottom indicates one of several potential problems. The cause may be that the tub has cracked in which case you can seal the crack with epoxy glue. Check to make sure that the water inlet valve connection has not come loose or that the hose clamp has not come loose.
  
  

Leaky Door

• A dishwasher leaking around the door may be a sign that you used too much detergent. Another cause of leaking is a broken gasket seal. You will have to replace or repair the gasket if this is the case.
  
  

Humming Motor

• If the motor of your dishwasher is humming but nothing is happening, first check for a blow fuse or tripped circuit breaker. A more likely cause of the humming is a faulty timer or motor, and either of these will need to be replaced.
  
  

Timer Doesn't Advance

• A timer that no longer advances is one of the few potential problems with a dishwasher that doesn't have other possible causes for malfunctioning. In nearly ever case where the timer won't advance, the problem is that the timer has gone faulty.
  
  

Water Doesn't Cut Off

• When the water going into the dishwasher refuses to cut off, the first thing to inspect is the float. Give the float a jiggle to make sure that it is moving freely. If the float does move freely, the float switch may be jammed. Another cause for water not turning off is a faulty inlet valve solenoid. This problem, as are so many others, can be caused by a faulty timer.
  
  

Poor Drainage

• If the problem is poor drainage of water, make sure that the air gap is clean. A clogged filter screen or spray arm also can be the cause of poor drainage. Always inspect hoses to make sure that they are not clogged when the machine is not draining properly. Once again, the fault could be a bad timer.