Thread Number: 70581  /  Tag: Modern Dishwashers
Why do modern dishwashers pause so much during the cycle?
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Post# 935256   4/29/2017 at 07:32 (2,524 days old) by maytaga806 (Howell, Michigan)        

Hello all, so Im still waiting on the water inlet valve to come as it should be here this week. Anyway, Im aware that newer style dishwashers seem to pause quite frequently during the cycles, as my Maytag Jetclean Plus does. I know its supposed to, as the manual says so, but they dont give a specific reasoning. Why does it pause during its cycles for about 15-20 seconds? Whats the point of it?




Post# 935259 , Reply# 1   4/29/2017 at 07:57 (2,524 days old) by Lorainfurniture (Cleveland )        

Sometimes it pauses to re heat the water, other times it pauses because there is a diverting valve that sends water to the upper,or the lower spray arm. It is a slow moving valve. I'm sure there are more reasons, but that's the 2 that I know of off the top of my head.

Post# 935262 , Reply# 2   4/29/2017 at 08:12 (2,524 days old) by stevet (West Melbourne, FL)        
Sensing time!

The main reason today's machines will pause is to allow the soil sensor in the sump/pump area to read the condition of the water and how much soil is suspended in it. It is an optical sensor so the water basically has to remain still. It will then signal the controller to adjust the cycle to the soil levels. There are times when my K/A tall tub will go right from the prewash to the main wash without draining because the water is "clean" and other times during the cycle it will partially drain and fill as it attempts to rid the water of the soil in it.This will happen during the main wash as well but rarely in our case.
They call it Automatic Purge Filtration and it seems to work well.


Post# 935263 , Reply# 3   4/29/2017 at 08:12 (2,524 days old) by appnut (TX)        

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Daniel, your Maytag is similar to my old Kenmore Elite.  Yours does not alternate between top and bottom rack spraying.  It runs both wash arms simultaneously.  Toward the end of the main wash cycle it stops & starts several times.  Pausing for about 5 to 10 seconds and starting up again.  This was a software change from the very first generation of tall tub Whirlpool designed dishwashers to overcome the lack of enough spray power to effectively clean taller glasses in the 4 corners of the top rack.  It pauses to have all the water gather back down in the sump and then the pump comes back on and has quite a bit of initial spray power.  My current Kenmore Elite, which alternates between top & bottom rack spraying, does not do this. I've had my new one for about 18 months and had forgotten about this. 


Post# 935302 , Reply# 4   4/29/2017 at 13:09 (2,524 days old) by seedub (South Texas Hill Country)        

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Curiously, my BOL Whirlpool WDF120PAF not equipped with a soil sensor, carries out these same pauses only during pre-rinses. This topic may finally help me get to the root reason for this. Is this a tall-tub model and I don't know it, making one of Bob's observations​ applicable? During Normal and Heavy cycles, pre rinses are accompanied by a purge along the lines of what Andrew describes​ in Post 64218 - tub fills with a tiny bit of water, then the pump pulses on and off. So then, could intermittent spraying while rinsing be some maneuver to ensure maximum cleanliness of the filtration system? Or, is it simply Bob's other point: it's a software function, and the software is programmed to do this on all WP machines?

Another poster's surmise re: water heating was true for a 2010 Frigidaire machine I used at a duplex I rented: there's a pause before the main wash and the final rinse begin during which time the heater element switches on and reaches max temperature. Then, while switching from the upper wash arm back to the lower, a longer than usual pause occurs I'm guessing to keep the burner at that max...or possibly as some primitive steam generation on the cheap - during the no-action intervals, water drips onto the element, generating steam?


Post# 935303 , Reply# 5   4/29/2017 at 13:35 (2,524 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

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my Kitchen Aid tall tub does the 'pulsed/burst' of water sprays during the Soak N'Scour if that cycle is selected....

I believe its heating the water in-between these short burst....very effective wash program if you ask me...

could also be part of any given machine, as some motors, especially pumps, are not designed for continuous duty, its around 45 seconds ON, and 15 seconds OFF type of setup....


