Is Your Dishwasher Not Drying Dishes?

It turns out drying your crockery and cutlery could actually be harder for your machine than getting them clean. Plates and glassware have multiple nooks and crannies that could collect water stopping it from evaporating, and as your dishwasher loses heat water droplets form out of the steam.

Different machines also make use of a number of methods to get your crockery and cutlery dry. Some opt for a heating element to warm the inside of the machine and assist with evaporation, some heat the water further near the final rinse, certain models employ a fan, and some use a mix of all of these. There are consequently a number of reasons why your dishwasher might not be drying crockery and cutlery fully and a variety of options to rectify the situation.

Plastic items are less likely to dry fully 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 drying issue is related to the material rather than the machine.

If your dishwasher isn’t drying effectively you can hire a dishwasher repair service or first use this troubleshooting guide 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 frustrating than an appliance that doesn’t work as it’s meant to, whether that’s a smartphone that really isn’t being that smart, a washing machine that’s churning out dirty clothes, or a dishwasher that is either not cleaning or drying your plates. If you open your dishwasher to discover wet plates here are a few places you can look to help you figure out why.

Not all makes and models are created equal and some dishwashers perform to a superior standard compared to others. However, if if your dishwasher has always dried your dishes in the past one of these issues might be the problem.

Check the Placement of Your Crockery and Cutlery

Sometimes there is nothing actually wrong with the appliance. Before assuming the machine is faulty you should look at how it has been loaded, ensuring it isn’t overloaded. Also be aware that plastic items are more difficult to dry than metal, glass or ceramics.

Inspect The Rinse Aid Dispenser

Your machine needs rinse aid to properly dry your dishes and so if you’ve forgotten to top up or the rinse aid dispenser is faulty this can stop your crockery and cutlery coming out properly dry.

Visually check the dispenser for damage and check that it’s full.

Have a Look at The Heating Coil

Heat is essential for drying your dishes so a faulty heating element could be the reason your machine is not drying dishes. If your plates aren’t hot when they come out of the machine this can indicate that the heating element isn’t working as it should.

To inspect the heating coil you will need to unplug the dishwasher, locate the heating element, you could need the manual for this, then check for continuity using a multimeter.

Have a Look at the Thermostat

The thermostat ensures your appliance doesn’t get too hot, determining the heat of the water and air during drying. Therefore, if it’s not working this can mean your machine doesn’t heat up at all.

If you check the heating coil and do not discover an fault but your machine isn’t getting hot, then the thermostat might be at fault. Once again you can make sure with the help of a multimeter.

Inspect The Fan and Vent

Many dishwashers will use a drying fan and vent to remove the warm moist air from the appliance. 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 dishes from drying.

You can utilize your manual to check if your appliance uses a fan and find its location. Again you need to make sure the dishwasher is unplugged before trying to access the fan.

You can visually inspect the fan and vent to see if anything is blocking it that might 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 variety of methods you can use to increase your machines drying ability and prevent you needing to dry them by hand as infrequently as possible.

Allow ample space between crockery and cutlery. Overcrowding the appliance limits the circulation of air and water decreasing the effectiveness of your appliance when it comes to both washing and finishing your dishes. It could be tempting to cram everything in but you will get better results if you leave enough space so that water and air can circulate freely.
Make use of rinse aid. Some detergents already have this but even if the brand you use says it does, adding a little extra to the dishwasher will do no harm. Rinse aid works by breaking the bond between water molecules and your crockery and cutlery, helping water run off quickly, speeding up drying time and giving a spot and streak free finish.
Open the door at the end of the cycle. Some newer machines do this automatically, but many do not, thus, opening the dishwasher at the end of the program allows warm air to escape thus preventing water droplets forming as the machine cools down.
Find out if your machine has a heat feature and utilize it. Setting a higher heat will result in better drying times and it might be possible to add more heat at different points in the cycle.
Think about how you empty your dishwasher. 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 crockery and cutlery below.

If you have checked all the above it may be necessary to phone the professionals or perhaps buy a new machine.