Whirlpool Dishwasher Maintenance
Whirlpool dishwashers have been around since 1911. Whirlpools are reliable--the company has a reputation for building quality products. As with any major appliance, however, regular maintenance is necessary to keep your dishwasher running properly.
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Filtering
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If you regularly use your dishwasher, choose a Whirlpool model that has a hard-food disposer or one with self-cleaning filters. Other Whirlpool dishwashers, if handling dishes that have not been pre-rinsed, can clog over time. A hard-food disposer allows you to skip the pre-rinse and it never needs to be cleaned. If your Whirlpool does not have a hard-food disposer, you will need to take out the filters and empty the contents. Make sure to do this regularly to keep your dishes clean.
Hard Water
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If you have hard water in your area, make sure to clean deposits in your dishwasher regularly. Hard water is the result of excess alkaline or calcium in your water. Alkaline is a base metal that dissolves in water. When the water dries, it leaves a deposit behind, often white and brittle.
The buildup in your Whirlpool can affect performance. If you have hard water, choose a Whirlpool that has a high temperature scrub option and a rinse-aid dispenser. You can set the rinse-aid dispenser to a high setting to use less dishwashing detergent. Too much detergent combined with hard water can damage glassware. To clean out deposits, run the dishwasher at a high temperature setting with some lemon juice in the detergent well. Lemon juice has citric acid in it. Citric acid naturally breaks down alkaline and will remove hard-water deposits from your dishwasher.
Drain Air Gap
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If your Whirlpool dishwasher is not draining properly, you may need to drain the air gap. The air gap is not included with all Whirlpool dishwashers, but some plumbing codes require an air gap when a new dishwasher is installed in a home. An air gap is a drain between the home drainage system and the drainage system of the dishwasher. If the drain in your dishwasher is clogged, you can use the air gap to release excess water. The air gap is usually located on the sink next to the dishwasher. You should clean the air gap regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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