Have Rodents Damaged Your Dishwasher?

Posted on: 22 February 2019

Have you seen evidence of mice or rats lurking about your home? Has your dishwasher mysteriously stopped working? Rats and mice tend to do a lot more damage than many homeowners think possible. Those little critters can chew through the toughest of materials and destroy them fairly quickly. Here, you'll find a few tips to help you determine if the rodents have damaged your dishwasher and what you can do to fix the problem.

Finding the Damage

You will have to pull the dishwasher out from under the countertop before you can begin making any diagnosis. Remove the screws that secure it to the cabinet. At that point, it should slide right out.

If the dishwasher has any water left in it, try scooping it out with cups or ladles – a turkey baster may be the winning tool to empty the water. Get a few towels and lay them on the floor to absorb any water that remains.

Reach back and unplug the unit. Get a lamp or other small appliance to plug into the outlet to make sure that the electrical wiring hasn't been chewed. If the outlet is good, it's time to check the dishwasher.

Gently tip the dishwasher forward so that you can see the wires underneath. Don't forget – the water lines and drain lines are still connected. If they don't leave you enough slack to tip the unit over, you'll have to disconnect them from the unit.

Inspect the wiring carefully. It only takes one small nibble to render an electrical wire useless. If you find damage, mark it with a piece of electrical tape for now.

Repair the Damage

Once you've found the chewed wires, you'll have to decide if you can splice the wire back together or if the entire wiring harness will need to be replaced. In some cases, it will be easier and safer for you to order an entire new wiring harness rather than trying to splice those tiny wires together.

If you've found moisture under the dishwasher, don't forget to check the drain line and the water lines feeding into the unit. It's possible that the rodents have chewed those components as well.

If you're unable or just don't want to try to take on a repair such as this, talk with your local appliance repair technician for assistance. He or she will be able to find the problem and get the unit up and running for you.

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