Powder forming one big lump in detergent compartment

[Lil_Dee]

Hope someone can give me a clue ? I have a Bosch SGV43E03GB. It’s coming up for 8/9 months old, and is used 2-3 times a week. I keep a check on the filters etc. and use salt/powder/rinse aid. I’m in South Manchester (soft water).

I’ve recently been finding residue of powder all down the door when the cycle has finished (using the 50 cycle, so it’s pretty warm, and takes over two hours to complete). I made sure that the detergent compartment was dry next time around, to ensure that wasn’t causing it, but it happened again. I figured it was due to the compartment not opening at the right time, and the powder literally being released too late into the cycle.

So, to test this, I tried opening the door when the d/w was going. I found that the compartment was open, but the powder was wet, and had set into one big block. 😕

I’ve recently taken to opening the d/w up and prying the ‘block’ of powder out of the compartment using a spoon, so that it falls into the water, which seems to be doing the trick. However, I obviously don’t want to have to do this everytime I set a cycle running.

I’ve tried closing the detergent compartment (whilst not switched on), and pressing the blue release button, to check that it opens fully, and it looks like that works just fine.

Anyone got any ideas ? I keep the powder in an airtight container, and I can’t see anything that would suggest it had gotten damp in storage. Appreciate anyone that can give me an idea as to what it could be.

[gegsy]

Re: Powder forming one big lump in detergent compartment

Hi
Here are some pointers.

1/ Check that the spray arms especially the top one is clean ie- the holes in the arms themsleves are clear from debris.
2/ Is the top spray arm rotating during a wash. You can check if you open the door quickly during a cycle and look quickly if the top arms is just stopping to turn. (Its not recommended to interrupt a dishwasher under normal operation)
3/ Is there sufficient water in the appliance during a wash ie – water level just below lower spray arm
4/ Is the appliance heating during a wash?
5/ Restriction of the top spray arm by items loaded to wash – tall plates on lower basket hitting top spray arm.
6/ If all those check out you may have a faulty water diverter on heater and/or faulty electronic module.

Regards

Greg

[Lil_Dee]

Thanks for the pointers Greg, I’ll have go through the list next time I do a wash cycle. :tup:

Could I be a little bit of a pain and ask a about your recommendations ? (I like to understand why I have to do things, as much as I can, if you see what I mean, it’s not that I’m questioning what you’ve told me.)

Going from what you’ve asked me to look at, I’m thinking that you’re asking me to check if the water is being ‘blasted’ (for want of a better description) sufficiently into the detergent compartment. If it’s not, which may be the case, and the powder is simply getting damp, this is what forms this lump ? Am I on the right lines ?

Cheers & Thanks 🙂

[gegsy]

Re: Powder forming one big lump in detergent compartment

Yes you more or less on the right lines.
If the top spray arm is not turning during a wash for whatever reason, then the powder will just sit in the compartment when the flap opens and get damp and form a lump as you are witnessing.

Greg

[Trilobite]

Re: Powder forming one big lump in detergent compartment

The poor wash action could be a build up of greasy residues. You could purchase a dishwasher-cleaning solution, and following the product’s instructions to the letter (has to be used on a 60 degrees C or above), use it to degrease/cleanse the empty machine.

I’m really not convinced that all these low-temperature washes are the best for the machines… you really need an occasional high temperature, intensive wash to blast the greasy deposits away.

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