Post# 935306 , Reply# 6   4/29/2017 at 13:49 (2,524 days old) by washerdude (Canada )        
No Soil Senor?

That sure sounds strange...at the time my Kenmore 15113 came out, it was the BOL model and even it features a soil sensor. I did note after multiple replacements of the main board (which was incorrectly diagnosed and was the wrong part replaced 2-3 times) the dishwasher seems to pause a LOT more than it did when it was new during the wash. Sounds like they defiantly modified the programming in the newer revisions of the board.

All I can make sense of this is that its the soil sensor taking the status of the water and looking to see how dirty the water is, based off of the waters cleanliness it either increases or decreases wash time.

It only appears to do this on the main wash and not the rinses, on the 1 hour wash cycle it never pauses other than the pre-washes.


Post# 935309 , Reply# 7   4/29/2017 at 14:08 (2,524 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

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Mine never pauses. The pump simply slows down a little for a few seconds as it alternates between lower, middle and ceiling sprayer.

Post# 935320 , Reply# 8   4/29/2017 at 15:55 (2,524 days old) by maytaga806 (Howell, Michigan)        

Yes, my Maytag is a soil sensing model.

Post# 935333 , Reply# 9   4/29/2017 at 17:07 (2,524 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

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Maybe it's pausing to catch its breath. Just like a non-athletic kid might need to pause a moment in PE class when he or she is being forced to run a long distance...

 

LOL


Post# 935335 , Reply# 10   4/29/2017 at 17:14 (2,524 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
Nice

Now we can actually equal HE-haters do bullies: People who hate people (or things) because... Yeah, why again when any rational view would devalid their statements?

Post# 935340 , Reply# 11   4/29/2017 at 18:22 (2,524 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)        
It makes sense that they'd

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Pause to measure the amount of soil in the water.

It also makes sense that a system with a low-power pump and low-level of water would occasionally let what little water there is gather in the sump to be thrown out with (relatively speaking) force to clean dishes outside of the reach of the regular minimal spray coming out of the slowly revolving arms.

 

In point of fact - this is precisely the reason GE 'reinvented' the multi-orbital arm! Exactly, precisely the reason.

 

As I've frequently mentioned, current low-water, low-energy, no-phosphate dishwashers, given several hours and thoroughly pre-scrubbed dishes can do an adequate job of washing them. That they don't rinse adequately is shown by the Bierschaum test.

 


Post# 935389 , Reply# 12   4/30/2017 at 00:21 (2,524 days old) by seedub (South Texas Hill Country)        

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@washerdude: nope, no soil sensor. My unit goes through the same sequence per cycle with no variations.

Post# 935423 , Reply# 13   4/30/2017 at 05:12 (2,524 days old) by retro-man (- boston,ma)        

I remember somewhere probably in this group, that one of the reasons for pausing was that this was to allow air to escape out of the system and to fill with water. There was an initial problem before this was put into place, that the system would get an air bubble in the pump lines somewhere and no water would come out or only a small amount. The starting and stopping allowed the air to purge out and work as normal.

Jon


Post# 935458 , Reply# 14   4/30/2017 at 09:24 (2,523 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)        
Another reason for the pause with the Electrolux system

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At least one they used for many years is to reversed the direction of the pump. This drives the ball into the other section of the divider, sending water to the wash arm that was previously not activated.

Of all the awful water saving dishwashers, this early design was by far the worst. Stupid ball was always gumming up with food residue.


Post# 935461 , Reply# 15   4/30/2017 at 09:48 (2,523 days old) by appnut (TX)        
A couple of other things I've forgotten

