Standing water in the bottom of the dishwasher, dirty dishes or a white film on glasses are the three most common dishwasher complaints we hear. Most are caused by blockages and limescale, and many can be fixed with simple cleaning.
If water is left in the bottom
1. Clean the filter
Remove the lower basket and twist out the cylindrical filter in the base of the tub. Rinse it under the tap and scrub the mesh with a soft brush. A greasy, clogged filter is the most common reason for poor draining.
2. Check the drain hose and sink connection
Make sure the hose under the sink is not kinked. If it connects to the sink waste or a garbage disposal, check that connection is clear.
3. Listen to the drain pump
Start a drain or cancel cycle. A humming pump with no water moving suggests something stuck in the pump, such as glass, a seed or a label. Silence may mean a failed pump. On Bosch and Siemens machines, codes E24 and E25 point to drain blockages.
If dishes are not getting clean
- Spray arms blocked: remove them and clear the small holes with a toothpick.
- Overloading: items blocking the spray arms or detergent door.
- Wrong or old detergent: use fresh dishwasher tablets or powder.
- Heater not working: cold water does not dissolve grease. If dishes are cold and wet at the end, the heater may have failed.
- Weak circulation pump: poor spraying even with clean spray arms.
White film and cloudy glasses
This is hard-water scale, very common in the UAE. Fill the salt compartment with dishwasher salt, keep rinse aid topped up, and set the water hardness in the settings menu. Run an empty hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner monthly.
Water on the floor or an anti-flood error
If the dishwasher shows E15 (Bosch/Siemens) or similar, water has collected in the base tray. Switch off the water and power. Too much foam from washing-up liquid is a common cause; otherwise a hose, seal or pump is leaking and needs repair.
Need help? We repair built-in and freestanding dishwashers from all major brands across the UAE. See our dishwasher repair service.
Need a technician?
Our dishwasher technicians work across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Al Ain and RAK. Tell us the brand and the problem and we will confirm a visit time.