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Can You Reset A Whirlpool Dishwasher?

Dishwashers can sometimes jam, but that doesn’t mean you should be afraid to use them. Unanticipated power surges or electrical blackouts can lead to the control panel not working and requiring a reset of the appliance.

When you find yourself needing to reset a Whirlpool dishwasher, you can do it by pressing the reset or the start key on the device and waiting for a few minutes. If the Whirlpool dishwasher does not start after that, then reboot the whole system by turning off the power supply at the house fuse box or house circuit breaker.

Dishwasher

A handful of Whirlpool dishwasher do not have a reset button. If this is the case, try looking for the error codes that are displayed. You can troubleshoot your Whirlpool dishwasher issues by looking up these codes in your manual or online.

The Whirlpool Dishwasher Reset Control Panel Is Not Working

Man arranging dishes in dishwasher

The control board of a Whirlpool can stop functioning when there’s a power surge or an electrical outage. When this happens a reset is required. Problems can also come up when control board keys get stuck and when the child lock is activated. Look into these issues to narrow down the cause of why the control panel is not working

How to reset the dishwasher control panel

To reset, unplug the dishwasher from the power source, wait for a couple of minutes, and plug it in again to reset the dishwasher control board.

How to replace the dishwasher control board

In case your dishwasher’s control board codes get stuck or have issues that cannot be remedied by resetting the control board, turning off a child lock, or switching on the power, it means that it needs to be replaced. Fortunately, it is easy to replace. Here’s how:

If you aren’t able to troubleshoot and fix the control board by resetting, turning off child lock or unplugging the dishwasher, then you most likely need to replace it.

Step 1: Buy a proper control panel for the dishwasher

Step 2: Unplug the dishwasher from the power reservoir

Step 3: Rotate the control board from its initial position on the doorway panel

Step 4: Place the board facing down

Step 5: Connect wires to the updated control panel

Step 6: Twist the current control board to fit in.

When all this has been done, switch the power on and test the board.

DID YOU KNOW:

When a Whirlpool dishwasher doesn’t clean top rack dishes, it’s often due to blocked spray arm holes. Debris and mineral deposits can restrict water flow. Fix this by removing the top rack and lifting out the spray arm. Soak it in warm, soapy water and use a toothpick to remove any debris from the holes. After cleaning, reattach the spray arm and ensure it rotates freely for maximum cleaning efficiency.

When Do You Need to Reset a Whirlpool Dishwasher?

Couple fixing the dishwasher

Like any other electrical appliance, a Whirlpool dishwasher may encounter some failures or complications, and the best solution is resetting it. The control board that manages functions of the operating system of the dishwasher sometimes can have problems.

This means the period of the run cycle is also terminated. The power supply sometimes can surge and affect the control board from working smoothly or completely stopping. If the control panel is having some trouble, you may see it displaying some error codes. Here are some of the faults or error codes, and if you see them, definitely reset your dishwasher.

  • Seven flashes on flow meter – If you see the F7 error code, the dishwasher is experiencing a water flow problem. This can result from a water kink or blockage in the hose.
  • Error code F8 – F8 error code or 8-flashes is associated with the water level in your dishwasher. Water level problems can result from the machine having difficulties draining or having problems receiving water. Again, the spray pump can cease from working, which still may result in an F8 error code.
  • FA error code – FA or 11 flashes may signal to indicate a problem on the sensor part that monitors the cleanliness of the water.
  • F1 – This flash error code will show to indicate temperature issues. The sensor may show the water temperature is too high above 85 degrees Celsius or too low at -3 in the machine.

Sometimes, the draining system of the dishwasher can fail to drain the required level or fail to heat the water. You can see other technical failures, such as not starting. If you see such issues, there is a need to reset your Whirlpool dishwasher by unplugging it from the power supply and plugging it back in.

How to Reset a Whirlpool Dishwasher

Confused man while looking at the dishwasher

Luckily for the users reading this post, resetting your Whirlpool dishwasher is fairly straightforward. However, note that some models may reset different than others. Due to this, we’ve suggested various resetting options below:

Resetting the control board

To reset the control board, push the “off” key and remove its power cable. After ten to fifteen minutes, plug in the cord, then turn on the dishwasher and click on “high setting” or “pots and pans” on the control board. Finally, press any “heat” round to dry the dishes on the wash.

Repeat the above once more and confirm if the dishwasher is functioning as required.

If the dishwasher ceases to work, give the following methods a try

Activating the diagnostic mode

Press the “heated dry button” followed by the “normal” key. Repeat the same process, and it will take the appliance to diagnostic mode and finally reset. You can wait for some time and try again if the process does not work, but try the next method if it persists.

Newer Models resetting technique

If you’re lucky enough to have a newer Whirlpool dishwasher, then the procedure may be pretty simple. To send a new machine into diagnostic mode, you’ll want to press and hold down the three consecutive buttons on the control board. Before resetting, your machine will either make a noise or flash when it’s activated.

Note that these are the most common Whirlpool dishwasher resets. However, sometimes models can vary in how you reset them. As a result of this, if neither of the above resetting techniques work with your dishwasher, try to find the users manual. If you cannot find it personally, try to search the model of your machine in Google.

Final Thoughts

Woman holding the cup of wine in the dishwasher

Above, we’ve discussed various techniques of how to reset a whirlpool dishwasher. Hopefully, after reading, you can now reset your machine and get back to using it. If all fails, reach for the users manual. After obtaining the manual, if it still isn’t resetting, contact the manufacture.

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