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Thread Number: 82389
/ Tag: Modern Dishwashers
New Whirlpool Dishwasher Questions |
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Post# 1064186 3/22/2020 at 19:51 (1,489 days old) by littlegreeny  (Milwaukee, WI) |
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I purchased a new Whirlpool dishwasher model #WDT730PAHZ to replace a BOL Frigidaire that died after only 5 years of use. I installed it last Wednesday and have tried all the cycles except heavy wash. I've been extremely pleased with how well it washes. I haven't had one item come out with a speck of soil. It's relatively quiet too.
I do have a few questions. Sometimes it will pause and drain a little water and refill. Is that what folks call a "purge"? What is it doing? One thing that disappoints me is the lack of drying. It was supposed to have a fan but I don't hear or see any evidence of a fan. I found I get acceptable drying just by leaving the heated dry off and opening it up right after the cycle to have everything flash dry. I've read that Whirlpool dws are very reliable. It sounds like they had issues with the top rack breaking, control boards and main wash motors going out. Have these issues generally been resolved? Should I invest in an extended warranty or is it a waste of money? I purchased it at Best Buy and was thinking about buying their Geek Squad warranty. Does anyone have any experience with them? | ||
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Post# 1064190 , Reply# 1 3/22/2020 at 20:04 (1,489 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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Post# 1064219 , Reply# 3 3/22/2020 at 23:03 (1,488 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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I've mostly used the normal cycle. I tried the sensor cycle a few times and felt like it worked well but is about 3 hours. I ran the 1 hour wash yesterday and was very surprised how well everything turned out. I have not yet tried the sanitize option but was planning to with my next load as I had a plate with raw chicken on it.
I tried the heated dry and didn't really notice much of a difference in drying. I also did the heated wash a few times. Not sure what cycle I should really be using as every cycle has given me great results. It seems like the manual was suggesting to use the sensor cycle for most loads though. I use Trader Joe's powder and Lemishine rinse aid, and have been very happy with this combo. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy with this dishwasher. Before the Frigidaire, I had a Bosch and find the performance comparable and think this dishwasher is a bargain considering how well and quietly it washes. | ||
| Post# 1064264 , Reply# 4 3/23/2020 at 08:50 (1,488 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan) | ||
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A nice and better upgrade for sure! Your old Frgidaire was a low end machine. Some builders buy bulk aplliances but only cheap ones. You have nylon racks now that don't rust. | ||
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Post# 1064304 , Reply# 5 3/23/2020 at 13:19 (1,488 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Upgrade!
Yes, I'm very happy having nylon racks once again! The vinyl racks in the Frigidaire had rusty tips. All my plates have little rust marks on the back now.
Thanks for the replies so far. I plan to try using the sensor cycle with high heat wash and heated dry. I'd still like to learn more about what it's doing during a purge. Is it just changing some water or is it flushing the filter, or both? And I'd also love everyone's opinion on Whirlpool dw reliability and whether I should purchase an extended warranty. | ||
| Post# 1064315 , Reply# 6 3/23/2020 at 13:55 (1,488 days old) by johnb300m (Chicago) | ||
Hey Littlegreeny, congrats!
The WP-based dishwashers I think are some of the best out there up with Bosch. While they're generally not "trouble-free," they're certainly some of the most reliable out there. And if something breaks or goes wrong, they're usually pretty easy and affordable to fix. I have a KA dw, based on this same, now "old" platform, and it washes extremely well. There's only a few things that it struggles with IME, but these trip up all dishwashers, and that's "protein stains" on pans and cookware. Stains like from cooking chicken mostly. The soils will be washed away, but there's that white powdery protein stain left. Otherwise, everything is spotless unless I made a loading mistake. During some wash cycles, like if heavy soil is sensed, or when using Hi Temp/Sani, where they cycle usually defauts to a "hi soil" sequence, it will do 1 or more purges. A purge on the filter cup based wash system will fill the sump with about 1/2 a water charge, and pulse the pump to the upper rack. The water in the upper feed tube will fall back through the pump, back flushing the filter cup several times. It then drains this water and proceeds to the next segment. Doing this seems to be quite effective in Whirlpool's filter cup based systems keeping that filter cup quite clean! Sometimes there will be soil stuck on that filter cup, but after subsequent lighter cycles and purges, the cup will be clean again. It's often not necessary to clean the filter up more than once every 2-4 months based on your loading style. And if you're someone who pre-rinses, you might not need to clean the filter cup more than ONCE in a YEAR. (Depending on your water quality/hardness). Enjoy. I think you'll come to really like your WP dw. | ||
| Post# 1064331 , Reply# 7 3/23/2020 at 16:09 (1,488 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY) | ||
Nice Dishwasher
I remember back in mid-2014 when I got my Maytag (Whirlpool) dishwasher, I had read of problems with the control boards and expect them to go out and yet I have never had a single issue after almost 6 years.
