If you have a dishwasher, you know what a difference it makes in your life. You also know the stress it can cause when it does not work as it should. The most common irritating issue is the door not closing. Is your dishwasher door not closing?
A Kenmore dishwasher door that won’t close may be caused by a misaligned or defective door latch. The latch is crucial for keeping the door closed during the washing cycle. Check the latch for any signs of wear or damage, and ensure it aligns properly with the catch. If the latch is faulty or damaged, it will need to be replaced to enable the door to close.
Another reason for a door closure issue could be an obstructed or improperly loaded dishwasher rack. Dishes that are loaded incorrectly or too close to the door can prevent it from shutting. Rearrange your dishes to ensure nothing obstructs the door path and the racks are fully pushed in.
The problem can also stem from a damaged door seal. Over time, the door seal can become stiff, warped, or accumulate debris, which can keep the door from closing tightly. Inspect the door seal and clean it if dirty. If the seal is damaged or has lost its flexibility, replacing it is the best course of action to ensure a proper seal and door function.
Kenmore Dishwasher Door Won’t Close
Is your Kenmore dishwasher not closing? Here are three reasons why this is happening.
1. Misaligned Door
In order for your Kenmore dishwasher door to close, the door must be properly aligned. Aside from the misaligned door affecting the appearance of your dishwasher, the door handle, door latch, and strike plate will not align to close the door.
Defective door hinges can cause the door to become misaligned. If your dishwasher door is not opening and closing smoothly, the hinges are the first place to start troubleshooting. Consult your Kenmore User’s Manual to identify where the hinges are and what replacement part you need.
2. Overloaded Dishwasher Drum
Kenmore dishwashers are built to hold a large number of dishes and utensils. Because of this, it is easy to overload the dishwasher.
If your dishwasher is overcrowded, not only will your dishes not be cleaned properly but it will also increase the chances of a dish or utensil obstructing the door from closing. Your Kenmore User’s Manual will give helpful suggestions on how to maximize the space in your dishwasher.
DID YOU KNOW:
A Kenmore dishwasher may experience filling problems if the water inlet valve is faulty or clogged. This valve controls the flow of water into the dishwasher and can become obstructed with sediment over time, or it may fail mechanically. To fix the issue, shut off the water supply, remove the toe kick and lower front panel, and clean the valve inlet screen. If the valve is defective, it will need to be replaced.
5 Reasons Why Kenmore Dishwasher Door Won’t Close
It can be extremely stressful when our dishwasher does not work properly. There are a variety of reasons why a dishwasher stops working correctly but the most common reason has to do with the dishwasher door.
If your dishwasher door won’t close, make sure there is nothing inside the dishwasher obstructing the door. Remove or adjust any utensils or dishes that are too large or that might be obstructing the door. Make sure both the top and bottom loading racks are correctly aligned.
We don’t often pay our dishwasher much attention until it stops working. The most common reason a dishwasher is not working is that the door will not close. If we use the dishwasher often, the door is often the first thing to stop working correctly.
It can be very stressful when your dishwasher door does not close. If the door will not close, the dishwasher will not work, which means you basically now have an expense cabinet to hold dishes.
Before you go down the stressful road of thinking you need to buy a new dishwasher, the problem could be something simple and easy to fix. This article will address 5 common reasons why your dishwasher door will not close.
1. Unlevel Dishwasher
Was your dishwasher recently installed or moved? The dishwasher or the floor itself may be the culprit. A level dishwasher not only affects the overall appearance of your kitchen but also will affect how your dishwasher performs.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on January 23, 2023.
An unlevel dishwasher will cause the door to become misaligned. If the door is misaligned, it will not latch and seal properly.
The door latch and door strike both must align in order for the dishwasher door to not only close but also create a tight seal. When the dishwasher door is tightly closed, a sensor will detect the seal.
A signal is then sent to the dishwasher control panel that the dishwasher door has a water-tight seal and can now begin filling with water. Without a tight seal, the dishwasher will not turn on.
If the dishwasher door is misaligned, do not force the door shut. This will cause more damage to the door. You will run the risk of not being able to open the door later or damaging the door altogether.
2. Broken Door Handle
The dishwasher door takes a lot of use and abuse. We open and close the door so many times throughout the day. And, if we are honest, how many of us use our foot or hip to close the door?
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on January 23, 2023.
The constant use and abuse of the door will cause it to wear out. When we slam the door shut or quickly open and close the door, the dishwasher door components can become misaligned or even broken.
More than being a nuisance, if the dishwasher door does not close correctly, this will affect your dishwasher’s ability to even work. The dishwasher is designed with a safety feature to only start once a tight, secure seal is sensed.
The first place to start your investigation is with the door handle. The dishwasher door handle gets the most use and is often the first component of the door to stop working correctly.
Inside the door handle is a spring-loaded latch that releases the handle from the strike plate. If the door handle is broken, the handle will become loose, almost as though it were floating. There will be no resistance when you touch it.
3. Misaligned Strike Plate
While it is rare for the strike plate to break, it can become misaligned or even loose over time. The strike plate is the metal plate located at the top of the dishwasher body. It has a large opening that the door latch connects to.
The door latch and strike plate must line up in order for the dishwasher door to close. If you find yourself slamming the dishwasher door or having to lift up on the door to close it, the latch and strike plate are misaligned.
4. Faulty Door Spring Tension
Unlike us humans, your dishwasher depends on tension to work correctly. What do I mean by this? Springs.
Dishwasher doors have springs that give the door the tension and strength it requires to open and close. The spring needs to retain its shape and strength in order to work.
Once the shape and strength are compromised, the spring is no longer effective. A sure sign the spring in your dishwasher door is defective is if the dishwasher door either closes too quickly, without any resistance, or it falls open.
5. Misaligned Dish Racks
Sometimes we take for granted how much abuse our dishwashers take. One such example is when we try to load every dish we own into the dishwasher. While dishwashers today are designed to hold a large load of dishes and utensils, they do a limit to what they can hold.
Loading too many dishes into the dishwasher will prevent the dishes from being properly and thoroughly cleaned. Another reason to avoid overloading the dishwasher is that it will cause the dish racks to become misaligned.
The weight of too many dishes can cause the dish racks to become unevenly placed on the tracks, preventing the door from closing. Depending on your model of dishwasher, this can also cause the utensil basket to obstruct the dishwasher door.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on January 23, 2023.