Can Slow Water Pressure Make a Dishwasher Not Work?

Low Pressure Symptoms

• The main symptom of low water pressure is that dishes are not completely clean. There might be particles of food clinging to them, and they could be covered by a film of soap. If your water pressure is too low, the jets in your washer will not have enough force to knock off all the food and rinse the soap. You should suspect low water pressure if the water level in your washer is low.

Low Pressure Solutions

• To maintain proper pressure, your water should be delivered through 3/8-inch-wide copper water line or 1/2-inch-wide CPVC water line. If your water pressure is too low, add a booster pump to the supply line. The valve that regulates the water filling a dishwasher usually has a filter that blocks sediment and sand. A clogged filter prevents the valve from doing its job. You can often clean the filter, but you sometimes have to replace the valve.

Water Temperature

• The water temperature in your dishwasher should be 120 degrees F. This is the temperature commonly available in taps. If the water is not hot enough, it might be unable to remove all the food and soap from your dishes, leading you to think your problem is low water pressure.

Other Problems

• Jet nozzles clogged by food deposits can reduce the pressure of the water hitting your dishes, effectively lowering the water pressure. Remove and clean the nozzles. Load your dishes correctly. Your dishes should face the jets of water and be tilted to help them blast off bits of food and soap. All dishwashers have different interior designs; check your owner’s manual to see the correct way to load your brand and model. Use only the recommended detergent, and if your water is hard, you might have to use more detergent. If your dishes never get perfectly clean, it could be that you are using an energy-saving short cycle when a long cycle is required.