You’ve had a long day at work. You make dinner for your family and can’t bring yourself to wash the pile of dishes. So, you open your dishwasher and load it. You attempt to close it only to realize that the door won’t close. This is so not what you need during a busy work week, so the experts at Alpha Tech Appliance Repair provided this handy guide on how to fix a dishwasher door.
Sometimes, it can be an easy fix, like making sure nothing is sticking out of the machine or blocking the hinge. Sometimes all it requires is moving a fork or plate back to its rightful place. However, there may be internal or external mechanisms that are no longer functioning properly. Regardless of the cause, we’re here to guide you through the troubleshooting process.
Object Blocking Doorway
Before you completely give up, inspect the inside of your machine to ensure that nothing is preventing the door from sealing. Is there a fork stuck in the hinge? Has a plate come out of place? Another item to check is the dishwasher gasket to make sure it’s performing optimally.
While leftover detergent isn’t necessarily an object, it can still build up in your dishwasher and on its internal mechanisms. If there’s a thick layer, this may block your dishwasher door from closing. Closely inspect the inside of your machine and give it a good wipe-down with hot water and soap.
Check Door Latch, Check Door Strike
If you don’t see anything preventing your dishwasher door from closing, you may need to troubleshoot another method to figure out why the door won’t close.
There are two other elements to check: the door’s latch and the door’s strike. Unfortunately, the dishwasher door latch can wear out. This is the mechanism that keeps the machine’s door closed. If you notice that the door isn’t latching, then that’s your issue. However, if it’s latching as it should, then check the door strike. A dishwasher door strike catches the latch. It’s what secures the latch and makes sure the door closes. The dishwasher latch won’t close if this mechanism becomes worn out.
Look at Door Handle
One worrisome outcome for a dishwasher door that won’t close is a broken handle. How can you tell? First, it helps to look at the type of dishwasher you own. A broken handle may not affect every machine the same, but it could prevent it from closing for some.
If there is no visible damage to the handle, like cracks or broken pieces, try removing the panel to see if it’s broken. By doing this, you can view the wires and test the buttons to make sure everything is working.
If the handle is the issue, this is a simple fix. All you’ll need are some tools and a quick trip to the local hardware store to find the right replacement handle. What you’ll need to do is take a flat-edge screwdriver and pry the broken handle off.
It’s recommended to turn the power off to your dishwasher before doing this just in case you come into contact with any wiring in the panel.
Review Door Hinges, springs, and pulleys
Did you know that every dishwasher uses a different system? The 3 main types include hinges, springs, and pulleys. You can find the hinges on the lower corners of the dishwasher.
If these pieces are bent or loose, that is most likely the culprit. Sometimes, you can bend them back into place or tighten them with a screwdriver and the door will close as it should.
The springs and pulleys are mechanisms that support the opening and closing of the dishwasher door. To check on the status of these pieces, you’ll be required to move your dishwasher out of its hole to check on the side panels, which you can remove to view the pulleys and strings.
If they are damaged or worn out, you will most likely have to fix your machine or get a new one.
Contact Us
At Alpha Tech Appliance Repair, we understand that dealing with a faulty dishwasher is a nightmare. This is why our team includes expert technicians who cater to a myriad of services like dishwasher repairs and installation. From the consulting stage to planning, we promise to guide you every step of the way. Call us today so we can remedy all your dishwasher troubles.
We service many areas throughout Toronto and the GTA including North York, Burlington, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Brampton, Aurora, Newmarket, Barrie, Mississauga, Milton, Orangeville, New Tecumseth, Oakville, Markham, Innisfil, King City and Bradford.