[mpickell]

I'm buying a house and the person tells me that the dishwasher does not fill properly. I guess it starts to fill, but doesn't fill enough before starting the wash cycle. They have always had to add more water before running it -- apparently since they got it (??) No one has come to look at it..

Any ideas for what to look for?

Also, there is a film on the inside. Are they using the wrong soap? Is there a way to clean that?

[denman]

Here are your parts
Parts for Whirlpool KUDL02IRBS1 Dishwasher - AppliancePartsPros.com

The most common cause of a low fill is a dirty screen filter on the input side of the fill valve. Remove the valve from the unit and clean/check the filter.
Do not permanently remove it from the valve as it is there to keep crud out of the valve which could hold it open and cause a flood.

If it still does not fill correctly I would replace the fill valve.

PS: Be sure to shut off the power and the water supply to the unit. Have paper towels etc. handy to wipe up any spilled water. Get a small pan/bowl etc. that will fit under the valve then loosen the input water line let it drip into the container emptying it as necessary. This will minimize the amount of water spilled.

If the unit is connected using a flexible line you may want to move the line around a bit and then run some water. What can happen is over time crud collects on the inside of the line which is moved when you install a unit. This crud then comes loose and clogs the screen filter.

Also check that the water shut off valve in the dishwasher feed line is open all the way.

[mpickell]

Thank you, I will look at this when i move in and see if this works.

Any idea on removing the film on the inside bottom of the dishwasher?

[denman]

On a small spot try some vinegar.

If it dissolves it then let the unit fill a bit and add a couple quarts of vinegar and let it sit overnight.

[mpickell]

Thank you for your help... a couple more questions. In your original reply you say:

Originally Posted by denman

The most common cause of a low fill is a dirty screen filter on the input side of the fill valve. Remove the valve from the unit and clean/check the filter.

I thought that the dishwasher would fill until filling is shut off by a float in the dishwasher? Is that not correct? I would expect a dirty filter to restrict flow and take longer to fill, but not cause low filling.


Also, is the "fill valve" the "water intake valve" in the parts you linked to? If I replaced it, which part(s) specifically would I purchase? Considering it has been doing it for a while, I might just buy the part and replace it when i get the house.

thanks!

[denman]

I thought that the dishwasher would fill until filling is shut off by a float in the dishwasher? Is that not correct?
It is not correct.
The float is just an overflow protection device.
Filling is just a timed event.


Also, is the "fill valve" the "water intake valve" in the parts you linked to?
Yes they are the same.

If I replaced it, which part(s) specifically would I purchase?
You need the below part. Click on the picture for more views and info on it.
Part number: AP4369607

[mpickell]

Awesome. thanks. i'll post back the results when i fix it.

[mpickell]

So i order the part you mentioned and it was the right one, Thanks!. I took the old fill valve off and noticed two things:

1. There was some larger gunk in there, but not a lot
2. I think more importantly, the screen holes looked like they were clogged when compared to the new fill valve.

Since I had the part and had the machine out i just replaced the whole fill valve -- this is a very easy part to replace, I probably didn't even need to pull the machine out.

I did run to the store and get a new hose to get a little longer one and to make sure that wasn't the issue, but i doubt it was since a quick test of it soaked the cabinets on the other side of the kitchen... The hose came with a new brass adapter for connecting the hose to the fill valve as well. I put plumbers tape on the threads of each piece when putting it back together to make sure i didn't have any leaks.

So finally I ran the machine and everything seems fine to me. I'm pretty sure it is fixed.... but I don't know what to look for to really know for sure.

How would i notice low fill vs. normal fill (since i just bought the house, i didn't use the machine before) and how would i make sure that the issue is fixed now? What should I look for?

[denman]

If it does a good job washing the dishes on all racks then you are getting enough water.

Open the door after the unit fill and take note of the water level.

[mpickell]

I did do that... looks like it is filling the bottom up to the bottom of the float, maybe a 1/8" higher.

When filling it it looked like a good stream of water was pouring in (in that quick second i could still see it when i open the door)

When running, I opened it and it did look like water was hitting all racks pretty well.