I always open the dishwasher when done, shake the racks, and in a few hours everything is dry. I don't necessarily need to unload it right then, but I'm sure some people will need to use heated dry as they need to unload immediately. There was a theory on here a while back that I remember reading and that was for ovens and dishwashers. Using self-clean on your oven or the drying cycle on your dishwasher could shorten the life of the control boards. How true that would be? I don't know. I just remember reading it and it stuck in my mind. Could be total BS. | ||
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Post# 1064344 , Reply# 9 3/23/2020 at 17:27 (1,488 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Thanks guys!
John, that was an excellent explanation of the purge cycle! I could totally visualize it. It definitely works as I checked the filter a few times and it's virtually spotless. And I don't pre-rinse.
I haven't been so excited to run my dishwasher in years! LOL Running the sensor cycle with sani-rinse and heated dry options now. | ||
| Post# 1064374 , Reply# 10 3/24/2020 at 01:00 (1,487 days old) by seedub (South Texas Hill Country) | ||
Not certain that anyone answered your question re: pauses followed by a drain and fill sequence.
It sounds like the routine performed early in the cycle when the unit is sensing - the soil sensor during the pause in action takes a reading of the turbidity of the water (how much gunk is in it), then drains a little of the water off, and replaces it with fresh water. Most sensor machines, if the water is still sufficiently turbid at the end of this sensing period, will then drain out all of the water and do two or so rinses before moving to the main wash. If the soil level is light, they might open up the detergent cup, switch on the heater, and move straight to the main wash. I may have gotten that a bit wrong, and your machine might be different, but I'm 88% certain that's what's going on. | ||
| Post# 1064413 , Reply# 12 3/24/2020 at 11:04 (1,487 days old) by johnb300m (Chicago) | ||
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Are we taking about different generations of WP machines?
Only the Voyager pump models did “automatic purge filtration” segments where they would drain portions of water and add portions of fresh water. The filter cup based models “do not” do that. They will drain fully. Run a purge sequence. Then fully refill to continue washing. | ||
| Post# 1064419 , Reply# 13 3/24/2020 at 11:46 (1,487 days old) by seedub (South Texas Hill Country) | ||
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Post# 1064425 , Reply# 14 3/24/2020 at 13:30 (1,487 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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different generations Yes. We are talking different generations of dishwashers from whirlpool. | ||
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Post# 1064427 , Reply# 15 3/24/2020 at 13:54 (1,487 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Voyager?
I don't know what generations had the voyager pump but as far as I can tell, mine seems to be purging a little water and then doing a partial fill of fresh water during the normal cycle all while the main wash pump is operating.
This morning I ran a load on the sensor wash cycle with high temp wash and heated dry options selected. I had more greasy items today from making bacon this morning. It did two pre-washes and then proceeded to the main wash. After the main wash it seemed to do a partial fill, pulse the pump, drain, fill, rinse then drain and fill for final rinse. I noticed it seemed to do a partial dirty water purge when I ran the normal cycle with high temp wash and heated dry selected. I'll use that cycle and options on my next cycle and will pay close attention to what it's doing. | ||
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Post# 1064429 , Reply# 16 3/24/2020 at 14:58 (1,487 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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point/voyager I believe the tall tub point voyager went from 2001-2011 if I'm not mistaken. Somebody please correct me. They had the hard food disposer. | ||
| Post# 1064437 , Reply# 17 3/24/2020 at 16:05 (1,487 days old) by johnb300m (Chicago) | ||
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Model # | ||
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Post# 1064447 , Reply# 18 3/24/2020 at 17:23 (1,487 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Post# 1064448 , Reply# 19 3/24/2020 at 17:23 (1,487 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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| Post# 1064457 , Reply# 20 3/24/2020 at 18:05 (1,487 days old) by johnb300m (Chicago) | ||
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Post# 1064499 , Reply# 22 3/24/2020 at 22:40 (1,486 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Normal wash...
Running the normal wash now with high temp wash and heated dry options on a very dirty load. It did three pre-rinses and two purges before it went into the main wash. I don't think it's done three pre-rinses yet. If the normal wash senses the load, what's the difference between the normal wash and the sensor wash?
