Moisture on top of integrated vanity panel immediately after opening – normal?

[bluin]

Hi

I recently installed an integrated dishwasher and after a lot of effort the kitchen panel.

We’ve ran a few washes now and I’ve noticed that the top left hand side of the kitchen door panel has condensation/moisture on it at the end of the cycle when i open it immediately after a wash (NOTE: we don’t use auto door opening).

I should stress it’s as soon as i open the door after the beeps indicate the wash is finished. I’ve checked after the last 3 washes and there’s always moisture on the top of the kitchen vanity panel (but oddly not the black panel of the dishwasher directly in front of it. Which seems odd)

Is this normal? Should I expect condensation/moisture on top of the panel – even when localised to the one side and the door hasn’t been opened?

I use the quick 60 degree 1 hr wash. I thought it might be due to the dishwasher getting very hot during the drying cycle and moisture condensing on the metal; strip on the underside of the counter – even though the machine is insulated. But, confused as to why it would only do it on one side (I should stress I don’t allow door to open automatically).

It’s a BEKO BDIN26430. I’m hoping this is normal. Our last dishwasher didn’t do this but then i didn’t have the metal strip installed under the counter like i do now. So i wondered if this could be a factor?

Any advice would be appreciated. It was difficult to install due to badly design kitchen – so I’m really hoping this is a normal side effect with integrated machines,

[electrofix]

you have an outer wooden door to make the unit fit in with the kitchen

make sure the dishwasher door closes properly. we get situation where the above door hits something and holds the dishwashers door open slightly. often with granite work surfaces where there is sometimes a piece of wood supporting the surface.
you could try the unit with the outer door removed to see if it still happens

Dave

[bluin]

Thanks for the reply, Dave.

It is a wooden ‘painted/lacquered’ door and as far as I can tell nothing could possibly be catching the door.

electrofix wrote:you could try the unit with the outer door removed to see if it still happens

What i find particularly strange is that the actual dishwasher door panel doesn’t suffer any moisture at all – not even on the said left hand side. Yet, that would technically be equally exposed.

From your reply, should I regard this as a potential problem? i.e. is it leaking a small amount of steam on the left hand side at the end of the cycle?
I was hoping the metal strip was just creating condensation due to heat of dishwasher – but from your response I’m guessing the strip should remain dry if the door hasn’t been opened regardless of dishwasher internal heat?

I’ll do another check today.

*I should add that i couldn’t get this dishwasher totally sqaure/flush with units like my old one. I spent hours trying to get it flush but in the end compromised and got the unit flush to the left hand side units but the right bottom right side is recessed in by about 5mm.

[electrofix]

as you close the door. just before it closes does it move to the left or right before it closes

the door should close cleanly to make sure the seals hit the door straight

you could also play around with a mirror to see if any see if any steam is coming out and at what stage

dave

[bluin]

electrofix wrote: as you close the door. just before it closes does it move to the left or right before it closes

As far as i can tell, with it fitted, it closes cleanly.

electrofix wrote: you could also play around with a mirror to see if any see if any steam is coming out and at what stage

Thanks, i will try this tip when it’s next on (good idea).

As an aside – do you know why i get moisture/condensation on door panel and not the dishwasher panel? (Both are equally exposed as fascia door is almost flush with panel. it’s a larger surface area, too.)

[electrofix]

well apart from , if its condensation it will form more on colder surfaces

Dave

[bluin]

electrofix wrote: well apart from , if its condensation it will form more on colder surfaces

True – and if it is localised condensation can this be normal? (if i don’t get any luck with the mirror trick)

Or, should there be no moisture at the top (either on top of fascia panel or the metal protective counter strip), no matter what, if the door hasn’t been opened?

*I should add the seal looks fine to the untrained eye. But, no gaps or kinks.

[electrofix]

they do have vents to stop pressure build up but a manufacturer would not allow a product to get moisture somewhere it would damage a surface like a kitchen unit door. Such things lead to law suits

Dave

[bluin]

electrofix wrote: they do have vents to stop pressure build up but a manufacturer would not allow a product to get moisture somewhere it would damage a surface like a kitchen unit door. Such things lead to law suits

Yes – checked for vents. And from searches they seem to be at the bottom of the machine – but, the information on this is very limited. Although a vent would neatly explain it.

