Dishwasher door and tub wet after cycle

[Ron]

Have a new Kenmore dishwasher and it leaves large water droplets all over the door and tub after a full cycle with "heat on" drying. I can feel the heat coming out of the air vent with some steam during the drying cycle. Most of the dishes are dry however. Using soft water, but no rinse-aid (should be unnecessary with soft water).

Sears repair says that this is normal. Is it normal to leave so much moisture in the dishwasher after a full cycle with heat? The air vent has no fan...is that the issue? Or are all new dishwasher designed this way? I like to run the dishwasher overnight, but can not think that leaving the inner tub that damp for hours must be good.

[Alan]

I don't know about the moisture problem, but with my last dishwasher, I started using rinse-aid. I have always had a water softener and I turn the heated drying off, but now the dishes appear sparkling clean which was not the case before .

[willshak]

On 1/15/2005 8:37 AM US(ET), Ron took fingers to keys, and typed the following:

Condensation of vapor left inside after the heater shuts off. I have some coffee mugs that have a deep recessed base and there is always a quarter teaspoon of water left in the recess. I have to remember to empty the lower rack first, so as not to drip the water on the dry plates before I can sop the mug recesses out with a paper towel. This happens whether I use the dryer or not, but I prefer to not use the dryer and just open the door a little when the rinse cycle is complete to let them air dry. A water softener adds a small amount of sodium to the water (that's why some mfgrs.post a warning in their documentation for people who have to watch their sodium intake). Dried sodium may leave a film on dishes and glasses. I have a water softener and I have to use a rinse aid, or else I get slightly cloudy glasses.

Some, if not all, dishwashers leave a small amount of water in the bottom of the washer tub to keep seals and gaskets moist. If they dry out, they may prematurely fail.