{"id":1012,"date":"2020-01-28T10:34:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T10:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/?p=1012"},"modified":"2021-01-10T14:02:24","modified_gmt":"2021-01-10T14:02:24","slug":"how-to-winterize-a-dishwasher-in-4-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/how-to-winterize-a-dishwasher-in-4-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"How to winterize a dishwasher in 4 steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In this blog post, I will discuss some useful tips and tricks to winterizing your dishwasher in four simple steps. During a snowbird season when you leave your Northern home unoccupied for a trip towards the southern Sunbelt, there is a great chance that the water in the plumbing of your home and appliances like a dishwasher and washing machine will freeze up and burst the pipelines. The repairs can be costly so the preventions and precautionary measures are really important to winterize a dishwasher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to winterize a dishwasher in 4 steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>First of all, you must empty your dishwasher, then use a piece of cloth\nto dry it from inside. Remove the detergent from the container and any food\ndebris that is found inside it. Drain all the water from your dishwasher&#39;s\ntubes and pipes, then pour half a gallon of pink non-toxic antifreeze into its\nbasin.&nbsp; <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"462\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/How-to-winterize-a-dishwasher-in-4-steps.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1014\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/How-to-winterize-a-dishwasher-in-4-steps.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/How-to-winterize-a-dishwasher-in-4-steps-300x154.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/How-to-winterize-a-dishwasher-in-4-steps-768x394.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You can drain your dishwasher in 4 simple steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Remove all the dishes from your dishwasher and store them in a clean and dry place. You must then turn off the power line and the water line to your dishwasher to prevent any electrocution. You can turn off the power by unplugging it from the wall outlet or shutting off the circuit to which the dishwasher is connected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Look for braided stainless steel\nor a flexible copper pipeline, that is the water supply to your dishwasher, you\ncan turn it off from under your kitchen sink. Under your kitchen sink, you will\nsee many valves, the lower valve controls the water supply to your dishwasher,\nyou must turn it off. You can use bowls, jugs, or cups to remove all the water\nfrom the tubes of your dishwasher and throw it into the kitchen sink drain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use a piece of thick cloth or an\nold towel to completely remove the remaining water and to mop it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At the bottom of the interior of your dishwasher under its spray arms, you will see a cylindrical filter. Rotate it anticlockwise and lift it to remove it. From the bottom of your dishwasher also remove the cylindrical filter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read your user manual to understand more about the removal of filters as\nthese may vary from model to model. But almost all kind of filters can be\nremoved by moving it anticlockwise. Some models have a separate metal plate called a coarse filter\nheld in place by the cylindrical filter, both of these can be removed\ntogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is a hole near the\ncylindrical filter which leads to the drain hose\ncalled a sump. You must remove all the bones, chunks of food, debris and the\nlayers of grease from your sump otherwise it will clog and lead to a smell.\nAfter you have caked up all the leftover food and the layers of grime, use hot water and dishwashing soap to thoroughly scrub\nthe filters and clean them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Preparing your Bosch dishwasher for vacation (in cold weather)\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/leEbYYGvQOg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Four screws hold the filter in\nits place. You will have to remove the bottom rack of the dishwasher to access\nthese screws. Use a wet vacuum to clean the filters and rid them of the debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have fully cleaned your\nfilters you can reinstall them by using a screwdriver. To prevent screws from\nfalling down into the base of the dishwasher, let\nthem into their places first and then tighten them.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the bottom of your dishwasher,\nreinstall the coarse filter and then the cylindrical filter by turning it\nclockwise. Now spin the spray arms to make sure that both\nfilters are secure in their place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Never pour the commercial drain\nwashers into your dishwasher because these have harmful chemicals that will\ncoat your dishes with white powder and harm your health. You can dissolve one\ntablespoon of baking powder into 2 tablespoons of vinegar and then pour the\nsolution into your dishwasher to remove the additional scum. Let the solution\nsit in the tubes of the dishwasher for 10 to 15 minutes and then pour some hot\nwater down into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>From its cabinet area, pull out your dishwasher. Check the drain hose behind your dishwasher, look for any bends, twists or kinks constraining it. If you find any kinks in the hose line correct them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you suspect any clogs take off\nthe hose line from the dishwasher. Before taking it off place a rag or a pan\nunderneath the hose line to prevent any water spills.