Every dishwasher has two filters. One is called the intake filter, which is designed to draw in (supply) water. The other is the drain filter, which is used to drain the used water. If you want your dishwasher to work as long as possible, you should know that the dishwasher filter needs to be cleaned periodically. But how to do it correctly, and what difficulties can you face?
The filter needs to be cleaned on time
If you have a dishwasher at home, then you should be well aware that before you load dishes or any other cutlery into it, they must first be cleaned of food debris. And in the instructions for the appliance, it is written that the dishes should be lightly rinsed before loading them into the dishwasher. But, if you listen to this, and every time before loading the dishes into the dishwasher, you need to wash them, then using the appliance loses all meaning. However, it is still necessary to remember that large particles of food must be removed from the dishes. But no matter how hard you try, small particles of food will remain on the dishes. As soon as the machine program starts, these food residues are immediately washed off with water and a special detergent. And they all fall to the bottom of the dishwasher’s rinsing chamber. It is in this chamber, or rather at its bottom, that the dishwasher drain filter is located.
It is this dishwasher filter that is often called the “garbage” filter because it is this filter that retains all the particles of food, napkins, crumbs, etc. And it is for this reason that this filter gets clogged very quickly and needs to be cleaned in a timely and proper manner.
It is very important that the drain filter is always spotlessly clean, so some dishwasher manufacturers use a self-cleaning filter. This is because the user does not always remember that the drain filter needs to be cleaned regularly. It is recommended that you clean the regular dishwasher filter after each dishwashing cycle, but if you don’t have enough time, then at least once every six months. If you don’t use the dishwasher very often, you can clean it once every two months.
If you do not make sure that the filter is clean, and the dishwasher, in general, can lead to bad consequences, because sooner or later the device will malfunction. Due to a dirty filter, you may encounter the following malfunctions in the dishwasher:
– water draining from the machine is very slow, which in turn delays the dishwashing process;
– the used water is not completely drained at the end of the dishwashing process, and it remains in the appliance, which in turn entails unpleasant consequences;
– water leaks through the dishwasher door;
at the end of the dishwashing process, there are stains and stains on the dishes, which means that the dishes are not been washed well;
– you hear sounds that are not typical of the dishwasher during operation;
– an unpleasant musty odor is heard when opening the dishwasher chamber;
– bacteria and microorganisms develop in the dishwasher that is dangerous to health.
It is worth remembering that if the drain filter in the dishwasher is clean, it is better for all the spare parts responsible for its performance. After all, if the filter in the dishwasher is dirty and has not been cleaned for a long time, then the dishwasher engine, its heating element, and other parts will work to wear. And this will lead to the fact that this or that part will fail, and then the dishwasher will not function. As you can see, if the dishwasher drain filter is kept clean and tidy, it will prevent most dishwasher breakdowns. So, you must admit, it is easier to clean the filter than to pay for the repair of the dishwasher or buy a new one.
How to clean the drain filter
If we look at dishwashers from different manufacturers and different model ranges, they all have a drain filter located in the same place and look almost identical, despite the fact that the dishwasher models are completely different.
The drain filter is not a simple single part, it is a whole working unit that includes several components:
– a fine-pore internal filter for fine cleaning,
– internal coarse filter,
– external filter mesh,
– support parts.
It is not difficult to find the filter in the machine. If you remove all the baskets, you will see the filter at the bottom of the chamber, under the sprayer. It looks like a glass sticking out of the bottom of a dishwasher. It’s not difficult to remove it either, as it can be simply pulled out of the socket or unscrewed clockwise.
Please note! Before you start cleaning the filter, unplug the appliance from the mains and wipe off any used water on the bottom of the chamber. Only then remove the drain filter and start cleaning it.
The filter is easy to disassemble, and all its components are thoroughly washed under running water. You can also use chemicals for cleaning, but only if the filter is very dirty. Cleaning agents include all dishwashing detergents, laundry soap, baking soda, and table salt, vinegar, or citric acid solution. Brushes can be used for cleaning, but only very carefully.
If the filter is very dirty, you can soak it for several hours and then wash it. But to avoid problems with cleaning the filter, you need to clean it more often.
Caution. If you notice even minor damage to the drain filter while cleaning it, you must replace it with a new drain filter.
Cleaning the water intake filter
If we compare the water intake filter in a dishwasher with the drain filter, then, of course, the intake filter is less likely to get clogged, but despite this, attention to this detail is still necessary, and periodic cleaning is also necessary. How often the intake filter gets clogged depends on the quality of the water used to wash dishes in the dishwasher. If the water is dirty and hard, the filter will clog more often and will need to be cleaned. If the water intake filter is clogged, the dishwasher’s inlet valve also fails.
To clean the dishwasher water intake filter, follow these steps
– disconnect the dishwasher from the mains and turn off the water tap;
– remove the water intake hose;
– remove the filter mesh from the slot;
– rinse the filter thoroughly under running clean water;
– replace the clean filter;
– close the water intake hose back on.
As you can see, there is nothing complicated or supernatural. But, be careful, this can be said to be a general scheme of how to clean the dishwasher’s pre-fill filter. This scheme may vary slightly depending on the model of the appliance. But, all this is available and described point by point in the instruction manual, so do not ignore it, but read it before using the dishwasher.
Now manufacturers are working more and more every year to make it easier for the user to use the dishwasher. And already in new models of dishwashers, an error is displayed on the control panel when the filters are clogged. The error code can be deciphered using the instructions. If you cannot find the instructions, you can use the Internet search.
Of course, you can clean the filter yourself, but there are emergency situations and more complicated ones that you simply cannot do without the help of a specialist.
As you can see, it is necessary to ensure that the device is constantly clean, because this is the key to its uninterrupted and long-term operation.
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