My LG LD1415T1 dishwasher does not dissolve the washing powder or cubes any more. Heating element works as dishes are hot and steamy when I open the door. Help....

If you open the door immediately after the dishes are washed, and before the "dry" cycle, is the water hot enough to have "steam" coming out of the machine?
You should be able to feel the heat.
If not, perhaps the water is not getting hot enough to dissolve the dishwashing powder.
Could you try using a liquid soap once and see what happens?
Be blessed.

Hi,

I have an older dishwasher also and recently my wife also complained about it not cleaning right... so me being the man I am tried in vain to clean the things... Bought new spray arms online and installed them in minutes...now the thing works like new... However I have also found that if the heating element goes bad then that also can mess things up bad... So I would buy new spray arms, and also check out the heating element to make sure it is working... Here is a tip that will help you with the online buying...

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heatman101

Asker

Hi,

I have an older dishwasher also and recently my wife also complained about it not cleaning right... so me being the man I am tried in vain to clean the things... Bought new spray arms online and installed them in minutes...now the thing works like new... However I have also found that if the heating element goes bad then that also can mess things up bad... So I would buy new spray arms, and also check out the heating element to make sure it is working... Here is a tip that will help you with the online buying...

Dishwasher Spray Arms not Spinning

How to Buy Appliance Parts Online

A bad heating element causes many problems in dishwashers...

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working

Dishwasher Maintenance

Dishwasher Residue and Film on Dishes

heatman101

Asker's Testimonial "explanation very clear. will give it a go and see how simple it was. thanks Ronnie " - ronnieshomes

First I would run the hot water until hot. Then start the dishwasher on the longest setting with the dispenser door closed( no detergent). Then after about 10-15 minutes open the door and check to see if the dispenser door opened, it should have. Then pour in about 1 cup of white vinegar and let the dishwasher finish. When the dishwasher reaches the end of the cycle open the door and it should be hot and steamy. If not check the heating element. If it is hot this should have cleaned it out, now try it with a load of dishes.

Dishwasher heating element replacement

Try whispering sweet-nothings into its ear and kissing it. This always gets me "hot and steamy". ha, ha

But seriously, the steam you see in your dishwasher is created when the heating element inside the dishwasher heats the water up even higher than your water heater. This provides extra cleaning power. The heating element is also turned on during the drying cycle to help dry the dishes quickly. That is why you get a blast of steam when you open the door at the end of its cycle.

So no steam means either the element is bad (likely) or the controller/timer is bad (hopefully not, $$). If you know how to use an ohmmeter then you can "ohm out" the element and see if it is open (unplug the power first!!). If not, you can remove the element and take it to your parts store and ask them to do it (again, turn off the power first!!!).

If this helps you, please select YES to the first two ratings questions. Thank you, and Good Luck.

Travis,

I had exactly the same problem with my LG dishwasher. What I found is I had tried to save some $$ by buying an ultra low cost Dishwasher detergent. As soon as I switched back to a brand name (Electrosol or Cascade powder) my problems went away, including the soap dissolving and washing out of the tray.

If this does not fix your problem, post back here and we can take the next step, which is probably a blocked filter or failed heating element. (but you should be getting an error message if the heating element has failed.

Good Luck!

When the heating element fails on dishwashers, the wash cycle water can not be heated high enough the activate the DW detergent powder.

Replacing the heating element should fix you right up.

Also, resist the temptation to switch the a cheap, generic powder. A brand name e.g. Electrosol or Cascade powder is proven to work well. The ultra-cheap powder will leave white patches on the dishes and it will not dissolve completely, even when the heating element is working properly.

Good Luck!

I know it sounds strange, but many times when detergent dissolve, a failed heating element is to blame. The detergent needs that water to be hot to dissolve and activate the detergent.

Recommend you check the heating element for obvious damage/failure. When you run the full cycle, does the heating element get hot? If not, replacing it is not as hard as it appears. Post back here with further questions, OK?

If the heating element _is_ working, the other possibility is a failing wash pump motor, but depending on the age of your dishwasher, replacing

Never use tablets or gels in a dishwasher, especially in a water conserving DW like and LG dishwasher.
Buy a box of Electrosol or Cascade powder -- not a cheap generic product. You will be amazed at the difference. Tell a friend.

Good Luck!

Either your dishwasher is not getting the water hot enough to dissolve the powder, or you need to switch brands. Try a liquid/gel type of dishwasher detergent.
Try stopping the washer a few minutes after you start a wash cycle. Open the door -- if there is a lot of steam coming out at you, it's not the water temperature. If there is no steam, your dishwasher is not getting hot water and/or the heating coil is not working.