\nA clog will prevent easy drainage of the hose line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have located your hose\nyou must use pliers to pinch the wire clamp and slide it up to your hose. You\nmust also check your garbage disposal. In most houses, the dishwasher, and\ngarbage disposal share the same plumbing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also use an air\ncompressor, a shop vacuum or a high-pressure washer to clear any food fragments\nfrom the drain line of your dishwasher. Reinstall the hose line after you have\nclarified it and then push the dishwasher back into the cabinet area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is an alternate way to\naccess your basin catch, drain, and filters from inside the dishwasher. Remove\nthe bottom rack to easily access these parts. After you have easily removed\nyour basin catch and the filters you must use a straightened wire hanger to\nremove any clogs from the drain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Clear the water from the drain valve. Make sure the parts of the dishwasher are cool and there is no steam inside it, for your safety. To locate the drain valve look underneath your dishwasher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You will find it behind its front\nkick panel by the motor. The valve has a coil or a solenoid and a gate arm. The\ngate arm will allow the water to drain freely from your\ndishwasher, you must be able to move it freely now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two springs attached to\nthe gate arm, you must check them both, if you\nfind them broken then you must replace them at\nonce. The solenoid has two wires, check them and\ndisconnect them. Use a multitester to test the solenoid, 40 ohm is the normal\nreading if the reading exceeds or drops below the normal range, then you must\nreplace it at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Preparing your Bosch dishwasher for vacation (in cold weather)\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/leEbYYGvQOg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Inside your dishwasher, you will\nsee a rotating blade which is its motor. Spin the motor to check it. If the\ntubes and the pipes are frozen then the motor will refuse to turn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Spinning the motor by hand is the\nbest method to thaw the ice and to help it get out of the dishwasher. This is\nsomething that you must try when you come back to your house after spending the\nsnowbird season. Try your dishwasher to check if it is draining water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To prevent wasting a lot of water\nyou must run a short cycle first. If you don&#39;t see any water draining means\nthat your dishwasher has frozen up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Frequently asked question (FAQs):<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Can I use my dishwasher if it is not draining water?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No, the dishwasher will start but\nit will not complete its process. There are many cycles during which the\ndishwasher drains after each cycle. If it is blocked or clogged it will do the\ninitial process and stop soon after that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. How does a clog or blockage look like inside my drain hose?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At the start of your drain hose,\nyou will see something that looks like a piece of cork. It will prevent the\nremoval of the water which will make it difficult for you to winterize your\ndishwasher for the snowbird season. So you will have to unclog it first and\nthen drain it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Unclog a Dishwasher Drain Line - Solved 2017\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/En_rRlZdeFI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Which tools will I need to winterize my dishwasher?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can use a screwdriver and a\nwrench and don&#39;t forget your safety kits, like gloves, a pair of safety goggles\nand boots. You can easily get these tools from your local hardware store.&nbsp; Remember to read the user\nmanual before the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Why does a dishwasher go off in the middle of the cycle and how do I make it work again?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the electricity suddenly goes\noff in the middle of the cycle then all the lights will turn off and it will\nnot progress. An electric surge can probably damage the motor of your\ndishwasher. To fix this issue you will have to replace your thermal fuse which\nis about $20 on average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Why does the worktop above my dishwasher gets flooded when it is working?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your worktop gets flooded when\nthe water gets discharged from the air gap above your dishwasher. It means that\neither the drain hose, the filters, or the drain valve are blocked or clogged.\nSometimes changing the motherboard of your dishwasher can also help fix this\nissue, easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. What do I do if I sense a burning smell out of my dishwasher?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To be on the safe side you must\nconsult a professional technician from the\nmanufacturer to check your dishwasher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. How much water is normal at the bottom of my dishwasher?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One inch or slightly more water\nis normal at the bottom of a dishwasher while it is rinsing your dishes. It\nshould not rise above 1 inch or it means that there is a blockage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. How to clean a smelly dishwasher?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No part of any dishwasher is as\nresponsible for the annoying smell as its detachable filter. Because of the\nhumid, moist and hot temperature inside your dishwasher the leftover of food\nturns into fungus, algae, mold or mildew with the passage of time. You must use\nboiling water, a bottle brush and soap to thoroughly clean it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, grime will accumulate\non the interior walls and door. Remove all the racks. Use a kitchen safe\nhousehold soap, cleaners and hot water to scrub it off fully. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take off the gasket and seal of\nthe door to remove the grime from it. Scrub the racks also. Take 240 ml of\ndistilled white vinegar and add a few drops of essential oil to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Clean Your Smelly Dishwasher! Kitchen Appliance Cleaning Ideas (Fast &amp; Easy!) Clean My Space\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jEiKS8ezIQo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Place the cup of vinegar in your\ndishwasher&#39;s top rack. Run the dishwasher for a short cycle which will spill\nthe vinegar all over it. When the vinegar dries the acids in it will remove the\nsmell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Baking soda is an organically\napproved odor neutralizer. Sprinkle a pinch of it at the bottom of your\ndishwasher. Run the shortest cycle with the hottest water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now your dishwasher is bacteria\nfree and fresh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. How to use dishwasher salt?