Dishwasher insulation for heat

If it seems noisier, these black pieces are pitch (a hard tar-like substance) that's coated on dishwasher doors to make them quieter. Just to be safe, though, it might be a good idea to show them to somebody in an electrical shop.

No. It is supposed to remain on the dishwasher. It helps cushion the machine noise from vibrating through your counter.

for sound and for heat retention

Hello,

It seems you may have an Electrical Insulation Break Down fault with your machine.
My suggestion would be to get a Registered Appliance Technician to test the internal circuit of the machine before attempting to switch on the appliance or rectify any fuses.
The appliance needs to be issued with a (PAT) test first to determine if the appliance is safe to touch when applying power to the machine so you dont electrocute your self.
Once the (PAT) test has been applyed then the technician can visually inspect the high voltage internal parts that could be the result of the insulation break down.
I strongly suggest if any kitchen appliance trips the main fuse for any reason I would recommend not trying to change any fuses as this second atempt to reboot the machine may have blown the machines 'Power Control Module'!

The blanket you are referring to is not packaging material. This is an insulator blanket that not only keeps the underside of countertop and adjacent cabinets shielded from the heat of the dishwasher tub, but also provides a noise barrier. Without it, the dishwasher may genrate more noise, and you may feel more radiant heat given off when the dishwasher heats the water. This is supposed to remain in place and should not be removed.

drape the insulation over the top of the DW to insulate it from the countertop.

Just placing a fiberglass batt over the cabinet exterior will quiet it down considerably. Use some thin synthetic cord to tie it in place so that it doesn't crawl off from vibration. If still noisy, remove the door interior panel and check for any insulation there. If there is any appreciable gap at the sides or top, you may need to staple insulation around the interior of the cabinet opening. I'm surprised that they were that lax in noise suppression. Hope this helps!

This is insulation to retain heat as well as sound dampening. If you are in the south where it is rarely cold you can get by without it save the noise increase. If it gets pretty cool then operation will be severely affected. You can use any insulation method available to you to accomplish the task. Styrofoam, cork, fiberglass. If cost is no object the material for putting in car doors works nicely. I've seen them so insulated you cannot hear them running at all.
Eric

Hi jenniferr922,

I'm Harvey the Master plumber.

Your question is: You purchased a white Kenmore dishwasher and you are redoing your kitchen and all of your appliances are Kenmore stainless steel. You were wondering if the front panel was the only replacement or if you needed to order something else for the control panel.

It's your choise. If you like the control panel, keep it. If not, replace it when you replace the white panel.

Feel free contact me again!
Please give me a rating here at fixya.com before you sign off
Thank you,
Harvey your Master Plumber

I do not believe the insulation to be made of fiberglass. It is usually made of a yellow or tan colored foam material (not exactly sure what you call it). If there are concerns over the tears, you can reseal them with duct tape. Since the insulation wraps around the dishwasher tub and is mounted under the cabinet, there is no danger of any particles getting into the atmosphere and/or on your dishes. I would be more concerned about the insulation tears getting larger. That's why I would suggest you reseal them to insure the insulation provides the necessary noise buffering you need. If the tears are minor, I would save your money and continue to use the existing insulation. I hope this reassures you.