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We all have been there, visit a customer house with a built in dishwasher or what-have-you.
Diagnose a fault, “yep sounds like a drain pump failure” without taking the appliance apart, ordered the part and return another day only to find that the Bush (Haier produced) dishwasher installation is not what it seems. I merely glanced at the plug and assumed that the other services would be easy to access to but oh no I was wrong.
One of those dreaded DIY kitchen unit cum island, drain hose was boxed in (I can’t work out where is it and have a vague idea of the location) and so is the inlet hose that you can’t see it or reach it but appears to be behind the kitchen waste pipe which is kinda jammed in. The only way to get to it is to get on the other side by removing the actual kitchen unit so I had to abandon the idea. Also the plug was kinda stretched to reach to the socket which you can’t reach it very well without having to remove the shelves next to the dishwasher at a 90 deg angle and tons of plastic bags.
That’s half of the story, I suctioned the greasy roast chicken dinner murky water that puts me off Roast Chicken dinner for a while then once you have managed to pull out the dishwasher with the hoses intact then access is compromised but you know you need to fix it so you have to impersonate Houdini. Once you have done that, replace the drain pump – easy enough. Reposition the dishwasher back, then you discovered the plug has fallen through the gap behind the unit which was about three inches gap from the back of the unit and the wall. Usually most kitchen backing are hardboard but this one is chipboard throughout. So my hopes on using hack saw to create a bigger opening was dashed. The only way to retrieve it is to impersonate the Elastic Girl and some help with a bicycle cable, a large “dentist” mirror and torch. After 15 mins of sweating and cursing quietly on trying to retrieve it, plug it in. The main objective achieved – drain pump works(!) but this excitement was short lived as the new error code came up as E4.
I spend the best three hours removing the dishwasher, fixing the drain pump and door hinges then reinstall it. However the error code did not manifest at the beginning just a dead drain pump caused by a shard of glass. This new error code suggests that a temperature sensor was faulty. In the end, conclusion – Do I want to dismantle the dishwasher because of the silly installation that is going to take me another 3 hours to locate a temperature sensor? No, so I gave up. The owner didn’t even offer me a cup of tea or biscuits not even a glass of water in this 30 deg heat during those three hours. I’ve decided that from now on, if the dishwasher or what-have-you is not installed in the correct manner (i.e.- according to the manufacture’s instruction) then I would not waste time on faffing about as it costed me time and money. So I told the owner to buy a new dishwasher preferably not cheap Chinese ones and improve access to the plug, hoses, etc then promptly “ran for the hills”. My wife says that she will advise all customers who employs me that they are to keep me sweet by plying with teas and biscuits if I am doing big jobs.
Normally I wouldn’t mind taking it out and reinvestigate but this particular installation really vexed me. Has anyone experienced something similar that you decided to abandon ship because of the time and faff?
Re: Built in appliances compromise your ability to repair
Half way down the third paragraph I would have walked! :eeek:
Steve
Re: Built in appliances compromise your ability to repair
If the appliance is fitted incorrectly and there is a chance you may damage the kitchen or it is difficult to remove.
I advise the customer to remove the appliance and rearrange the visit for me to repair.
I then charge a half price visit and advise it will be deducted from the bill on the next visit.
This way the customer is more likely to get you back to repair the appliance, if not at least you get a half price call and it does not cost you money.
Bob
Re: Built in appliances compromise your ability to repair
I had one when I was with HP that they had a BI dishwasher, after installation to stop it moving they had used builders foam to hold it, the stuff was behind it and the unit next to it, under the plinths everywhere, all the pipes going to the taps under the sink were buried in in.
When I got the bloke on the phone as his wife was home he just said ” yea I did it to stop it moving” I left him with the choice of getting it out him self or getting it out him self lol.
He was not happy and got stroppy on the phone, I went back a week later when he got it out and it was a hell of a mess. He had to cut the back out of the unit next to it. Still seemed to imply its our fault due to it failing.
