Dishwasher repairs

[Geoff Cooper]

Our 7 year old Neff dishwasher (type S5443) has started not wash very well. At first I thought it needed the filters cleaning, but I discovered that it was not fully filling up with water. If I added a couple of extra pints after the soap tablet clunked-in, it washes fine. The pump runs very well, with lots of swishing about inside with this extra water. Listening to the filling-up sequence, its stopping & starting - not one long fill-up. I loosened the salt-reservoir & its gets some more water, but not a full quota. Do dishwashers have a float somewhere to detect fullness or a device to measure the flow? Any pointers gratefully received Geoff Essex

[LouGrant]

It sounds like you may have a calcium build up in the pipes have you checked that out

[cooperman]

I'll check, but we have a water softner and we have no limescale elsewhere. It seems to be uncertain how much water to allow in. How does it know how much to put in?

[Capt T]

On my Bosch ( 19 years old) you remove the lh side panel to reveal the filling tank. This consists of a labyrinth of "pipework" in fact a nylon pressing giving inlet and outlet water levels controlled by a float mechanism in the bottom half.This can get gunged up over time and stick. Mine is fairly easy to wiggle out and clean. TURN POWER OFF FIRST. ;-)

[Geoff Cooper]

Thanks I'll take a look. Geoff

[Geoff Cooper]

Thanks Capt T. you were spot-on. I got the Haynes Dishwasher Manual from the library, read it and waited till I had a clear day to tackle it. The float and exit pipe wire full of black/brown algae! I've seen this stuff before in the shower trap. It must be due to the softened water. It works a treat now. Geoff