Ecolab Dishwasher Troubleshooting
After a busy dinner service or lunch rush, the pile of dishes may seem never-ending. It definitely will be, too, if the dishwasher isn’t working. Rather than being stuck washing plates and silverware by hand, Parts Town has some possible solutions. So if you’re in need of Ecolab dishwasher troubleshooting, keep reading.
These tips can apply to a variety of Ecolab dishwashers, including the ES-2000 units and ES-4000 models, as well.
Ecolab Dishwasher Not Working or Not Turning On
If an Ecolab dishmachine isn’t running, it could be a power-related issue. Check to see if any of the following fixes help get it back on before contacting an authorized service technician:
- Unit isn’t plugged in - It’s always possible when someone was doing work or previously cleaning the unit , they unplugged it and forgot to plug it back in before you got there to use it. This simple fix requires just plugging it back in.
- Unit isn’t turned on - Just like someone unplugging it, they may have also turned it off. Go ahead and try powering on the unit to see if that resolves the issue.
- Loose wire connections - If wire connections have gotten loose over time or weren’t properly installed, you’ll need an authorized service technician to tighten those up.
- Door is left ajar - Dishwashers have a safety feature where they will not run as long as the door is opened. If you don’t hear that door click shut to signal it’s all secure, you may need to check for anything blocking the door or if the gasket is damaged. Then try shutting it fully.
- Faulty door switch - Sometimes the door issue isn’t because it’s been left ajar, but rather it has a faulty DOOR switch that’s causing the dishwasher to not get the signal that the door is sealed shut. Contactan authorized service technician to replace the switch.
- Tripped circuit breaker - The circuit breaker could be tripped or off. Either turn the switch back on or try resetting it to get the power going and the dishwasher working.
Ecolab Dishwasher Not Filling
To get the dishes clean, the dishwasher needs to fill with water. Otherwise, it’ll just dispense soap on it without giving it a rinse after. So if the dishwasher isn’t doing just that, you could be dealing with any of the following issues:
- Y-strainer or water line is clogged - This can be an easy fix and good to do in general for your unit. Give it a little TLC by taking the strainer to clean it or flush out the water line to relieve any clogs.
- Water supply is turned off - If the person who used the dishwasher before you performed any maintenance on the unit, it’s entirely possible they turned off the water supply and didn’t turn it back on after. Go ahead and turn on the water to get the unit filling.
- Faulty fill microswitch - A faulty switch can cause basic functions to not work. Contact an authorized service technician to have the switch replaced.
- Faulty solenoid valve diaphragm or coil - Solenoids are vital in the filling process. If any part of that is faulty, then an authorized service technician is needed to replace it.
Ecolab Dishwasher Not Draining
You can’t really open up the dishwasher after a cycle is done if it hasn’t drained. Otherwise, water will come flooding out.
- Loose wire connections - Improper installation, jostling of the unit or even long time wear can leave a unit with loose wire connections. Contact an authorized service technician to tighten those backups.
- Obstruction is blocking the drain hole - Debris can easily start to build up if dishes are loaded in with lots of leftover food or if a unit isn’t regularly cleaned, which will lead to large obstructions over time. The unit will drain once that obstruction is cleared, and it may be a good idea to scrape food off plates before loading and setting up a routine cleaning schedule to prevent this in the future.
- Unit isn’t given enough time to drain - This will happen if the DRAIN CAM timer isn’t set properly and only lets the unit half drain. This can be adjusted to fit the amount of time the unit needs to fully drain.
- Drain rod is bent or binding - Contact an authorized service technician to either repair or replace the rod, depending on how badly it is bent or binding.
- Faulty drain microswitch - A faulty switch can cause basic functions to not work. Contact an authorized service technician to have the switch replaced.
Ecolab Dishwasher Won’t Hold Water
Alternatively to it not draining, you could have the opposite problem where it still fills but isn’t holding any water to properly clean and rinse.
- Faulty drain ball - Contact an authorized service technician to replace the drain ball.
- Drain rod is bent or binding - Contact an authorized service technician to either repair or replace the rod, depending on how badly it is bent or binding.
Ecolab Dishwasher Cycles Continuously
The cycle has to end eventually. Otherwise, the dishes will never come out. If you notice the cycle is going on continuously, try the following fixes:
- Cycle reset switch is loose or faulty - Contact an authorized service technician to reposition or replace the switch.
- Unit is set to DELIME mode - Move the NORMAL/DELIME switch to NORMAL.
Alternatively to cycling continuously, the unit could also just fill continuously due to the following issues:
- Solenoid valve is dirty or faulty - Clean the valve or contact an authorized service technician to replace it.
- Fill microswitch is faulty - Contact an authorized service technician to replace the microswitch.
- ON/FILL-OFF/DRAIN switch is shorted - Contact an authorized service technician to remedy the issue.
- CAM timer is stalled in the FILL position - Contact an authorized service technician to check and replace the timer motor.
Ecolab Dishwasher Runs with Door Open
As mentioned previously, a dishwasher is designed to not start when the door is left open or slightly ajar. It’s a safety feature to avoid water, soap and debris from leaking during operation. If you find the unit is somehow managing to run with the door open at all, the following fixes could help:
- Door switch is shorted out or faulty - Contact an authorized service technician to replace the switch.
- Wash relay is faulty - Contact an authorized service technician to replace the relay.
- Control relay is faulty - Contact an authorized service technician to replace the relay.
Ecolab Dishwasher has Low Wash Water Pressure
Proper water pressure is vital to ensure a dishwasher cleans properly and efficiently.
- Water level is too low - This can be remedied by r increasing the fill time or decreasing the drain time.
- Note: Be sure to check that the incoming water pressure is 20±5 PSI after making adjustments.
- Sump strainer is clogged - Clean the sump strainer and consider potentially adding it to the preventative maintenance routine to avoid future clogs.
- Obstruction is blocking either the wash pump housing or the wash manifold - Obstructions from all sorts of debris can hinder equipment from doing regular tasks. Be sure to clear that out from the wash pump housing or wash manifold to get that wash water pressure back up.
- Wash arm nozzles are clogged - This can come from debris or if the unit hasn’t been delimed lately. Remove the wash arms and clean out the nozzles and evaluate if deliming needs to be done more frequently.
Ecolab Dishwasher Detergent or Rinse Aid Not Feeding
Dishes won’t get clean with just water. It requires the dishwasher feeds out both detergent and the rinse aid. If you notice one of those isn’t properly feeding, the following fixes could remedy it:
- Misadjusted CAM - If the detergent isn’t dispensing, then adjust the DETERGENT cam on the timer. If it’s the rinse aid, then adjust the RINSE AID cam on the timer.
- Detergent or rinse aid microswitch is faulty - Have the switch replaced by an authorized service technician.
Need some more guides for a commercial dishwasher? Check out our resource center’s dishwasher articles to help troubleshoot and clean any commercial unit.