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My old model, the initial prewash fill would have a 5 second period where it would turn on the pump after it had begun filling for about 20-30 seconds and circulate pulsed water for 5-10 seconds.  As was explained to me by very knowledgeable whirlpool employee, this helps condition and balance hot/cold areas of the tub, especially with households with water heaters set at maximum of 150 to 160 degrees.  My current dishwasher does this on every fill on just about every cycle except pots & pans.  Something else I forgot on my old dishwasher.  Except on pots & pans cycle, the 1st post wash rinse fill was a partial fill and did a 15 second water circulate that sporadically shot water through the wash arms as it gather  back down in the sump.  After a while, I decided I wanted to full fill post wash rinses and pretty much used pots & pans.  Also on my old dishwasher, the 30 minute quick wash, the 1st post wash was also a partial fill and did the 15 second pump on and 45 second pause for 5 to 6 minutes.  On my current on on auto wash or normal wash cycle and normal soil sensed, the first post wash rinse fill does similar for about 7 minutes, all the while alternating wash levels too.  Again, I prefer two post wash rinse fills so I use either Pots & Pans or Smart Wash or Normal  Wash & select high temp wash to get 2 post wash rinse fills.  On Pots & Pans with either TurboZone or SaniRinse, I'll get 3 post wash rinse fills. 


Post# 935473 , Reply# 16   4/30/2017 at 11:12 (2,523 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

Interesting. I never heared of pausing DW in the EU, except for these first alternating arm systems with the ball valve.

What we have now is modular-speed systems. On some Eco cycles, the motor speed is reduced to lower the water throughput and thus allow lower fills.
Further we have watersaver tanks that save the final rinse water, and the sump volumes have be grately reduced.


Post# 935494 , Reply# 17   4/30/2017 at 13:17 (2,523 days old) by maytaga806 (Howell, Michigan)        

Totally makes sense that it would pause to detect the amount of soil in the water, apparently when it detects large amounts of soil in the water after a certain amount of time that its been washing, it will decide to drain. Its like it has a brain! LOL!

The very first fill of the cycle it the pump will kick on for about 10 seconds after its mostly filled up, then stop and continue filling. Only does that once.

Then, after the main wash has drained out of the tub on both Normal and Light cycles, it will fill the tub partially, the pump will kick on for about no longer than 10 seconds, then it immediately drains the water and refills for the final rinse and sanitize. I ALWAYS have sanitize on as an option. So this Maytag Jetclean fills 4 times for Heavy and Normal, and 3 times for Light. My old Hotpoint filled at least 5-7 times. I absolutely LOVE this dishwasher!


Post# 935503 , Reply# 18   4/30/2017 at 14:37 (2,523 days old) by Johnb300m (Chicago)        

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After reading a plethora of dishwasher technical education manuals these past few weeks, there are a few different reasons why some dishwashers will pause during the cycle.

- To calm the water in the sump for turbidity sensors to get accurate soil level readings.
- Time for diverter valves to move to their correct locations and modes.
- Time to allow soils to settle out of the sump or out of the filter mechanisms in preparation for draining.
- Brief, cyclical soak times to loosen soils in pre wash or main wash periods.


***There was no mention of pausing cycles to allow water to recollect in the sumps, in order to fully pressurize the system due to "under fill" conditions in order to save water.
This is a misnomer.

Many machines will purposely do one or a couple "Partial Fills" in order to save some water, or conduct a filter purge, and that's only when planned cavitation will occur.
But one thing ALL the brands have in common, is that they will have long or extra long fill times for maybe 1 pre-wash, definitely the Main wash, and definitely the final rinse, to ensure that the pump will be operating at full pressure.
None of them are designed to run any of their main wash/rinse programs with an underfill situation, unless the user's plumbing pressure is low or there's a fill valve malfunction.
All the fill valves are strategically designed for a specific flow rate, and the controller is timed to use that fill rate to its task.


Post# 935522 , Reply# 19   4/30/2017 at 16:22 (2,523 days old) by washman (o)        

My contractor grade Frigidaire does this during the normal cycle. There is no soil sensor in this unit, it runs on the preset cycle times, heats water if needed, then dries.


Post# 935573 , Reply# 20   4/30/2017 at 20:57 (2,523 days old) by fisherpaykel (BC Canada)        
Panthera-Bierschaum test

First Google hits re Bierschaum test I found were measuring the head on a beer pour-not knowing German I don't know the reason. How does this test relate to inadequate rinsing dishwashers? And yes, I want at least 2 full clean water rinses. Interestingly I have an antique English lead or flint glass which will not overfoam a bottle of beer poured in as fast as you can. I don't know if surface leached lead is the reason or something else.

