Dishwasher not filling completely?

antiskeptic

Hi,

My Zanussi dishwasher is filling but the water level doesn't come up far enough to cover the heating element. This caused the last element to burn out through overheating (which I've now replaced). Any ideas why a machine can fill - but not to the right level?

Cheers!

G.MAN

sounds like the motor is not kicking in. dishwasher is filling but the motor is not throwing the water around

antiskeptic

G.MAN wrote: »

sounds like the motor is not kicking in. dishwasher is filling but the motor is not throwing the water around

It's pumping water around (and spinning the wash arms) alright. It's just that when you open the door to have a look see, the water level inside is low, that is; not high enough to cover the element. About 2 more litres would do it..

Any other ideas?

G.MAN

have never heard of a dishwasher having a water level problem.The water doesnt neseccarily have to cover the element.is it completing the cycle?

Zith

Have you checked the water filter at the back of the machine and where the dishwasher hose connects to the supply? If you have some sand or grit in the supply it will give reduced pressure and the dishwasher will take longer to fill.
My dishwasher seems to time out waiting for the water to fill if the filters are clogged and will start washing with a reduced amount of water.

antiskeptic

Turns out...

A piece of glass had somehow lodged itself under the perforated steel filter plate that covers the entrance to the circ pump. This prevented the filter plate seating properly - a gap of 8mm of so appeared over 3 inches where the filter plate should have been tight against the machine floor.

Some tissue paper apparently slipped thorugh the gap and down into the inlet to the top-spray arm pump inlet - partily blocking it. I could see it was working but it was, it now seems, being starved of water.

The element is designed to sit above the water level. But it does require cooling from the water splashing around. Being starved there was less water splashing around and parts of the element got overheated and buckled.

Broken glass > filter plate unseated > debris in one section of the circ pump > starvation of pump > heating element not cooled > heating element burns out..

Thanks for the input and the pointers...