If your dishwasher has stopped working, it’s worth troubleshooting the issue before calling a technician or paying a lot of money to replace your appliance. Even with proper installation and maintenance, your dishwasher can run into problems, but they are often easy to fix.
This article will cover why your dishwasher might stop working and how you can reset it.
Why Indesit Dishwashers Stop Working
There are several reasons why a dishwasher might malfunction. Thankfully, most of the time, faults are easy to fix.
Before checking over the various components of your appliance, you should first check that it’s plugged into the electrical socket.
You might have pulled the plug loose when moving the appliance, so check this before you start troubleshooting.
Power outage and circuit breaker issues
If there has been a power outage on your property, it can cause the dishwasher to shut off, and it might not restart automatically when your power returns.
Power surges can cause the circuit breaker may trip if there has been a power surge in your home, which can stop the dishwasher from starting up again.
Child lock activation
It’s easy to accidentally activate the child lock on a dishwasher, but this means it’s also easy to turn it off.
Check your user manual to learn how to check the child lock on your model. Usually, you’ll find the button for the child lock on the control panel.
Faulty door switch
Every dishwasher has a latch that holds the door shut during a cycle for protection. If the dishwasher door isn’t fully closed, the switch won’t activate, and your appliance will switch off until the door is properly shut.
Sometimes, the switch isn’t faulty; the issue is simply that the door isn’t closed properly. If your dishwasher doesn’t start a wash cycle, try opening the door and closing it with more force to see if this does the trick.
Faulty selector switch
The selector switch or control panel in your dishwasher enables you to manually adjust the settings for each wash cycle. If the switch is faulty or the buttons are sticky, it could stop the washer from working.
Blown thermal fuse
If the thermal fuse fails, it will stop the control panel from functioning and might cut the power supply to the dishwasher.
You can check whether the thermal fuse has blown by looking at the controls or circuit board and checking for continuity with a multimeter. You’ll need to replace the thermal fuse if it has blown.
Issues with the drive motor
The drive motor improves water flow during a wash cycle to ensure all your dishes are clean properly.
If it’s faulty, your machine might start making a humming sound. Using a multimeter to check for continuity, you can check whether there is an issue with the drive motor.
Blocked or bent drain hose
The drain hose enables water to circulate properly through the machine during a wash cycle.
If it’s blocked or bent, it can cause water to build up inside the washer, which signals to the control panel. In turn, the machine can switch off and won’t start again until you unblock or replace the drain hose.
The same issues can arise when your sink drain is blocked too.
Timer and electronic control issues
The electronic controls are responsible for regulating how much power is supplied to the various components of the dishwasher, such as the drain pump, heating element, water inlet filter, and water tap.
If the timer or the electronic controls are defective, it might prevent the washer from working correctly.
How to Reset an Indesit Dishwasher
If you suspect a fault with one or more of the components of your dishwasher, resetting it will likely resolve the issue. Follow the steps below to reset your appliance.
Pressing the reset button
Press down the reset button for several seconds until the dishwasher switches off. Repeat this process to switch the dishwasher back on to see whether the error light has disappeared, and the appliance works as normal.
Running a drain cycle
In some Indesit models, you might need to hold down the start button for a third time to start a drain cycle, which will last around 90 seconds. When the drain cycle is complete, you can attempt to start the dishwasher on a full cycle.
Unplugging the appliance
If your dishwasher is still not working after pressing the reset button, you might need to unplug the appliance.
Remove the plug from the socket and leave it out for a few minutes before plugging it back in and attempting to use the dishwasher again.
Caring for Your Dishwasher
Taking the right steps to care for dishwashers will lengthen their lifespan and eliminate the risk of faults.
Maintenance steps
Your washer should come with a manual that details the correct maintenance steps to keep your Indesit washer working perfectly, but here are some general steps:
- Clean each filter regularly
- Check that the drains and vents aren’t clogged
- Avoid loading the dishwasher with too many dishes during a single-cycle
- Remove food residues that are stuck in the machine after a wash cycle
- Wipe down the appliance with detergent after several uses
- Clean the spray arms regularly (you can remove the spray arms by twisting them until they come loose)
Call a technician for advice
Contact a technician via their website or over the phone if you need expert advice on caring for your dishwasher after installation.
A professional technician can also aid you in resolving your dishwasher issues. They will be happy to answer your queries and address your concerns.
If your appliance is covered by a warranty, this service will be free of charge.