I'm very happy with this dishwasher. And I'm having fun reading older threads from folks like murando531 who have versions of this dishwasher. | ||
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Post# 1064524 , Reply# 23 3/25/2020 at 06:30 (1,486 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany)) |
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Normal is the label, standard cycle for energy testing. Sensor is simmilar, but less efficency orientated. Probably more water usage (I think the lowest usage for normal is like half a gallon or so less than sensor) higher temps and shorter cycle times. | ||
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Post# 1064639 , Reply# 24 3/25/2020 at 22:56 (1,485 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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I found the fan...
The fan exhausts at the left bottom of the door. I noticed it goes on throughout the wash cycle. It seems to go on every time the top wash arm is going, which is only for a minute or so then the bottom arm goes for several minutes (maybe it's the other way around, it was hard to tell since it's so quiet). The fan turns on during the drying phase and stays on after the clean light goes on when the cycle is complete. Not sure how long it stays on after the cycle is finished. There are photos of the vent fan assembly online and the fan itself it looks like a computer fan.
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Post# 1064661 , Reply# 25 3/26/2020 at 07:12 (1,485 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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Post# 1064666 , Reply# 26 3/26/2020 at 07:52 (1,485 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Post# 1078273 , Reply# 27 6/22/2020 at 17:45 (1,397 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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First issue...
I found this little rubber thingy on the floor by the dishwasher. I googled "rubber thing on floor in front of Whirlpool dishwasher" and see this is a friction pad, a poorly engineered part to say the least. Does Whirlpool seriously think these little rubber parts will last the life of an appliance? Mine lasted 3 months.
I sent WP a message through their website explaining the situation and giving them the part number. I asked if they would send me the part as it seems easy to repair myself. Other than that, I have been happy with the performance of it. It cleans well, holds a lot and is very forgiving of Bob loads. The thing I HATE is the terrible screech the top rack makes anytime you move it though.
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Post# 1078308 , Reply# 28 6/22/2020 at 21:29 (1,397 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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WP DW Friction Pad ? | ||
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Post# 1078321 , Reply# 29 6/22/2020 at 22:15 (1,396 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Looks like mine ripped apart. It attaches to the door hinge assembly and aids in holding the door up in any position. The door is still holding for the most part because it still has one of these pads. Here's a repair video showing the location:
CLICK HERE TO GO TO littlegreeny's LINK | ||
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Post# 1078367 , Reply# 31 6/23/2020 at 11:31 (1,396 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Drying
It's okay at drying. When the cycle is first finished, items are hot but wet. I open up the door about two inches immediately after the cycle finishes to let everything flash dry so 99% of the items are dry within an hour. I have started loads in the late evening and waited until morning to open the door and pretty much everything is dry by then. I use the sensor cycle with high-temp wash and heated dry.
Did your WP leak before you replaced it with the Bosch? | ||
| Post# 1078497 , Reply# 32 6/24/2020 at 14:28 (1,395 days old) by murando531 (Augusta, Georgia - US) | ||
That rubber fitting is on both sides of the door hinge on all WP models with plastic tubs, and if it scrubs against anything like the side of the cabinet like a shim or trim piece, it'll cause extra friction than normal. Sometimes the issue is in the frame or hinge itself, and while not an actual "problem", if the hinge arm is moving too closely against the smooth part of the frame where it's designed to act as a snubber pad, it will instead cause a scissor effect and tear the pad itself. My Maytag 4709 model had the right side fall off after about 6 months, and I actually ordered a little pack with two spares, but I repaired the old one with super glue and put a little on the undamaged side too as reinforcement, and it lasted the entire remainder of time I had the machine until it went to my father-in-law's about five years ago, where it seems to still be holding to this day. Interestingly, I had a 520 model for a while for testing that never lost either of its pads, and a 710 model that is now living with our old house that we just moved from, also with no problem from the pads. And now we're in an apartment with a Kenmore badged WP 520 equivalent that also has both pads still.
If you take the kick plate off the machine, and if you're dexterous enough in tight spaces, you shouldn't have to pull the machine out or dismount it. Just reach up and unlink the spring coupler off the hinge arm (just BE CAREFUL to firmly hold it and lower it to prevent it slipping and popping your hand), slip the new or repaired snubber pad over the hinge, and hook the spring coupler back on. Otherwise, you could slide the machine out just a few inches and it'll take 60 seconds to fix. In this case, since you'll have it out, check to see if the hinge arm is bent at all towards the frame (this can happen commonly in shipping) you could try just slightly straightening it back out and that will reduce the chance that the opening/closing is going to cleave the snubber again. | ||
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Post# 1078552 , Reply# 33 6/24/2020 at 19:23 (1,395 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Andrew | ||
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Post# 1078774 , Reply# 34 6/26/2020 at 18:10 (1,393 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Update | ||
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Post# 1122287 , Reply# 36 7/4/2021 at 03:25 (1,020 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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take notice. When the dishwasher switches to bhe bottom arm, you will hear it speeding up and slowing down. It does on my dishwasher due to the powerwave spray arm. If I'm not mistaken, yours may have the totalcoverage spray arm. | ||
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Post# 1122314 , Reply# 37 7/4/2021 at 13:09 (1,020 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Mine has the standard lower spray arm which does a fantastic job getting everything clean.