Re: Built in appliances compromise your ability to repair
madangler1 wrote:I had one when I was with HP that they had a BI dishwasher, after installation to stop it moving they had used builders foam to hold it, the stuff was behind it and the unit next to it, under the plinths everywhere, all the pipes going to the taps under the sink were buried in in.
When I got the bloke on the phone as his wife was home he just said ” yea I did it to stop it moving” I left him with the choice of getting it out him self or getting it out him self lol.
He was not happy and got stroppy on the phone, I went back a week later when he got it out and it was a hell of a mess. He had to cut the back out of the unit next to it. Still seemed to imply its our fault due to it failing.
I bet he was foaming at the mouth when you told him 😀
Re: Built in appliances compromise your ability to repair
If its the dw im thinking of, you can use an alan key to flip the impellor free via the sump, this allows the pump to drain, although noisy. Then access pump securing screws from front base panel and remove, takes 10min and no need to remove the appliance.
Learnt from doing 10 calls a day for a brand doing mostly intergrated chinese products.
Theres always a right way and a cheat.:mrgreen:
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2Re: Built in appliances compromise your ability to repair
lee8 wrote:If its the dw im thinking of, you can use an alan key to flip the impellor free via the sump, this allows the pump to drain, although noisy. Then access pump securing screws from front base panel and remove, takes 10min and no need to remove the appliance.
Learnt from doing 10 calls a day for a brand doing mostly intergrated chinese products.
Theres always a right way and a cheat.:mrgreen:
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2In hindsight, perhaps that could be the best way. If I come across another Chinese dw, I will look from that angle. I’m curious on how to access the pump securing screw from front base panel unlike you get with most Whirlpool DW as you can’t get access on the front, you need to remove the side panel. Otherwise I would have done that. Wish I could drill an opening wide enough for me to get in from the front for easier access.
The job was a potential huge profit making if it had gone according to plan but it went all pear shaped.
Re: Built in appliances compromise your ability to repair
The newer version has 2 access panels, u need a stubby screw driver, some practice. If its the older version your screwed and indeed need to remove side panels unless you pull forward enough to lean backwards leaving hoses in place, remove 4 base screws and pry base of and access underneath.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Re: Built in appliances compromise your ability to repair
lee8 wrote: If its the older version your screwed and indeed need to remove side panels unless you pull forward enough to lean backwards leaving hoses in place, remove 4 base screws and pry base of and access underneath.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Of course I’m screwed hence the reason I gave up when it came to secondary fault due to the time taken to pull out the dishwasher. Can you suggest a special screwdriver that you can use for unscrewing the base? I have not found anything suitable other than using 1/4 inch socket with the screwdriver head blue tac in then use socket wrench. I found this is awkward. I saw someone using some sort of knob socket with the screwdriver head on in the car trade, I have not been able to find it on tools suppliers.
Ps – I have worked on newer type of chinese made dw like Kenwood and Tecnik, I found them ok-ish which meant it gave me a little more confident to work on them and the parts were reasonable. The build quality is questionable, I have had a few with hoses worked it way loose particular around the heater unit.
Re: Built in appliances compromise your ability to repair
Worst thing is when they have thick wood flooring installed up the the appliance and left no play in the feet. Never make our lives easy
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HDRe: Built in appliances compromise your ability to repair
I’ve started charging £15 extra for removing and refitting integrated unless customer willing to do it.
Not lost a job yet.Re: Built in appliances compromise your ability to repair
Never forget about 20 years ago a customer had a 96 series top loader and had dug a well so that the machine would fit under a hinged work top.
Was a work of art to get it outSent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Re: Built in appliances compromise your ability to repair
I have not found anything suitable other than using 1/4 inch socket with the screwdriver head blue tac in then use socket wrench. I found this is awkward. I saw someone using some sort of knob socket with the screwdriver head on in the car trade, I have not been able to find it on tools suppliers.
go to Halfords, get the ratchet spanner set that includes the hex adaptor for screwdriver bits. ratchet spanners ideal for motor removals on bosch etc and will sort your issue out easy. if I get time ill find you a link
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