KitchenAid Dishwasher Clean Light Blinking 7 Times – Fix!

Last Updated on May 19, 2023 by River Tree Farms

Is your KitchenAid dishwasher clean light blinking 7 times? That must be an error code! Learn here more about this bothersome glitch, its causes, and fixes.

Having a KitchenAid dishwasher in your cookhouse comes as a relief. Even the most hardworking caterer will find clean-up nasty and backbreaking. The appliance combines many features to make your work painless. Besides the control panel, there are also the power wash cycle, advanced dry option, and many more.

And on the control panel, you may experience a few blinking lights. You must observe the pattern as not all blinking means danger or failure. Our guide ensures you understand your appliance’s clean light blinking seven times. Find out the details below.

Why is the KitchenAid Dishwasher Clean Light Blinking 7 Times?

KitchenAid Dishwasher Clean Light Blinking 7 Times

Your KitchenAid dishwasher Clean light will stay on after a full cycle. Also, it will blink after completing its cleaning cycle. This blink is a notification to show that the dishes are clean and ready for your next meal. Opening the door shuts off the Clean light. But a continuous blinking seven times should cause you to worry.

Check here the 10 possible causes for this bothersome indicator!

1. Heating Circuit Glitch

Your KitchenAid dishwasher will flash seven times to register the faulty heating circuit. These wires supply your heating element with the power to heat up. The system has a glitch and thus disconnecting your dishwasher’s heater. One of the best approaches to resolving this issue is to call an electrician. The expert will inspect the connections. That way, you can identify the disconnection issue and resolve it.

2. Faulty Heater

Next, after inspecting the wiring glitch, it’s time to check the heater. An appliance whose heater is faulty will blink. The flash indicates that not enough heat is available to heat water. Your dishes are not getting enough heat to dry them, so you must find a quick solution.

The unit heats the air in your dishwasher up to 43.33 to 76.67°C or 110 to 170°F, so the dishes dry. A cold dishwasher means a bad heater that blew up and is providing any heat to the appliance.

Blackened or sooty elements indicate that the function has blown off. Your appliance requires a new one. Luckily, we have bad heater replacements. Be sure to get them from approved KitchenAid distributors.

3. Defective Thermostat

The thermostat is a regulator for your dishwasher’s heat. It ensures that the temperatures in the tub do not go to unsafe levels. This feature also ensures that the unit maintains the set temperatures. If faulty, your dishwasher will overheat and may damage your dishes.

Underheating means your water is cold and cannot strip grease and dirt off your utensils. So, whenever you experience clean light blinking, check the temperature. That way, you can be sure that what’s on display is the same as in the tub. A thermometer will give the appropriate readings.

If it is a higher or lower temperature than the display indicates, then it is a thermostat error. Cold water while the appliance is running shows a heater or thermostat defect. Call a professional to inspect, remove, and replace your dishwasher’s thermostat.

4. Damaged Control Board

Next, the possible cause of the blinking is a damaged control board. Your unit is electronic and has a control center where all operations occur. Your appliance is as good as dead when the controls are not functioning.

So, the clean light blinking seven times is a warning! Be careful, as your dishwasher’s control board is failing. You will need a specialist to resolve a dishwasher’s damaged control board. Attempting to resolve on your own without electrical experience could further damage your device.

5. Defective Wash Motor

A wash motor in your KitchenAid dishwasher to power the circulation pump. The electric unit pushes the pump to force water into the spray arms. Also, the motor helps to flush dirty water into the drain path.

A defective wash motor stops the pumping mechanism. And so, your dishwasher cannot clean your utensils or drain dirty water. Defective motors need complex replacements. So you have to heed your tech’s advice or plan for a call/visit to the KitchenAid dishwashers care center.

6. Low Electric Power

Insufficient electric power to your dishwasher’s heater is harmful. That’s why your appliance could be blinking seven times. The water heating mechanism is low, and so are the motor and the pump. Also, the water temperature will not rise. Test your circuit and power supply. That will ensure enough voltage units to drive your dishwasher. It could be your supply is low, or you have overloaded the system. Reduce the connecting appliances that run at high voltage and retest your dishwasher.