*Could i just clarify – there should be no condensation/moisture build up on top of fascia panel at the end of cycle no matter what? Not, even allowing for build up of condensation from heat of cycle combined with the metal strip exacerbating issue?

I’ll try and get a picture of the issue when I use it later tonight (plus, use mirror trick) . Concerned that the door may not be square/true…

I’m guessing if the door isn’t square/out of kilter that would be a replacement machine?

Thanks for all you input, Dave. This has been a sod of machine to fit – you may have seen my panel issue thread – this would cap of a very frustrating fit if after finally fitting it’s borked..

[bluin]

electrofix wrote:you could also play around with a mirror to see if any see if any steam is coming out and at what stage

Well, it’s conclusive. :/

Even before the drying cycle i could see a slight mist on the silver protector strip on the left hand side. When I rubbed my finger along it it was slightly damp.

As the machine went into the ~8minute drying cycle the steam was easily detectable with a mirror – misted up instantly.

After the wash, top of door was damp and even the top of the stainless steal had built up water. Plus that side of the machine had water around the seal etc…

So, question’s –

1. could this be because why I can’t couldn’t get the door square with units?
2. Could it be a result of not being quite level – or is that wishful thinking?
3. As the seal looks fine and i suspect the door isn’t true should i just return (only had it 10 day)?
4. Please feel free to add any advice –

[electrofix]

that was the reason i asked did the door close straight and not move a little left or right as it closes as front leg adjustment can twist the case but out of line left to right wont matter if the door is square to the frame

Dave

[bluin]

electrofix wrote:that was the reason i asked did the door close straight

Totally understand and have got several others opinion – but it could be missed as the dishwasher is fitted under counter (floor drops down so i had to level from inside the machine). But, it does feel ok – but not totally convinced given your reply.

electrofix wrote:as front leg adjustment can twist the case but out of line left to right wont matter if the door is square to the frame

You may be on to something as I haven’t fixed it in position (top fixing screws) as i feel i could still get it ‘squarer’ but the back feet were really reluctant to move. The screw adjustment kept on slipping. The spirit level indicates it’s square – but i don’t trust the engineering of mass produced units with crappy plastic feet and having to use the inside of dishwasher as a level…

Thanks again, Dave – you’ve given me a glimmer of hope as logically it makes sense.

I should have mentioned that the left hand side also dips in but not as much. I would really appreciate your assessment/insight with the measurements below of the fascia panel to that of the other units:

The top left is level with the unit to its left.
The top right dips in about 2 to 3 mm from the unit to its right
Bottom left dips in about 5mm with the unit to its left.
Bottom right dips in about 8mm from the unit to its right.

Even though the inside the spirit level indicates that the unit is almost level, I’m not convinced. Could this problem be corrected by adjusting legs?

I can add pics if it helps.

Thanks again for your continued help.

[electrofix]

give or take a couple of mm out of true is not going to cause this. the only thing that can is if the door is out of true

if you lower one of the legs, say the left front , as the unit comes down it will make the door aperture twist and the top of the door moves to the right

so totally level is not a problem but totally square is

but left side more in than the right wont make any difference. gone to a few where i had to twist the unit slightly to stop the door hitting a draw handle or something

Dave

[bluin]

Thanks again for the reply, Dave.

Again, from your reply it’s triggered a thought:

The only other thing I can think of to add is that when i fitted the fascia panel, i had to to move it at the bottom from the left to the right (as you face the machine) so that it there was an even amount of panel showing both sides.

Could this have unbalanced the door even though it was only 3mm?

*The door is attached by 2 knobs that hang from the top front (measurements were exact on both sides) – but when hung from the front of dishwasher the door bottom was touching the of side of left unit. When i checked the sides of fascia panel, either side of dishwasher door, the left hand side had more panel showing than the right. So, before screwing I gently moved the bottom slightly to the right so it evened the door either side. This made the door look even and stopped door from rubbing.

Could this slight adjustment on fixing fascia panel be the cause of the problem?

[electrofix]

well take the outer door off and see if you still get steam

not a complete test as you have no weight but worth trying

Dave

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