Post# 935626 , Reply# 21   5/1/2017 at 05:14 (2,523 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

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Apparently, residue from detergent or rinse aid causes the head to collapse. Miele residential dishwashers had two cycles for beer glasses (warm and cold) that ran without detergent and rinse aid for that reason.

Post# 935662 , Reply# 22   5/1/2017 at 09:54 (2,522 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)        
Already explained

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It's an effective test. When I was looking for a dishwasher to replace my poor '79 3φ Miele I read about the test - it's been my index of cleanliness ever since.

 


Post# 935666 , Reply# 23   5/1/2017 at 10:57 (2,522 days old) by Iheartmaytag (Wichita, Kansas)        
On my Kitchenaid Tall Tub

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I always assumed the pauses were due to sensing.  Because, when you choose one of the cycles that are sensor cycles, Normal, Heavy, Light/China.  The Machine will fill pause, until the correct amount of water is obtained.  Then there are several pauses during the cycle, which again I assumed were due to the sensor.

 

If you choose the 1 hr cycle, no sensor.  The machine fills to the maximum amount washes, drains, fills.  No pausing.    Also goes to mention that the 1 hr cycle does not allow options so it doesn't have need to pause to heat water etc.

 


Post# 935757 , Reply# 24   5/1/2017 at 22:29 (2,522 days old) by volsboy1 (East Tenn Smoky mountains )        

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 Besides the senors and heating .They also pause because the motors a lot of them that I have worked on  Whirlpool and Frigidaire the ones with the Askol pumps say on the side of the motor.

15 mins on then 3 mins off or 15 min on 5 min off..They put such cheap motors in them now compared to the loud continuous duty type of the good days .


Post# 935810 , Reply# 25   5/2/2017 at 09:37 (2,521 days old) by johnb300m (Chicago)        
Motor duty cycles

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I must partially disagree with the reason machines pause is due to the ON-OFF duty cycle time of the wash pumps.
Granted, on many drain pumps they can overheat and must have rest periods.
But....we have seen several pieces of evidence on modern dishwashers already, that have these "wet rotor" motors with duty cycles stamped on their labels, yet they WILL run nonstop for a whole cycle segment and be perfectly fine.
I cannot explain why they have duty times on them and not abide by them. Yet some do, such as drain pumps.
But the pausing due to the duty cycle? I have to disagree.
Especially since whatever pausing does occur, never seems to be long enough to match the OFF duty time of the motor call-out.


Post# 935813 , Reply# 26   5/2/2017 at 09:56 (2,521 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)        
Duty times

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Assume certain conditions. I'd guess those conditions are considerably less well ventilated/not conduction cooled/hotter/closer to stall than what these motors are doing in modern dishwashers.

It's not as if they were actually moving any great volumes of water or being subject to tremendous thermal load without any cooling.

Be interesting to research the conditions behind those rating tags.

 

Same with the infamous solenoid and GE's pump. I've had some vintage potscrubbers which hold it down for longer than 15 seconds (Twenty-Eight Hundred, Twenty-Five Hundred) and some which do not. Same solenoid. Just, with that humongous fan blowing right on it in the shaded-pole motor version, who'd worry about it getting warm, much less hot?


Post# 935826 , Reply# 27   5/2/2017 at 11:36 (2,521 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Jeff told me about servicing a relatively new KA dw. There is a slowly turning motor which turns a disc in a valve body that selects which wash arm is being powered in that as it rotates, water is directed to different arms. When the valve interrupts the flow, there is no sound. Maybe that is what is happening when you hear nothing from the dw. The lovely thing is that the seal or bushing wears out and the pitiful stream of water that is directed through this motorized distribution valve then leaks down the shaft to the motor and takes it out.


Post# 1125700 , Reply# 28   8/13/2021 at 11:44 (957 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)        
dishwasher pausing

It pauses repeatedly to allow water to soak into the soil of the dishes for better removal.

Post# 1125714 , Reply# 29   8/13/2021 at 18:15 (957 days old) by Seedub (South Texas Hill Country)        
Edit to my earlier post here

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I learned later that my unit *IS* equipped with a soil sensor that works on the Normal cycle.


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