Is Your Dishwasher Not Drying Dishes?

It may not be the primary function but getting your plates dry might in actual fact be more difficult for your dishwasher than removing the dirt. Dishes and glassware have multiple crevices that could pool water stopping it from drying out, thus as your machine cools down water droplets form out of the steam.

Different machines also utilize a number of different methods to get your plates dry. Some opt for a heating element to heat up the inside of the machine and assist the water to evaporate, some heat up the water to a higher temperature approaching the final rinse, some use a fan, and certain models have a mix of all of these. There are consequently a number of reasons why your dishwasher could not be drying plates optimally and a variety of options to rectify the situation.

Plastic items are more difficult to dry than glass or ceramics as it doesn’t retain heat in the same way which helps with the drying process, so it’s worth noting whether the items that aren’t drying are predominantly plastic items.

If your dishwasher isn’t drying effectively you can hire a dishwasher repair service or first utilize this troubleshooting list to figure out what the issue is and with any luck fix it.

Top Explanations Your Dishwasher Isn’t Drying Plates

Few things are more irritating than an appliance that isn’t working as it should, regardless of whether its a tv, air conditioner or dishwasher we expect them to do the job they were made for. If you open your dishwasher to discover wet plates there are a few troubleshooting tips to help you figure out the issue.

Not all appliances are built to the same spec and you will find that some makes and models perform to a superior standard compared to others. But if you notice a change in how effectively your dishwasher is working one of these issues might be the cause.

Inspect the Placement of Your Plates

It might be that there is no fault with the dishwasher. Before assuming the appliance is not working you should look at how it has been stacked, ensuring it isn’t too full. Also be aware that plastic items don’t dry as well as metal, glass or ceramics.

Have a Look at The Rinse Aid Dispenser

Rinse aid plays a key role in drying your dishes thus, if you’ve forgotten to top up or your rinse aid dispenser is faulty this can mean wet crockery and cutlery at the end of the cycle.

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

Have a Look at The Heating Coil

Heat is essential for drying your crockery and cutlery so a faulty heating coil might be the explanation your machine is not drying dishes. If your dishes don’t feel hot to touch when they come out of the machine this can be a good indicator that the heating element is faulty.

To check the heating coil first disconnect the dishwasher, then find the heating coil, you may need the instruction manual for this, then use a multimeter to check it’s working.

Have a Look at the Thermostat

The thermostat ensures your dishwasher doesn’t get too hot, regulating the heat of the water and air during drying. Therefore, if it’s not working this can result in your dishwasher not heating up at all.

If you check the heating element and do not uncover an issue but there’s still no heat, then the thermostat might be at fault. Again you can make sure using a multimeter.

Inspect The Drying Fan and Vent

Many dishwashers will make use of a fan and vent to remove the warm moist air out of the machine. If either of these elements are broken then the hot air will remain in the dishwasher preventing the plates from drying.

You can make use of your user manual to ascertain if your dishwasher has a fan and find its location. Don’t forget to make sure the dishwasher is disconnected before trying to make repairs.

First look at the fan and vent to check if there is anything lodged that could stop it from operating correctly. And again testing for continuity using a multimeter.

Ideas to Boost Drying Ability

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

Don’t cram the machine. Overfilling the appliance limits the circulation of both water and air decreasing the effectiveness of your dishwasher when it comes to both cleaning and finishing your dishes. It might be appealing to stuff everything in but your dishwasher will be more effective if you leave sufficient space so that dishes are not touching.
Employ rinse aid. Some detergents already have this but even if the brand you use says it does, adding a separate rinse aid to the dishwasher won’t hurt. Rinse aid works by breaking the bond between water molecules and your plates, helping water run off quickly, speeding up drying time and giving a spot and streak free finish.
Open your machine as soon as the program has finished. Some newer dishwashers do this automatically, but many do not, thus, opening the door when the program finishes can help allow the water to escape thus stopping water droplets forming as the appliance cools down.
Check if your appliance uses a heat feature and utilize it. Setting a higher heat will result in better drying times and you could be able to choose which points in the cycle you increase the temperature.
Unload the bottom rack before the top. 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 plates below.

If you have checked all the above it may be a good idea to call in an engineer or perhaps replace your machine.