Question on potentially sediment-clogged dishwasher (how to diagnose & repair)?

[Donna Ohl, Grady Volunteer Coo]

My GE Nautilus dishwasher just stopped working right after a major plumbing repair (hot water heater replacement) - is there a sediment filter on the dishwasher somewhere?

After closing the dishwasher door and turning it on, the water starts but never has enough pressure to spin the sprinkler. It won't drain either, it seems, so after every test, I have to mop it up.

My shower heads were all clogged with grainy particles after a recent hot-water heater replacement - those were easy to clean out - but I suspect the same happened here as the kitchen sink slowed down to a crawl also.

I can't get the dishwasher out (it seems to be tiled in), even after unbolting the top single bolt and lowering the legs as far as they can go.

Maybe, just maybe I can hacksaw off the bottom so I can get it out and replace it but I'd rather first do some intelligent research.

Is there an easy to locate sediment trap or motor reset on a basic dishwasher? Can I get a troubleshooting manual for a GE Nautilus washer on the web?

I'll keep digging but any advice you have will be wondrous! Your efforts won't be wasted as I'll try to be responsive and give back to the group so others benefit from your efforts.

Donna

[Donna Ohl, Grady Volunteer Coo]

How do you unclog a bathroom tub and dishwasher of sediment unleashed during a water heater repair?

Unclogging the showerheads & kitchen sink were easy but the bathroom tub and dishwasher are still apparently clogged with sediment.

Do you know how to unclog the hot/cold water to the bathroom tub and dishwasher?

Donna PS I should have taken photos of the before/after shower head but I'll start posting photos of the tub and dishwasher unclog so others benefit from your advice which is never wasted!

[Edwin Pawlowski]

"Donna Ohl, Grady Volunteer Coordinator" wrote in message

Tub is no different than the sink. Depends on what brand of faucet though. You may have to remove a front bezel. Go to the web page of the manufacturer and look for instructions to replace the seals or cartridge.

Dishwasher may be more difficult. If you get lucky, you may be able to just disconnect the water feed and clean out right inside the solenoid valve. If not, you may have to remove the DW and remove the valve to clean it. Going from memory, the feed on mine is right behind the bottom front panel. Check the spray arms also while you are at it.

[Donna Ohl, Grady Volunteer Coo]

It sure looks different. There's no screen. Will look more.

Will take it apart and post pictures.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

If you mean there is no screen in the aerator, the problem is in the cartridge. Remove the cartridge and clean it out.

[Donna Ohl, Grady Volunteer Coo]

Hi Edwin,

The tub seems different in that there is nothing to take apart on the nozzle part that spits out the water. I don't feel a screen in that nozzle like I did the faucets.

Here is the clogged tub outlet with the water on "full blast" which is barely more than a trickle after the water heater replacement:

Here is the tub with the water on the full close position; I don't see what to remove to find a "filter screen"? I'm sorry for being confused but can you point to what in this picture, showing the water at the most I can get out now (which is vastly less than the day before the water heater was replaced) I should open up to clean out the sediment? Am I looking in the wrong place?

Donna

PS I'm confused if I should post to this thread or to the long thread so I'll try to keep an eye on both!

[Edwin Pawlowski]

"Donna Ohl, Grady Volunteer Coordinator" wrote in message

The clog is probably inside the assembly. I can't see from the picture how to disassemble it, but it can be. The handle probably has a set screw holding it in place. There is probably something that has to be screwed off to get tot he diverter inside. Thee appears to be a screw holding the bezel on at the 2 o'clock position. Perhaps there is one at 8 o'clock also? Hard to say what tools are needed. Could be a snap ring or clip holding the guts in place.

[58plumbers]

I think the other thread is dead.

You might want to check first the air gap and drain hoses from the air gap to the garbage disposer.

Once you clean out the air gap and hoses, check for a broken belt used to drive the pump. Sometimes that belt just slips off the pump. Replace it anyway because it might be stretched.

Then check your pump impellers. The wash impeller takes care of the wash cycles, the drain impeller drains the water out. Check for broken blades or shaft preventing the dishwasher from draining.

Before you go farther, check to see if the water shutoff valve (located under the sink) is open or clogged. Remove the hose on the dishwasher side to see if water gushes out. If not, clean or replace the shutoff valve. If water is only dribbling out then put a pressure gauge on the valve to see if you have at least 50psi. You can get liquid pressure gauges from an automotive or plumbing store.

Always unclog the spray arms. Stick a paperclip or pipe cleaner into each hole in the spray arm to ensure a smooth flow of water. These holes are what spin the spray arm. If they are clogged, you get no spinning action.

Next check your drain solonoid to see if it's stuck, preventing water from draining. Smack that solonoid with a big magnet like those cow pills if you have one handy. If not, mash it a few times with a plastic mallet, taking care to only free up the solonoid if it's stuck.

If the solonoid is ok, then see if the motor is stuck. This time, spin the magnet around the outside of the motor to see if you can get the vanes to move. Or stick wooden chopsticks inside the motor vents to see if you can push the motor as sometimes the carbon brushes bend against the copper commuter and the springs get caught.

Last, check the timer which runs the whole thing. And check the door switch which turns it on.

[Donna Ohl]

I cleaned and checked the air gap and it was working fine albeit messily!

As suggested, I opened up the blue solonoid and found the filter completely clogged with sand! Even after removing the clogged filter, there was still sand in the lines! Only after a long while did the water finally run clear through the solonoid. Donna

[Donna Ohl]

That was the wrong reference number. The reference number of the water running clearly is

The whole set of dishwasher repair pictures is at I hope someone searching for why their dishwasher suddenly stops working can find this solution here, thanks to all of you!

[Yukio YANO]

If there is a sudden build-up of Sediment in your Hot-water line, Replace the Dip-Tube in your Hot-Water Tank !!

Yukio YANO

[James Sweet]

She already replaced the whole water heater, that's why the sediment got knocked out of the pipes.

[Donna Ohl]

Thanks James Sweet,

Yes, when I replaced the water heater, not only did the dishwasher stop working, but, every single faucet in the house stopped working, as did the shower and the tub.

The only one left is the tub because I can't figure out WHERE the screen would be on the tub (the output is a full inch in diameter!).

Where would the tub filter be?

[James Sweet]

Usually there isn't a filter. Is it a single or three knob? Usually you can remove the whole cartridge from the valve and clean it out.

[Donna Ohl]

Hi James, Here is a picture of the tub.

It is a "single". Are you saying the filter is behind the hot/cold selector knob? Donna

[jakdedert]

Naw, the whole mess gets clogged up. You need to disassemble it (turn the water OFF first). If it's more than a few years old--or even if it isn't, it wouldn't hurt--get a 'kit' of replacement parts from your local dealer first. Usually there's nothing to maintaining these 'one handle' units (not familiar with your particular one) besides disassembly/reassembly with new rubber anyway. Save you the trouble down the road. Take a picture, or the old parts for exact replacements.

Once you have it apart, turn on the water slightly to flush it out. Turn it off again and reassemble after cleaning and replacing the old rubber/plastic that came with the new kit.

After what you've been through, this should be a piece of cake....

jak jak

[James Sweet]

Yep, that looks very much like the Moen my mom's place has, I just replaced the leaking cartridge in that a couple months ago. Remove the handle, remove the fascia, and then there's a clip you pull out and the cartridge pulls out. Turn the water supply off first!