Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

[keepitsimple]

This machine has started to act oddly when filling with water. At the start of a program, it fills almost fully, then the fill switches on and off rapidly – like it’s “hiccuping” normally about 6-7 times. It does this later in the program as well – I think when it is filling with rinse water, but not at other points where it seems to take in water.

Apart from that it works fine. Program runs, washes fine, empties OK and dries properly.

Have checked and cleaned the inlet filter (it was fine anyway)and have tried it with various water inlet pressures and that makes no difference. Other appliances on the same supply work fine. Water here is soft, and softener is turned off. No sign of any scale or anything like that.

About 5 years old.

Would be grateful for any ideas/suggestions.

[gandh1]

Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

water exchange matrix and pressure “mushroom” system. only takes a very thin layer of sludge to interrupt filling on these. all the intel gumpf behind LHS (from front) panel of this model.

[iadom]

Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

I think they are supposed to do this, it may have always done it but you have only just noticed it.

AFAIK they have what is called a ‘sycasm'[sp] filling ( and draining ) system. This will pulse the fill valve on and off rapidly and also do the same with the drain pump at certain parts of the programme.

TBH, I have only seen it do it at the start of fill programmes, not halfway through.

[Martin]

Re: Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

iadom wrote:I think they are supposed to do this, it may have always done it but you have only just noticed it.

No Jim, gandh1 is on the button here. Bunged up pressure chamber and transfer tube. 😉

[iadom]

Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

I bow to your superior knowledge, but just what is the sycasm system for?

[keepitsimple]

Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

Thank you all for the posts. Yes, Iadom, you are right it does do this routinely when it it working properly. It will fill for a few seconds, then pump, then fill again etc. I assume this is the heat exchanger function in operation. But this is different – it pulses rapidly like every second or less. And yes, to other posters, I have since noticed that it fills/pumps/fills/pumps etc, so your diagnosis sounds like it is on the money. I have taken off the sides and front plastic plinth, and can see the pressure chamber area. That all looks clean, but there is a ribbed pipe goging underneath that looks a bit brown on the bottom. Is this the problem ? I would have to remove a metal plate behind the plinth to access it – haven’t done so yet in case that is doing other things like holding the door springs. Do I remove this, oik out the pipe clean it and hey presto ! (hopefully)
Many thanks.

[iadom]

Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

The pipe does just pull out, remove the metal plate to access, best done tilted back against the units or a wall.

[keepitsimple]

Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

Success ! Many thanks to all you knowledgeable folk who gave me advice. The pipe was indeed about 2/3 blocked with what looks like an accumulation of grease about 1/2 way along. Hot water, strong detergent and a bottlebrush did the job. Machine back to its normal self.
A bit of further advice if I may ? Is there any way of avoiding this in future, or is it just something I need to look aout for ? Have very soft water, generally use Finish 3 in 1 or sometimes whatever Makro has on offer includes – some powder (I think “Bryta” ? which says it is for conventional machines not the quick commercial ones, but I don’t really like as it seems to have chlorine bleach in it) Generally use the latest quick dry rinse aids – the Fairy one at the moment. Normally use the auto 55-65 degree wash (the machine decides) Rarely do a rinse and hold, but do get the big bits off before loading. Can’t say I clean the filter every time, but when I do, they aren’t really bad anyway.

My brother has a Neff built in d/washer about the same age – is it likely to be prone to the same thing (I’ll warn him if so).

Many thanks once again.

[iadom]

Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

You have answered the question yourself, we have a saying in the trade, “remember, it is a dishwasher, it is not a waste disposal unit”.

Gunge is entirely due to a lack of proper rinsing before washing.

All dishwashers suffer in some way if you just throw the plates in without a good rinse.

You should not use rinse aid with combination tablets, use separate detergent and rinse aid or try the Fairy satchets without using rinse aid.

[keepitsimple]

Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

Thank you, that is useful information. I’ve owned dishwashers for over 30 years (this is my third, after a Philips (with a plastic tub !) a Bosch (where all the switch buttons on the front eventually broke and would “ping” off across the kitchen…) Anyway, have always used them in the same way, and never had a breakdown or any problems before, but I shall be more diligent in future.

In fact I just checked the Siemens instructions which say.. “scrape off any large amounts of left over food, but it is not necessary to rinse the dishes under running water”, so somebody somewhere has got it wrong, or perhaps is just trying to create a bit of work for their repair department ;o)

Perhaps modern machines are just more sophisticated and need better care and feeding. I’ll make sure I switch off the rinse aid when using the 3 in 1’s – I think I misread the Siemens book as telling me the machine auto adjusted for these tablets and interpreted that as to just let the machine do its own thing. So now I don’t know what this machine’s “auto 3 in 1” feature really means.

Thanks again for your help and advice.

(edited at 15:42)

[iadom]

Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

Modern dishwashers like modern washing machines operate with much lower water levels, this is one reason why the gunge build up is more likely to occur. Combine that with the “turn down and save the planet” obsession with low temperature washes and its easy to see why this is a common problem.

[keepitsimple]

Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

Hello, Iadom – I have edited my earlier message and it has crossed with your reply. Take your point about low temperature washes. I wonder if machines like this one – which are supposedly clever and lower the temperature if the water isn’t dirty, are perhaps too clever by half ? As an amateur observer, to me lowering the temperature might mean that in a wash that isn’t otherwise very dirty, grease left in suspension deposits in the machine rather than being pumped out ?
Perhaps leaving the dishes dirtier might even help ! ;o)

[gandh1]

Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

hmmm i can imagine some manufacturer pr guys arguing by using a low temperature wash that you are avoiding “melting” and soluding the fat deposits which means they cant set in the delicate areas of the machine, as they are still cool enough to be solids

your best bet is to go to your local washing machine shop/friendly repairer and get some good heavy duty dw degreaser, we use whirlpool wpro granules in a tub, rather than the supermarkets liquid weak-as-water rubbish.

[keepitsimple]

Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

Thank you gandh1 for your advice. I’ll see if I can get hold of some of that. I did look around for some cleaner following this incident. Didn’t see the whirlpool stuff, but did see some fairy tablet cleaners – are they just as useless as the others ? I have used some cleaner in the past – can’t remember what it was, but I suspect it falls into your weak as water category.

I guess the real problem is that from what I can see this pipe doesn’t get any flow through, is at the lowest part of the machine, and is made from ribbed plastic. None of which helps it stay clear ;o(

[Martin]

Re: Siemens SE26T251GB – water intake problem

keepitsimple wrote:I guess the real problem is that from what I can see this pipe doesn’t get any flow through,

…and that flow through is cold mains fed water. So you get the perfect scenario toward that ribbed hose getting clogged up. First load greasy/fatty dishes, gravy, tomato ketchup etc. That detritus settles at the lowest point (that transfer pipe included) add a measure of cold water and there you have it, gunged-up pipes.

Also, because that pipe is on the clean water side of the system (as opposed to the grey-dirty water that is) any amount of dishwasher cleaner will never ever clear that gunge away, not ever…!!

There is a simple solution to the problem, and my colleagues in the trade know where I’m coming from here, ( 😉 ) but I’m sworn to secrecy (Being in the trade I’ve taken what we call – The Hoovermatic Oath….. :rotl:

[Author]

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