Reasons Your Dishwasher Takes Forever to Fill

A dishwasher can take between one to four hours to complete a cycle. For a normally working machine, typically the time depends on the settings. If you use sanitization or heavy wash cycles, it will take vastly longer than a simple rinse cycle or light wash. However, if you are using a light cycle and your dishwasher still takes four hours or more to complete, there may be something wrong.

Water is Not Heating Properly

In order to clean your dishes efficiently, your dishwasher needs to use heated water between 120 and 150 degrees. For models that are connected to only cold water, some designs will not fill if the temperature is too low as dishes will not get clean using cold water only in a dishwasher. You can speed up the process by connecting the water to the hot water in your home. However, you may also need to consider that the heating element in your dishwasher is malfunctioning.

Low Water Pressure

To operate properly, the valve needs to operate between 20 and 120 PSI. The lower the water pressure, the longer it will take for the dishwasher to fill. Furthermore, if your water pressure is very low, you may find that the water supply valve does not close all the way which can cause overfilling or water when your dishwasher is not in use.

Turbidity Sensor

The turbidity sensor senses for dirt and debris in the wash cycle. When it runs clear, then wash cycle will advance. However, if a turbidity sensor has gone faulty or is getting false readings, it can extend the cycle indefinitely.

If you are having problems troubleshooting this issue, it may be better to have a professional investigate so they can get to the root of the issue more quickly. If you are having a dishwasher or other appliance issues, contact us today to see what Jerry’s Appliance Repair can do for you.