Is Your Dishwasher Not Drying Dishes?

It may not be the primary function but getting your dishes dry may in actual fact be more difficult for your dishwasher than removing the dirt. Dishes and cups have multiple crevices that can trap water stopping it from drying out, plus as your machine cools water droplets form from the humid air.

Different machines also employ a number of different methods to dry your crockery and cutlery. Some will have a heating element to warm the air in the machine and assist the water to evaporate, some heat up the water more nearing the final rinse, certain models employ a fan, and certain models use a mix of all three. There are consequently a number of reasons why your machine may not be drying plates fully and a number of options to improve the situation.

Plastic items are more difficult to dry than glass or ceramics as it cools down more quickly hindering the drying process, so it’s worth taking note whether the drying issue is related to the material rather than the machine.

If your dishwasher isn’t drying effectively you can call a dishwasher repair service or first utilize this troubleshooting guide to help you identify and rectify the issue.

Top Explanations Your Dishwasher Isn’t Drying Dishes

There is nothing more frustrating than an appliance that doesn’t work as it’s meant to, regardless of whether its a tv, tumble dryer or dishwasher we expect them to do the job they were made for. If you open your dishwasher to discover wet plates here are a number of troubleshooting tips to help you figure out the problem.

Not all makes and models are created equal and you will find that some dishwashers perform to a better standard compared to others. However, if you notice a change in how effectively your machine is working one of these issues could be the problem.

Check the Placement of Your Crockery and Cutlery

Sometimes there is nothing actually wrong with the machine. Before assuming the appliance is faulty you should first check that you haven’t overfilled it or accidentally stacked items one inside the other. It’s also worth noting that plastics don’t dry as well as metal, glass or ceramics.

Have a Look at The Rinse Aid Dispenser

Your dishwasher needs rinse aid to properly dry your crockery and cutlery and so if you’ve forgotten to top up or your rinse aid dispenser is not working this can stop your crockery and cutlery coming out properly dry.

The best thing to do is inspect the dispenser for damage and ensure that there is rinse aid inside.

Have a Look at The Heating Element

Heat is essential for drying your crockery and cutlery so a faulty heating coil may be the reason your dishwasher is not drying dishes. If your dishes don’t feel hot to touch at the end of the cycle this can mean that the heating element isn’t working as it should.

To check the heating coil first disconnect the appliance, then locate the heating element, you could need the owners manual for this, then check for continuity using a multimeter.

Have a Look at the Thermostat

The thermostat stops your appliance overheating, adjusting the temperature of the water and the drying part of the cycle. However, if it’s broken this can mean your machine doesn’t heat up at all.

If the heating element appears to be working as it should but your machine isn’t getting hot, then the thermostat may be at fault. Again you can check this with the help of a multimeter.

Have a Look at The Drying Fan and Vent

Many machines will use a fan and vent to remove the warm moist air from the dishwasher. If the fan isn’t operating as is should or the vent is blocked then the hot air will remain in the appliance preventing the plates from drying.

You can utilize your manual to ascertain if your dishwasher uses a fan and locate it. Don’t forget to double check the dishwasher is unplugged before attempting to make repairs.

First visually inspect the fan and vent to see if there is anything lodged that would prevent it from working correctly. If there is nothing obvious you can then test for continuity using a multimeter.

Ways to Boost Drying Ability

There are a number of methods you can use to increase how well your dishwasher dries your dishes and ensure you need to get the drying up cloth out as little as possible.

Don’t overfill the dishwasher. Overfilling the appliance stops the flow of both water and air decreasing the effectiveness of your machine when it comes to both washing and drying your dishes. Although it’s appealing to try and stuff everything in, you will get better results if you leave sufficient space so that water and air can circulate freely.
Utilize rinse aid. Some detergents already have this but even so, adding a separate rinse aid to the machine won’t hurt. Rinse aid helps reduce marks and gives your glasses a streak-free shine but it also breaks the bond between water molecules and your dishes helping the water to run off them and thus making them dry more quickly and evenly.
Open your dishwasher as soon as the program has finished. Some newer machines have this as an automatic function, but many do not, thus, opening the door when the cycle finishes allows warm air to evaporate thus preventing water droplets forming as the machine cools down.
Find out if your dishwasher employs a heat feature and utilize it. The higher the heat the better the drying and you might be able to choose which points in the program you increase the temperature.
Think about how you unload your machine. This is simply because cups and glasses that are upside down on the top shelf often have a concave bottom where water can pool. Emptying the bottom rack first stops you spilling this water onto the dishes below.

If none of the above solves the problem it could be necessary to phone the professionals or even buy a new dishwasher.