Dishwasher Repair in Cape Town

Dishwashers in Cape Town homes

Dishwashers are standard in many Cape Town kitchens, from compact apartments in Sea Point and Century City to family homes in Durbanville and Constantia. Water awareness runs deep in Cape Town after the drought years, and a modern dishwasher typically uses less water than washing the same load by hand. When it breaks, though, the dishes pile up quickly.

Dishwasher faults we fix most in Cape Town

Not draining

A blocked filter, a kinked drain hose or a failed drain pump. Food scraps, bones, glass and labels from jars are the usual culprits.

Not cleaning properly

Clogged filters and spray arms, overloading, old detergent or a weak wash pump.

Not drying or heating

A failed heating element, thermostat or sensor, or an empty rinse aid dispenser.

Leaking

Worn door seals, cracked hoses, a leaking pump or sump, or foam from using dishwashing liquid by mistake.

Not filling

A partly closed tap, a blocked inlet filter or a faulty inlet valve.

Error codes on Cape Town dishwashers

Codes usually point to water supply, drainage, heating, leak detection or door faults. Send us a photo of the code and the model sticker on the side of the door.

Integrated dishwashers in Cape Town kitchens

Many newer Cape Town kitchens hide the dishwasher behind a cabinet door. That looks great, but leaks go unnoticed until the kickplate swells or the floor is damp. If you see either, switch off at the wall and close the tap. We remove and refit integrated dishwashers carefully, protecting cabinet doors, kickplates and flooring, and realign the door afterwards.

Soft water and cloudy glasses

Cape Town's municipal water is generally soft, which is good for preventing scale. But soft water combined with too much detergent and very hot programmes can cause etching, a permanent cloudiness on glasses. If cloudiness does not wipe off with vinegar, it is etching. Use less detergent, check the hardness setting and avoid the hottest programmes for glassware. In areas that use borehole water, such as some smallholdings and farms, hard water scale is the more likely cause.

Dishwashers in Cape Town holiday homes

In South Peninsula, Hermanus and West Coast holiday homes, dishwashers that stand unused develop seized pumps, smells and dried seals. Before you lock up, run a hot empty cycle, clean the filter, leave the door ajar and close the tap.

Looking after your dishwasher

• Scrape plates, but you do not need to rinse them.
• Clean the filter weekly.
• Keep rinse aid topped up.
• Use dishwasher detergent only, never dishwashing liquid.
• Run a hot cleaning cycle monthly.
• Use surge protection.

Repair or replace your Cape Town dishwasher?

Pumps, elements, seals, valves and spray arms are worth repairing. On older budget machines with a failed control board, a replacement may make more sense. We give you the price and an honest view first.