7. Faulty Door Lock

A faulty door lock will not let your dishwasher run like many appliances. The error will record as a blinking light to show an inability to operate. A poor latching dishwasher door is a hazard and can cause unknown damage to your utensils. Determine if you have a damaged locking system or if you overloaded the tub.

8. Faulty Water Inlet Valve

The inlet valve ensures enough flow of water into your dishwasher. When the feature is defective, you will have difficulties in your wash cycle as follows;

  • The water level will be low. That will create an inadequacy in your appliance (your dishwasher may not fill).
  • A fill-up, even when the dishwasher is off, indicates a leakage.
  • Inadequate water for a cycle. Leakage on your floor.

The causes of a faulty inlet valve include;

  • Loose or worn-out seal.
  • Defective solenoid failure.
  • A clogged valve will.

You will need enough water inflow to clean your dishes, so you must keep the levels right. The trick to getting it right is to learn how your dishwasher functions. You have to ensure the valve is faulty and resolves the problem.

Be ready for complex processes if you dare to repair your dishwasher’s inlet valve. You have to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. Otherwise, you will need a professional to repair/replace the valve.

9. Clogged Sump Filter

When your dishwasher’s filter gets clogged, you will experience flooding and oily dishes. The clean light will blink seven times to show this error. If you are keen enough on your appliance, do not wait for this notification. Check for a clogged filter. You will find all kinds of food particles, lint, and kernels. Here is the simple procedure to follow:

  • Empty all your dishes in the sink or a deep bucket and connect your appliance to the power source.
  • Use a cloth to drain water in your dishwasher to allow easy unclogging. Access the dishwasher filter underneath the lower dish rack. It can also be at the spray arm base or the back corner of the tub (depending on your dishwasher model).
  • Unscrew the filter from the grille and pull it out.
  • Rinse the food particles, lint, and other debris by running them under tap water.
  • A toothbrush scrub can remove the caked-on debris superfast. Avoid abrasives, as they can damage your dishwasher filter.
  • Congratulations on cleaning your sump filter! Screw back your clean filter into the grille and test your dishwasher.

10. Technical Bugs

Like other electronic appliances, your dishwasher will experience technical bug attacks. These are not regular dirt germs. They are programming errors that occur when during software updates. The technical bug will not affect your dishwashers like your smartphone or computer. The attack is mild and requires only a reset to clear the blink;

Locate your circuit system breaker and unplug your appliance

  • Keep the appliance idle for 5 – 10 minutes before reconnecting it to the power source.
  • Turn the dishwasher on and check whether it’s working.

An alternative way to reset your KitchenAid dishwasher

  1. Pin the Hi Scrub button (you can also press Hi Temp Wash Scrub or the Hi-Temp Wash button, depending on your model.
  2. Continue to pin the Air-Dry button (you can also press the Energy Saver Dry, Heated Dry, or the Air-Dry button)
  3. As soon as you pin down any of the above buttons, the LED on the control panel will activate.
  4. Your dishwasher will undergo several self-diagnostics. Leave the machine uninterrupted. The process will take several minutes and will clear all the bugs.
  5. After completing the process, press the Cancel-Drain button to start the drain cycle. The machine will start another cycle of your choice after the drain cycle.

That’s how you reset your Kitchenaid dishwasher, but if you are in a hurry, the first method will help you in minutes.

How To Troubleshoot Your KitchenAid Dishwasher Cleaning Light Blinking 7 Times?

KitchenAid Dishwasher Cleaning Light Blinking 7 Times

There are many ways of troubleshooting your KitchenAid dishwasher. Moreso, if the clean light blinks seven times. You need to learn how your appliance function. That way, you can face and solve the issues.

