A dishwasher is an assembly of parts consisting of a pump, a motor, a timer, a small valve that lets the water into the dishwasher and a heater coil in the bottom that dries the dishes. If take your time you can repair your broken dishwasher yourself. These tips should help you get started.

The pump is probably the most common part that fails when your dishwasher fails. You can tell the pump has stopped working when the water in the bottom of your dishwasher is still there when the dishwasher has finished running.

The pump is not difficult to remove and replace. If you have a little bit of mechanical ability, you can replace the pump easily. You can find the pump by following the drain line into the bottom of the dishwasher. The drain line connects to the pump.

You can free the pump by removing a couple of fasteners. Your job will be easier if you get an exact replacement for the pump.

The second most common part to fail is the solenoid valve that lets the water come into the dishwasher from the water supply. The solenoid valve is usually located at the back of the dishwasher and will have wires going to it. Don't touch the wires, they will have 110 volts going to them.

You can replace the solenoid valve very easily by removing the wires, removing the supply line and then loosening the fasteners that secure the valve to the dishwasher frame. Be sure to mark each hose so you put them on the same port on the new valve that they were on the old one. Purchasing an exact replacement part will make your job easier.

The next part that will fails the motor. To remove it, the dishwasher has to be taken out of the counter and laid on its side. Only the mechanically inclined should attempt to replace the motor. Hiring a professional will give you peace of mind.

The fourth most common part to fail is the timer. The timer is completely electrical and controls the whole dishwasher. On most dishwashing units it is actuated by the dial on the front of the dishwasher. The timer is also one of the most expensive parts on the machine as it is where all the brains are. If you are comfortable with electricity and electrical parts, changing out the timer will be no big deal. Determining the timer is defective is a little more challenging because electrical devices are often difficult to troubleshoot.

The last part to fail is the heater element. It's the wire in the bottom of the dishwasher that looks like the wires in the bottom of your oven. The heater element allows your dishwasher to sanitize your dishes.

Replacing the heater element is requires the dishwasher be disconnected from the power source. It's held in place by some screws and can be replaced quickly. The dishwasher must be laid on its side to make this repair. You can tell if the heater element is faulty if the dishwasher will not
get hot when the unit is on sanitizing mode.

Always disconnect the power before working on any electrical device. Most dishwashers are plugged directly into the wall. Just pull out the plug and start work.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Get illustrations of your dishwasher by searching on the internet for the name brand of your dishwasher plus the word "repair".

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