Can You Break a Dishwasher by Shattering Glass?

Pump Intake

• Your dishwasher fills the bottom of the tub with water that's heated by the heat element. The water is then drawn into the pump and sprayed out through the rotating arm inside the machine. Broken glass that falls into the bottom of the tub may become stuck or lodged in the machine’s pump intake screen. The dishwasher will make a loud grinding sound, indicating the intake is blocked. You must clean out the intake screen before trying to run the appliance again.

Pump Damage

• Glass shards that make their way through the intake screen can cause extensive damage. The shards may damage the pump's internal parts or jam the moving parts. If you suspect the glass shards have passed through the pump’s intake valve, you need to remove the pump and remove any glass shards before using the dishwasher again.

Hoses

• Glass shards can become dangerous projectiles as they flow into and out of the machine’s pump. They can cut through the hoses that connect to the pump and cause leaks. Water may spill onto the floor under the dishwasher, warping the floor and damaging the sub floor and drywall ceiling below.

Disposal

• Some dishwashers come with a disposal in the bottom of the tub. Like the disposal in your kitchen sink, a dishwasher’s disposal works to break apart food debris so the debris does not clog the pump or the water hoses. Glass shards lodged in the disposal’s moving parts may place a high amount of stress on the disposal and possibly cause it to burn out. Removing the glass could make the disposal operational again, but you may have to replace the disposal.