Dishwasher various parts and components work with each other to make our dishes clean. Dishwasher has turned into one of the essential appliances in every house and now we are going to introduce its parts and components and explain their respective functions in the washing process.
Knowing all dishwasher parts helps you with better troubleshooting and repair in case of any problem.
Here are the main parts of a dishwasher:
- Baskets
- Controllers
- Pumps
- Spray arms
- Elements
- Motor
- Thermostat
- Filter
and some other parts that are going to be explained in this article.
Dishwasher parts, baskets and racks
Upper rack: it has an adjustable height and is located far from the element.
Lower rack: larger dishes can be placed in this rack.
Silverware basket: it is located on the dishwasher door or inside the lower rack.
Dishwasher controller parts
Control panel: the electronic control board manages the functions of the dishwasher like washing and draining. It includes a display and some buttons.
Door latch: it makes sure the tub door is closed. Otherwise, the electricity doesn't get connected and the dishwasher won't start.
Tip: dishwasher turns on just when it makes sure the door is completely closed.
Timer: controls the dishwasher cycles by regulating the length of time that power is directed to each dishwasher parts and components.
Dishwasher water supply parts: pumps
Reversible pumps: these pumps are usually installed vertically. They reverse the direction of the motor and pump water to the spray arms or the drain.
Direct-drive pumps: these pumps are installed horizontally. The motor runs in one direction. There is a solenoid that opens and closes the appropriate valves to change the water flow from spray arms to the drain.
Dishwasher washing mechanism parts
Lower spray arm: it moves freely to spray water on the lower rack. The pump directs water to the arm.
Upper spray arm: it is responsible for supplying water for the upper rack. Again, the pump helps the water flow to reach this arm.
Heater element: it is a round tube at the bottom of the main tub, under the lower spray arm. It regulates the inlet water to the unit and keep the tub chamber warm to speed up the evaporation process.
Tip: in newer dishwashers, heater element can't be seen inside the dishwasher tub.
Motor: it changes the electricity to rotation. As we mentioned in the pumps part, there are two types of motors: reversible and direct-drive. You can easily distinguish between them. Direct-drive motors have two wires but four wires leave the reversible ones.
Thermostat: it is usually located under the main tub or behind the door panel. It adjusts the water temperature according to the dishes' dirtiness or the washing program and sends the required instruction to the element.
Filters: they are mounted to grab the food residues so that they don't stick to the dishes again or disrupt the drain operation.
Dishwasher drain and safety related parts
Drain pump: we talked about this important dishwasher part before. It drains dirty water out of the dishwasher main tub.
Drain valve: it opens during the drain operation and lets the water out. It is just mounted in dishwashers having direct-drive motors. It is located near the motor and a hose connects it to the motor.
Inlet valve: it controls the inlet water to the dishwasher tub by connecting and disconnecting the power with the help of the hydrostat.
Float switch: it is located at the bottom of the dishwasher tub. It trips to shut the water fill valve if the water level gets too high. It is actually a backup to the fill timer.
Hydrostat: it adjusts the inlet water and prevents overfilling.
Dishwasher structural parts
Main tub: most dishwasher parts are located inside the tub. The bigger the tub, the larger the washing capacity.
Door gasket: it is a soft rubber seal around the top and both sides of the dishwasher tub. It prevents the water from leaking out during the wash cycle.
Kick panel: It is a decorative usually black panel that covers up the opening at the bottom of the dishwasher where motor and water pipes are mounted. It can be removed for repair.
We tried to introduce different dishwasher parts and components in this article. If you need more information, don't miss our dishwasher training course in HelloTechnic website. Our experts have shown you how to install, service, troubleshoot and repair dishwasher through films and animations. You can start your job as a professional repairman after watching our instructional videos.
