The Mechanisms Of Maytag Dishwasher
Step One: Loading
Once you choose the accurate cycle, the dishwasher starts to fill with water from the bottom. The heating element then heats the water up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
The water fills up and the float rises; upon reaching the optimum water level, the float valve triggers the switch, signaling the valve to shut and water stops entering the dishwasher.
Step Two: The Pump & Spray Function
The electric pump that is located at the bottom, pumps up the water into the spray arms. The water then spurts out at high speed out of the spray arms that rotate. This ensures proper cleaning of the residue. The water that circulates is heated water as hot water is key to breaking down residue. Water that has gone through the wash cycle then rolls back to the bottom of the dishwasher, as the same process repeats in heating and pumping them back up again. The food residue that is disposed of is filtered through a filter (some Maytag dishwashers have a chopper and a filter in their Dual Power Filtration) to ensure they are not reused.
Step Three: Cleaning
Depending on the cycle you choose, after adequate rotations, the detergent dispenser will open at the right time letting the detergent out. The detergent will mix with the water and ensure a more hygienic clean.
Step Four: Rinse & Dry
Throughout the wash cycle, the spray arms will circulate heated water; the water then will wash away the detergent and all remaining residue. When the cycle finishes, the dirty water drains through the drain pipe and into the garbage disposal.
Step Five: Drying
Once the cycle finishes, the heating element turns up the temperature, and the heat turns to steam. The steam ensures proper drying and once your dishes are clean and dry, the steam vents out. And finally, outcomes the dishes all clean and dry like magic.
Maytag Dishwasher Cycles Explained
Rinse & Hold
This is to wash a relatively small number of soiled dishes. Rotate the knob to use this option. Hold them until the dishwasher is full. This cycle requires 2 gallons of water and 7 minutes of cycle time. This is a lightweight option when your dishes just need a wash.
China Cycle
This is for china and crystal items that are easy to break. A gentler spray rinses the dishes and it requires 7 gallons of water and around an hour and 20 minutes to wash.
Normal Cycle
This is for everyday dishes. It is the right cycle for getting rid of stubborn soils from dish loads. This takes 9 gallons of water and about an hour to wash while another 30 minutes to dry.
Pots & Pans
Heavy duty. Loads with toughened up soils. The wash cycle takes 11 gallons of water and an hour and 40 minutes or so to complete.
Maytag Control Panel Selection for Dishes
Temp Boost Sensor
As mentioned previously, this option ensures that your water is heated up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The On button will let you heat the water to the optimum temperature and the Heating Delay light will indicate that it is working.
Indicator Light
The Heating Delay light is a key addition that tells you when there will be a delay in a wash cycle or if your water needs proper heating.
Fan Dry
The Heat button is a catalyzing option. It allows for quick drying. Turning it on will allow the heating element to work its magic during the fan drying period and get your dishes dry in no time.
Maytag Dishwasher Troubleshooting
When Dishes Are Still Dirty Or Packed With Grease After a Wash
First and foremost, follow the Maytag recommendations. Are you arranging the dishes properly? are the arrangements blocking any of the jet sprays? Is the drainpipe clogged? Make sure you are not responsible for the malfunction of your dishwasher by ensuring you follow the instructions.
Now, get to your dishwasher. Check if the jet sprays rotate with ease, as sometimes the issue could be with the spray arms. Moreover, check the drainage, whether it is clogged. If that is an issue, take the arms off and clean them with a brush. Now do a new wash to see if they perform better.
Dirty Filter
If this is an issue, remove the filter and clean it. Make sure you don’t load your dishes before scraping off the excess residue.
Dishes Don’t Dry
This is when the heating element isn’t functioning properly. If the heating element is fine, you may want to check the thermostat responsible for ensuring proper water temperatures and the dishwasher from overheating. What usually happens is, the thermostat stops the heating option before the dishes are properly dried out. You can locate the thermostat below the dishwasher, right behind the control panel. Rinse aid could be another department that needs checking. If the dispenser isn’t dispensing then that will prevent the dishes from drying.
Dishwasher Not Starting
Check electricity sources. See if the fuse hasn’t malfunctioned. On the other hand, the dishwasher door can be a problem. Ensuring the latch is appropriately closed is what gets the dishwasher started, so always close the latch properly.
Drainage Issues
Easiest to notice. The floor is flooded with dishwater upon opening the latch. A power outage, an unexpected shutdown can all lead to an incomplete wash cycle and hence clog up water. Restarting the cycle will solve this issue.
Usually, the drainage is connected to the garbage disposal. If your garbage disposal is clogged up with residue, this will not allow proper draining. Checking the garbage disposal may prevent such unwanted troubles.
Stench Coming Out Of Your Dishwasher
An unclean filter or old food residue can cause a foul odor. Merely cleaning your filter or the screen located below the dishwasher can solve this problem.
How To Reset Your Maytag Dishwasher
This is one of the go-to options with any device. Sometimes a simple reset solves most of your problems. If you want to reset the control panel, unplug it from the main power source for a minute and plug it back in again. Your dishwasher may also be connected to an outlet like a switchboard, unplug the component and give it a minute before connecting it to the outlet again. Some of us have our dishwashers directly attached to the power supply; turn your breaker off at the electric panel and after a minute, turn it on again.
Cleaning & Care of Maytag Dishwasher
Caring is ‘preventing’ a malfunction, and doing it regularly can go a long way.
Sometimes, after loading dishes repeatedly, food and liquid residue can build up at the bottom edge of the latch. Clean that area from time to time to prevent a build-up.
Clean the inside of your dishwasher; the tub right below the dishwasher can have built-up residue and cleaning it will prevent extra work later.
If you use your dishwasher every two or three days a week, then an odor can form. Utilizing the Rinse & Hold option regularly can prevent any food soil from causing a foul stench.
Another way of getting rid of foul odor is by using chlorine bleach. Using the China cycle, allow the dishwasher to fill with water. Add a cup of chlorine bleach into the bottom of the dishwasher. Close the door and let the cycle finish.
You can do the same with baking soda. Simply add baking soda to the detergent dispenser and run the China cycle. After the water runs for ten minutes, turn off the dishwasher and let it stay that way overnight. The next day, restart the process by simply closing the latch and let the cycle finish.
Energy-Saving Advice For Maintenance
Saving energy can help maintain the health of your dishwasher. Below are two tips that can allow the dishwasher to be energy-efficient in the long run.
1 Always stack up the dishwasher fully as it uses the same electricity and hot water to run a half-filled load.
2 Arrange the loads properly. Proper placement gets the best performance out of your dishwasher. An improper load will not only prevent the machine from functioning right, it will also need more cycles to wash each time.
