5 Common Samsung Dishwasher Problems

Samsung dishwashers, although a leading brand, are prone to their own set of specific problems. Follow this guide to understand and repair the 5 most common Samsung dishwasher problems.

The 5 most common Samsung dishwasher problems are: not cleaning dishes properly, not draining water, no power or problems with the touch pad, dishwasher not starting or, finally, the dishwasher not drying dishes. Read on.

Samsung Dishwasher Problems

Here are the 5 most common Samsung dishwasher problems:

1.     Samsung Dishwasher Not Cleaning Dishes

One common problem associated with Samsung dishwashers (or any brand) is that they don’t properly clean the dishes, especially those on the top shelf.

The first thing to check is the spray arms.

Spray Arms

Occasionally, debris and food from the dishes can fall into the little spray holes, which causes them to project the water less forcefully.

If you see any debris, clean it out. To prevent this from occurring, rinse your dishes before loading them in the washer.

Once you have checked the spray hose, you should look at the filter assembly as well.

Filter Assembly

Occasionally, food debris and waste can get caught under the filter assembly, causing the dishwasher to not clean as properly as it normally does.

The reason for this is that the food prevents the dishwasher from creating the proper water pressure for cleaning your dishes.

Begin by removing the lower spray head. Use a screwdriver to pry off the water tubes. Remove the screws that are holding the filter assembly in place.

Lift the assembly up and out once the screws have all been removed. Next, remove the impeller by unscrewing the connecting screw. Turn it clockwise to remove it, not counterclockwise.

With the impeller removed, pick up any debris you see, using your hand or turkey baster. After all the debris is removed, reassemble the dishwasher.

Read more detail: Dishwasher Not Cleaning Dishes On Top Rack

2.     Samsung Dishwasher Not Draining

A common problem of Samsung dishwashers is that they do not drain properly.

Normally, your dishwasher will fail to drain properly due to food buildup and debris that isn’t rinsed off beforehand.

Similarly, normal wear and tear can cause other parts related to the dishwasher’s draining to fail as well.

There are six main reasons that your dishwasher may not be draining properly.

The drain hose, check valve, drain filter, drain pump, drain solenoid, and water inlet assembly are all possible reasons as to why the dishwasher is not draining properly.

• Drain Hose: The hose can become kinked. Manually remove any kinks. Drain hoses can also become clogged with food. Clear any waste.
• Check Valve: Water won’t drain properly if the check valve is in the closed position or damaged. Clean the valve first. If it does not fix the problem, replace the valve.
• Drain Filter: Remove drain filter to see if any debris is in the way.
• Drain Pump: Wipe away any moisture or water from the filter. Remove the drain pump covering. Check the impeller. See if it’s in good condition by spinning it with your finger. Remove any water and grime on the pump. Additionally, use a multimeter test to see continuity reading. 

Read more detail: Dishwasher Not Draining? What to Check First and 6 Causes

Samsung Dishwasher Not Draining

3.     No Power/Touchpad Not Responding

Many Samsung dishwasher owners find that their dishwasher either has no power, or that the touch pad (control panel) does not respond.

This happens due to the main control board or touch pad interface board GLITCH.

When this happens, you may find that unplugging the unit helps for a while, but the problem might reoccur after you have begun using it again.

Samsung recommends reseting the circuit breaker of your home.

This is a good first step to make sure that there isn’t a tripped breaker.

With that being said, many faulty models are not due to a tripped breaker.

Instead, many people have found that the control panel is at fault for this mistake and that it has nothing to do with the user.

Instead, the Samsung control panels go bad faster than other models, causing the dishwasher to fail to start or for the touchpad to not respond.

If the control panel is at fault, which it probably is for this issue, you will simply need to purchase a new control panel and install it in place of the old one.

To install this part, begin by unplugging the dishwasher before use and maintenance.

Then, remove the inner door panel from the outer door panel. Do not fully remove the door mounting screws.

Now, take out the panel and disconnect it from the wiring, but note the direction of the wiring.

Connect the new panel in the place. Reconnect the wiring to the proper terminals. Secure the wires in the holders and reassemble the door.

Read also: Dishwasher Keeps Tripping Breaker

4.     Samsung Dishwasher Won’t Start

One of the most common problems with the Samsung dishwasher is that the appliance won’t start.

There are a number of reasons that a dishwasher won’t start. Here are the two most common:

• PE Error Code: If your dishwasher is showing this error code, then your dishwasher has an issue with the power control board.
  As a result, you will need to replace the power control board. You will access the power control board through the lower access panels.
  Remove the housing, disconnect the wires, and replace the faulty control board with a new one. Reassemble.
• Issue With The Locking Mechanism: Your dishwasher will not start if the locking mechanism is faulty.
  Many Samsung dishwashers fail to start because of a faulty locking mechanism. If your dishwasher won’t start and there’s no errors reading, consider installing a new switch door latch.
  Begin by removing the inner door panel from the outer door panel. Separate the panels and slide out the old latch.
  Disconnect the wires. Place the new latch on the mounting screws and connect the wires. Reassemble door.

Read also: Why are my Dishwasher Buttons not working?

5.     Samsung Dishwasher Not Drying Dishes

Finally, the last common problem with Samsung dishwashers is that the appliance doesn’t dry the dishes properly.

The parts that help to dry dishes are the heating circuit and the vent case assembly.

For many Samsung dishwasher users, the vent case assembly is what causes the appliance to improperly dry the dishes, not the heating circuit.

The vent case assembly is what lets the steam out of the dishwasher. It includes a fan and a vent.

If this assembly does not work properly, the steam stays inside the dishwasher, making your dishes seem very damp even after the dry cycle.

Begin by removing the upper and lower racks of the dishwasher. Then, separate the inner panel from the outer panel by removing the screws.

Remove the front panel. Drop the console panel and set the latch assembly to the side.  Remove the wiring from the console panel.

Next, disconnect the vent case assembly wiring and peel back the tape on the wiring.

Free the vent tube and open the vent case assembly. Twist the lid covering of the assembly counterclockwise to gain access to the vent assembly from the front.

Now, install a new vent assembly through the front of the door. Reassemble the dishwasher. 

Read: Samsung Dishwasher OC Code – Troubleshooting Guide

Final Thoughts

We hope that this article has made the process of identifying and fixing your Samsung dishwasher easier and less stressful. Always remember to be safe when fixing any appliance by unplugging it from the power outlet and disconnecting the water source before maintenance.

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