A dishwasher that runs a full cycle but leaves food residue, cloudy glasses or gritty plates is usually suffering from one of four things. None of them are mysterious, and all of them are diagnosable in a single visit.
1. Blocked spray arm holes
Hard water in London and Surrey furs up the small jets in the spray arms. Once a few are blocked, water stops reaching the corners of the upper basket. It is worth taking the arms off and rinsing them under a tap — if the holes are crusted, that alone can account for the whole problem.
2. A clogged filter and sump
Food debris collects in the filter at the base. Left long enough it starts to smell and restricts circulation. Cleaning it monthly is the single best habit for dishwasher longevity.
3. Low water level from a failing inlet valve
The machine fills more slowly than it should, so the pump sprays a weaker jet. You will often hear a longer fill time, or the cycle running noticeably longer. An inlet valve is a modest part and a quick swap.
4. A weak heater
If the water never gets hot enough, detergent cannot dissolve properly and greasy residue stays on the plates. This one needs testing with a meter — it is not something you can see.
What we charge
Dishwasher repairs carry a £90 fixed labour charge, because integrated machines take longer to access and test. As always, any part is quoted before we fit it, and a return visit to fit a part carries no additional labour.
Two things worth checking before you book
Use a decent rinse aid and check the salt level — soft water and a proper rinse dramatically change results. If the results are still poor after a clean filter and full salt, book an engineer rather than replacing a machine that is probably perfectly repairable.