Since my last post WP sent me the friction pad and I replaced it in about 10 minutes. No issues with anything since then. The sensor wash with heated dry does an excellent job cleaning and my dishes are very hot and flash dry in just a few minutes. Overall, I am very happy with this dishwasher. It's used heavily anywhere from 1-3 loads per day. I feel it was a relative bargain at $399 and still haven't seen it anywhere near that price since then. | ||
| Post# 1122356 , Reply# 38 7/4/2021 at 23:44 (1,019 days old) by maytaga806 (Howell, Michigan) | ||
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Post# 1195173 , Reply# 40 12/11/2023 at 00:09 by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Not filling with enough water
The frequency of the wash pump was always changing, like it was cavitating. Today I decided to add a few cups of water and the sound stopped. It was finally washing with no strange frequency changes.
Now, are WP dishwashers known to cavitate? Should I be concerned? Wondering if perhaps I should check the inlet screen at the fill valve or maybe the fill valve needs replacing? It cavitates during all wash/rinse periods. | ||
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Post# 1195181 , Reply# 41 12/11/2023 at 07:30 by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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New whirlpool dishwasher?
As always, it would be very helpful to have a model number when you’re asking questions about a machine.
In general, you could have a bad inlet valve, the likelihood of the screen being blocked is about Neil unless you’re having extreme problems with blocky just throughout your house on things that use hot water, showerhead, faucets, etc. I don’t think the dishwasher should be making a cavitating or surging sound when running. John | ||
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Post# 1195183 , Reply# 42 12/11/2023 at 08:04 by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Thanks John.
The model number was listed further up the thread; it's #WDT730PAHZ0.
Obviously it's not new anymore, I've had it 3.5 years. It's made this sound for as long as I can remember. I was near it last night tidying up and on a whim decided to add more water. I'm just not sure what I should do. It cleans really well with the little water it uses. I just don't want its lifespan to be shorter because the wash pump is struggling from lack of water unless it's operating as designed??? | ||
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Post# 1195207 , Reply# 44 12/11/2023 at 18:57 by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Thanks Henrik
You bring up good points that perhaps it's not worth it. But I do find the noise it makes annoying. I guess it's not full on cavitating but you can tell it's pulling in some air as it's running, which changes the frequency or cadence of the sound the wash motor makes. I thought maybe the filter was the cause and keep it pretty spotless so it's not because of that if anyone was wondering. It's definitely a low water level in the tub.
I'm curious if anyone else who has a fairly new Whirlpool-made dishwasher noticed a different cadence from the wash pump? | ||
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Post# 1195216 , Reply# 45 12/11/2023 at 20:39 by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Possible possible low fill on a new whirlpool dishwasher | ||
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Post# 1195225 , Reply# 46 12/11/2023 at 22:18 by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Thanks John! | ||
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Post# 1195277 , Reply# 47 12/12/2023 at 16:54 by appnut (TX) |
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Post# 1195286 , Reply# 48 12/12/2023 at 20:41 by lakewebsterkid (Dayton, Ohio) |
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cavitation Does this just happen during the main wash, or does it occur during prewash and rinses? | ||
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Post# 1195287 , Reply# 49 12/12/2023 at 21:38 by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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cavitation I've only had cavitation happen during the start of prewash. | ||
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Post# 1195290 , Reply# 50 12/12/2023 at 22:03 by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Post# 1195308 , Reply# 51 12/13/2023 at 08:57 by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Brief, poor quality video
Here is a brief video I took in the dark last night of it running during the main wash. Wear earbuds to hear the sounds I'm describing, especially evident near the end.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO littlegreeny's LINK | ||
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Post# 1195311 , Reply# 52 12/13/2023 at 10:29 by appnut (TX) |
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Post# 1195315 , Reply# 53 12/13/2023 at 12:34 by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Bob, | ||
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Post# 1195333 , Reply# 55 12/13/2023 at 17:46 by appnut (TX) |
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Post# 1195336 , Reply# 56 12/13/2023 at 18:29 by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI) |
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Suds | ||
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