The Virtual Repairman's Appliance Help

[cal2050]

We have a GE Potscrubber 720 (Model GSD720X-72BA) that came with the house that we purchased so it is at least 4 years old now. The dishwasher has performed fine up until about 2 weeks ago when it started leaving dishes from the bottom rack dirty (silverware and plates looks foggy and smeared).

I also noticed that the water on the bottom of the tub is not draining out completely, leaving about 1/2 inch, although it is not visible until the cage is taken off. I checked the filter in the bottom after taking off the cage and removed a couple of small obstructions but that did not seem to do the trick as I just ran it again last night and still experienced the problem.

I checked the jet ports on the arms and there does not seem to be any obstructions. Our hot water tank is set at about 125 degrees and I have not been overfilling the detergent as we have city water/city sewer.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[Virtual Repairman]

There will always be a bit of water left under that strainer...it is designed to keep the pump seals from drying out during periods of inactivity. You can always test the output of your pump by allowing the unit to fill, then switch to the end of the final rinse so it will start draining. Monitor the discharge into the disposer (or sink) to ensure that there is a steady flow of water from the dishwasher. The tub should be empty within 30 seconds after the pump starts. The water below the strainer is normal, we just don't want to see it in the tub. Be sure your drain hose is not brought in from the bottom of the sink instead of at the top. This will cause difficulty draining and will trap debris in the hose run.

It may be a water level issue that is preventing your pump from washing properly. Over time, the water valve collects calcium precipitate from the water supply and becomes clogged. When this happens, water volume delivered to the tank is severely reduced which translates into poor washing. My recommendation is two-fold:

a. Replace the water valve every few years for best results, especially in hard water conditions.
b. Use a dishwasher treatment such as Affresh every month to prevent buildups in the lower pump area and keep the drain line clear.

The valve for your model is shown below and it is located just behind the lower panel. A 15 minute repair that should bring life back to your dishwasher. (Save the brass fitting from the old valve and transfer it to the new one using Teflon tape or pipe dope on the threads.)

Water Valve- click to order

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