This table simplifies several troubleshooting tips common to this error;

HitchHow To Troubleshoot
Control board failure  • Get a professional to inspect for defects.
• Repair or replace the faulty control board.
Technical bugs  • Reset the dishwasher.
Clogged sump filter  • Inspect the clogged sump filter.
• Remove and clean the filter.
Defective water inlet valve  • Inspect the valve for physical wear.
• Get a professional to replace the valve.
Faulty door lock  • Replace faulty door components, including the lock and the door itself.
Low electric power  • Operate your dishwasher with the right voltage.
• Disconnect other appliances that are overloading the system.
Defective thermostat  • Continuity test.
• Replace a non-operative thermostat.
Defective heater  • Replace a defective heater.
Heating circuit glitch  • Get an electrician to rectify a circuit error.
Faulty drain pump  • Repair or replace.

Read Also: KitchenAid Dishwasher Clean Light Blinking Four Times

Is there a reset button on a KitchenAid dishwasher?

A KitchenAid dishwasher does not come with a reset button. But as we detailed earlier, two methods exist to help you reset your appliance. Have a look;

Method One:

  • Unplug your device and keep it mute for 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Re-plug to reconnect and determine whether the reset was successful.

Method Two:

  • Locate the Hi Scrub button, press it and hold. That will depend on your KitchenAid dishwasher model. You can press Hi Temp Wash Scrub or the Hi-Temp Wash button.
  • Press the Air-Dry button, the energy Saver Dry, Heated Dry, or the Air-Dry button. The LED on the control panel will activate.
  • Leave your dishwasher to undergo self-diagnostics without interruptions. The process clears all the possible bugs. It also prepares your dishwasher to clean your utensils.
  • Soon after the process completes, you can press the Cancel-Drain button. That will start the drain cycle and any other cycle of your choice.

What if the above two methods fail?

A dishwasher that fails to reset signifies intensive damage. You will need to check the circuit system, the control panel, and the board that hosts all the operations. A service technician can help resolve the puzzle. He will get your dishwasher back to cleaning super-fast.

How Do You Reset The Flashing Light On A KitchenAid Dishwasher?

A flashing light on your dishwasher’s control panel indicates a cold tub. There is no heat detection throughout the cleaning cycle. A control panel reset is the best way to deal with the blink. This process involves running a cycle on the panel to resolve the hitch and clear the blink.

  • Disconnect your KitchenAid dishwasher from the power source.
  • Keep the appliance idle for one minute.
  • Replug the unit back.

And that’s the most straightforward way to reset your dishwasher. The flashing light on your KitchenAid dishwasher will clear in a moment.

Question & Answer About This Issue:

How Do I Remove Suds From The Bottom Of My KitchenAid Dishwasher?

Suds accumulate due to improper or excess detergent. The buildup can also be due to the failure to replace the rinse aid dispenser lid. That affects the dishwasher functionalities. Remove suds by running a full cycle without dishes and extra detergents.

What Is The Meaning Of The Start/Resume Light Blinking?

When the Start/Resume light flashes, that is an indicator of a disrupted cycle. The disruption could be due to abrupt power loss or an open door. Press the Start/Resume knob and close the dishwasher’s door within three seconds.

Why is the KitchenAid Dishwasher Control Lock Blinking Red?

A red blink on the control lock is an error code to show that you activated the control panel. You have to run it off so that you can operate the panel. Pin and hold the control lock button for 3 seconds to turn off the indicator.

Conclusion

KitchenAid dishwasher clean light blinking 7 times shows a failing appliance. Your machine suffers from several concerns. That includes;

  • Control panel failure.
  • Thermostat failure.
  • Heating element defects.
  • Defective wash motor.
  • Low voltage.
  • Faulty door lock.
  • Circuit glitch.

Luckily, all the above hitches are rectifiable. This guide simplifies ways of resolving the issues and rebooting your dishwasher. Besides the procedures above, use your dishwasher repair guides in your user manual. Call a professional to bail you out when things are over complicated for you. Good luck.