How to Troubleshoot a KitchenAid Superba Washer

Run Issues

• 1

  Check your home circuit breakers and fuses to see if they have tripped or blown should your KitchenAid Superba fail to turn on at all. Inspect the front door of your Superba dishwasher if the machine fails to turn on or if the "Start/Resume" indicator is lit. The door must not only be in the closed position, but the top locking mechanism must also be engaged for it to run.

• 2

  Check that the wash system is not blocked, and that a washing cycle is selected on the keypad at the top of the door frame. If there is a blockage, rearrange the dishes and try the machine again. If your machine still will not run, contact KitchenAid customer service at 800-422-1230.

• 3

  Turn on your kitchen tap and prime the hot water system prior to starting your dishwasher if it seems to be taking longer than normal to complete a wash. The immediate supply of hot water can eliminate the need for your machine to heat the water before starting the wash cycle. If the problem persists, consider changing to a one-hour wash by clicking the corresponding selection on your control panel.

• 4

  Locate and inspect your water supply valves if your Superba dishwasher fails to fill with water at the start of a new cycle. If the supply lines are operational, check the right side of the dishwasher at the bottom, toward the front, where you will find the overfill protection float. If this mechanism is blocked or clogged in any way it can cause your machine to stop filling as a preventative measure against flooding.

• 5

  Close the front door of your washer securely if the water in the base of the machine has failed to drain out. If the cycle has completed and water remains, inspect the inside bottom of the machine for blockages in the drain. If there is still nothing, move to the drain hose and check for bends that may be cutting off the path of water. If you have a disposal connected to the dishwasher drain, check that all intake plugs have been removed.

• 6

  Contact KitchenAid customer service for assistance if the presence of suds in your machine causes your "Clean/Complete" warning light to blink.

Performance Issues

• 7

  Load your dishwasher according to the manufacturer's specifications for the best washing and drying results. Make sure there are no large pieces of food, hard items, labels or overlapping dishes in the machine. Place plastic items on the top rack, place cups and glasses on the slanted row in the bottom racks, and place silverware with half facing up, and half facing down in the provided carriers. Make sure there are no items blocking either the detergent compartment, or the spinning water nozzles.

• 8

  Check the settings on your home water heater. If the temperature of the water entering your dishwasher is lower than 120 degrees F, the results may be a failure to clean properly, or a failure to sanitize as indicated by a blinking "Sanitized" light on your control panel.

• 9

  Use dish drying additive if your plastic-ware remains damp at the end of a cycle. Other indicators of the need for a drying additive include film-covered, spotted or cloudy dishes or glassware. Place a measuring cup filled with 2 cups of white wine vinegar into the lower rack of your machine and run it on normal wash without heat dry to ensure clear glassware and dishes, and to eliminate any unpleasant odors you may be experiencing.

• 10

  Adjust the amount of detergent you use for the hardness of your water. Check your detergent packaging for information on how to adjust. Engage the Heat Dry function of your KitchenAid Superba dishwasher if your dishes fail to dry completely after a wash cycle.

• 11

  Listen to your dishwasher as it completes a wash cycle. When you are accustomed to the noises your machine normally makes, you will be more able to recognize strange or abnormal noises when they occur. Most of the time these unusual noises are the result of improper loading, but they can also be a result of a faulty installation. Reset the items inside the washer and run it again.