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Salt is used to soften the hard\nwater so that your dishes may sparkle more. It is different from common\nhousehold table salt. It is sold under the product name &quot;dishwasher salt&quot;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that sea salt, kosher\nsalt or table salt is never the substitute of dishwasher salt because they have\nadditives and they are too fine which will increase the hardness of the water\nand clog your drain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your dishwasher has a built-in\nhard water softener then you will see a container for the salt in the bottom\nside of your dishwasher. To refill the salt you will have to remove the rack by\npulling it off its clips. The water softener reservoir needs to be filled with\nwater for the first time use, for this, you will have to unscrew the caps on\ntop of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use a screwdriver to unscrew the\ncaps and then set them aside, put the bolts and nuts in your pocket to prevent\nthem from falling away. Pour enough water into the reservoir to fill it to its brim. You don&#39;t need to refill it after the\nfirst time use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Dishwasher salt &amp; rinse aid explained | by Hotpoint\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4m4AHD6SQl8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Pour enough salt into the\nreservoir until it is full. For an easier sprinkling of salt, you can use a\nfunnel, the solution of water and salt will create a brine, the amount of which\nwill vary according to the size of your unit. If you pour salt around the\ncontainer you can use the shortest cycle to wash it off and if you are\ncost-conscious use a wet piece of cloth to wipe it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Put the cap back on and make sure\nthat it is very tight because the cap will open in the first cycle if it is\nloose and when the detergent gets into the container it will break. There are\nno repairs for such damage and you will have to buy in a new dishwasher.\nFinally, replace the racks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dishwashers sold in the USA don&#39;t\nneed a water softener, so you must not add any salt in the detergent or cleaner\ncontainer otherwise it will end up broken. There is an indicator light on the\ntop panel of your dishwasher if it is green, it means that the salt is full and\nif it is red, it means that the salt level is too low and it needs an urgent\nrefilling. If your dishwasher has no indicator lights, then you must refill the\nsalt at least once in a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the indicator lights of your\ndishwasher take more than a month to show the\nred light, it means that the container has broken. It must be replaced at once.\nSeek the assistance of a professional technician if\nyou are concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To restore the beautiful sparkle\nof your wine glasses, make sure that the built-in salt container is always\nfilled to the top. If you find any streaks that\nlook unpleasant on your shiny plates, cups, and spoons, it means that the water\nis too hard and it needs more salt to make it soft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. How to fix a leakage in my dishwasher?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The gasket, float, hose, water\ninlet valves, pump and spray arm are responsible for the leakage. First of all,\ntroubleshoot the cause of leakage and then you will have to clean, replace or\nrepair the malfunctioning part which is causing the leakage. There is an access\npanel or a kickplate which covers the hose, motor, pump and the water inlet of\nyour dishwasher at its bottom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You must use a screwdriver to\nturn the screws anticlockwise to take off the panel. There is a great chance\nthat the leakage is happening behind the cover. Use a flashlight to check for\nany cracks in the seal, motor, gasket, housing, and pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Top 5 Reasons Dishwasher Leaks \u2014 Dishwasher Troubleshooting\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zDNiLvApKLc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If the water is leaking below its\ndoor then the problem is with the float or the spray arm. And if the water is\nleaking from the sides of the door, it means that the gasket is broken or\ncracked. If the water is leaking below the unit itself then the problem is with\nthe hose, water inlet, or the pump. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to conclude this blog\npost, I would say that Mary\nWaller, Director of the Oklahoma Monarch and Pollinator Collaborative\nrecommends you to winterize your dishwasher in the first week of November. She\nsays first, you may ask yourself if you are the type to &quot;let nature do her\nthing&quot; or are of the persuasion that you have to &quot;tidy up.&quot; Remember that\nprevention is always better than cure. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this blog post, I will discuss some useful tips and tricks to winterizing your dishwasher in four simple steps. During a snowbird season when you leave your Northern home unoccupied for a trip towards the southern&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1014,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":9,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","inline_featured_image":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","pgc_sgb_lightbox_settings":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":21,"label":"General Information"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/How-to-winterize-a-dishwasher-in-4-steps.jpg",900,462,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Winter Sun Expert","author_link":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/author\/fxhx1\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":21,"name":"General Information","slug":"general-information","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":21,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":48,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0","cat_ID":21,"category_count":48,"category_description":"","cat_name":"General Information","category_nicename":"general-information","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1012"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1012"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1012\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1014"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wintersunexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}