How often have you taken out your dirty dishes from the kitchen sink only to discover that they don’t seem to be fully dissolving or even disintegrating? And then you wonder why your dishwasher won’t drain properly. Read on to find out why these common household items are causing clogs and malfunctions.
Dishwashing liquid is used daily to clean our dishes and utensils. The problem arises when the dishwashing liquid gets stuck inside the dishware. If it builds up too much, it can cause some severe problems.
This happens because the detergent particles get trapped inside the pores of the metal surface. Over time, the buildup results in forming a solid substance called scale.
As you wash dishes by hand, the water splashes off and washes away the soil and grease. But since dishwashers use heat and pressure, the food particles may stay behind and form into a thick layer of grime. This leads to residue buildup on your appliances.
So, how do you fix this issue? Try using dishwasher pods instead. These pods contain specific chemicals to dissolve and remove tough stains from your dishes. They also help prevent the buildup of hard water deposits. However, the dishes will not clean adequately if the dishwashing pod or powder is not dissolved during the cycle. Below are some of the reasons for such occurrences.
Why Your Dishwasher Pods Are Not Working
The temperature of the water is low.
The first reason your pods aren’t dissolving might be because the water isn’t hot enough. For such pods to dissolve, the liquid in your dishwasher should be around 120 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The pods would not dissolve if the water did not reach this temperature range, and the dishwasher will not function properly.
Check the inbuilt thermostats in the dishwasher while it is full with liquid, or use an additional thermostat to keep checking the water temperature to see if the water temperature is the source of the problem.
The jammed dispenser door
If the dispenser door is jammed and doesn’t open throughout the wash cycle, your dishwashing pods will not dissolve. If the dispenser gate does not open, the pod will not slide into the water. As a result, the pod will remain intact and the dishes will not clean adequately.
There are various reasons for a clogged dispenser door. To begin, some people overstack their dishwashers, preventing the dispenser window from releasing a dish or a piece of a dish; if that’s the situation, re-stack your dishwasher. Secondly, the door could become stuck owing to a malfunction; if that’s the case, it must be repaired.
Hard Water Build Up
Hard water incorporates minerals like calcium and magnesium, which make the water more difficult to rinse out. It forms limescale deposits on the surfaces of your dishwasher and other appliances.
You can quickly check whether your water has hard water by running a few drops through a glass. If the water fails to run clear, there is mineral content in the water.
Failure of the circulation pump
A circulation pump maintains water flowing from jets towards the washer’s bottom and back up into the jets. If the circulation pump fails, water will not reach the pill, and it will not dissolve correctly. If you suspect that the circulation pump is failing, you may need assistance or maintenance.
The more you understand about prospective issues, the easier they will be to resolve. If feasible, try to detect and resolve the problem yourself; otherwise, get a professional to have your dishes gleaming again soon!
Inlet Valve Failure
Water enters your dishwasher through the intake valve. If your present input valve fails, water will not flow through the jets, and the pill will not dissolve.
Begin a cycle and unlock the gates after around 2 minutes and check for liquid just on the bottom of a dishwasher to troubleshoot. A valve may have to be changed if this is not the case.
Clogged Spray Arms
Spray arms are the rotating elements of a dishwasher that spread water all through the cycle. It’s not common for random bits of food to become stuck in the spray arms’ small apertures and cause them to malfunction. Fractures inside the spray arms could render them ineffective.
The most straightforward approach to inspect spray arms is to remove each one and inspect it for any visible defects, after which you may clean them by running water over them. If you notice any loose material obstructing any of the
The Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it possible to put the dishwashing pod at the bottom?
Always put dishwasher detergent pods inside the detergent dispenser container. The pod may disintegrate too fast during the pre-wash if left at the bottom of a dishwasher. This would mean no detergent again for the primary wash cycle, lowering the wash cycle’s efficiency.
2. How to fix dishwasher pods that are not dissolving?
- Check the instructions. Are they clear enough? How long does it say to let the pod sit before washing?
- Ensure the water temperature matches the temperature specified in the instructions—the hotter the water, the faster the chemical reaction.
- Use the correct type of detergent. Detergents come in two types: powdered and liquid. Powdered detergents are better suited to dishwashers because they dissolve quickly and evenly. Liquid detergents require longer soaking time and may be harder to use.
- Keep the lid closed. Dishwashers are designed to hold heat inside, so open the lid while the cycle is running. Otherwise, the heat will escape, and the contents will cool down.
The Bottom Line
You might not know this, but dishwasher pods can cause severe damage to your plumbing system. What happens is that water from the washing machine flows into the drain, but instead of draining out, it gets trapped inside the pipe. This makes the trap ineffective, causing the flow rate to slow down or even stop altogether.
To prevent these problems, you should always follow manufacturer instructions for cleaning your dishes. Finally, consult your local plumber if you notice that some pods are not dissolving.
