Dishwashers are present in almost every household. However, the most common problem that everyone faces regarding dishwashers is that the dishwasher doesn’t wash the top rack.
Well, there are many reasons behind it. One of the main reasons is due to low water pressure. In this article, we will discuss all the reasons that cause this problem to arise. At the same time, we will discuss the solutions.
Why is the Top Rack of the Dishwasher Not Getting Clean?
Overall there are three potential reasons why the dishes in the top rack aren’t being cleaned. For three different reasons, there are different solutions. But before performing any repairs, don’t forget to unplug your dishwasher. Otherwise, you will get electrocuted.
Dishwasher Spray Arm Seal Is Broken
Every dishwasher has a spray arm with a seal that prevents them from losing water during every wash cycle. However, with time, the seal can break, resulting in water coming into the spray arm. Thus, water will leak away instead of cleaning the dishes present in the top rack of the dishwasher. But there is nothing to worry about because you can easily replace these parts. Moreover, it won’t even cost you to fix this problem.
Fix the Arm Seal to Remove the Upper Rack
You have to take off the two stop clips that hold the rack in place to do this. The two stop clips are present on the ends of the two rolling tracks. After removing the upper rack, your next task is to flip over the rack and remove the screw.
At first, you have to take your upper rack to a flat, solid surface. And then you will flip it over. Remove the screw, and lift the tube off of the center spindle so that you can detach it from the spray arm. Once separated, replace the old seal from the spray arm with a new one. After replacing, simply put everything back. You will see that your dishwasher will work perfectly.
Dishwasher Has Low Water Pressure
You will often find that even after replacing the seal from the spray arm, the dishes in the top rack aren’t being cleaned. This might occur due to low water pressure.
In typical cases, there will be enough pressure for the water to move from the bottom rack to the top rack. However, when the pressure is low, the water in your dishwasher will only be enough to keep your bottom rack clean.
Low pressure may occur due to several reasons. For instance, it can occur if you use other appliances and a dishwasher that also uses water. Or it can happen due to the presence of a kink in your dishwasher hose.
To check for a kink, all you have to do is look at your sink at the dishwasher hose to determine if there is a kink.
If there is a kink, get it out, and the problem will be solved. The last reason that can cause the water pressure to fall is the bottom filter compartment getting clogged up with food. As a result, the water won’t get into the circulation pump.
Dishwasher Spray Is Clogged
There are many ways why the dishwasher’s spray arm can get clogged. For instance, the spray arm can be clogged by food, hard water, or DIY detergent residue. Clogging of the spray arm leads to mineral build-up.
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When minerals start to build up, it prevents the water from reaching the top rack. So, the dishes on the top rack remain uncleansed. There are three steps you can use to solve this problem. The first step is to remove the arm. For this step, you will need certain things.
Such as a ratchet and a socket to fit the ratchet. If you don’t have these things in your house, you can simply purchase them from a nearby store. After removing the arm using these tools, your next task is to clean out the holes properly.
You can use steel wire or any cheap metal hanger to clean the jet holes. Lastly, after cleaning the jet holes, you will have to soak the arm. You must soak the arm with white vinegar. In this way, you will make sure that nothing is left inside.