Last Updated on May 19, 2023 by River Tree Farms
Dishwasher detergents contain enzymes that break down long chains of proteins and fats. The resulting forms are dissolved in water, which is how stains are removed from utensils. It is worth noting that dishwasher soap is essential in cleaning dishes. Thus, the Kitchenaid dishwasher soap dispenser not opening can be a huge problem as it will cause utensils to come out still stained.
The dishwasher detergent dispenser can fail to open for several reasons. These include a clogged dispenser, a damaged dispenser, and a faulty control board. Other causes include a broken dispenser slide, a faulty door, and a damaged dispenser lever. Stay tuned to learn about some quick ways to fix a Kitchenaid dishwasher soap dispenser that’s not opening.
Why Is My Kitchenaid Dishwasher Soap Dispenser Not Opening?
It is not typical for the Kitchenaid dishwasher soap dispenser to fail to open. Yet, it can happen due to reasons such as: –
- Damaged bi-metal switch
- Broken detergent dispenser
- Faulty dispenser slide
- Damaged control board
- Clogged dispenser
- Broken dispenser lever
- Faulty dishwasher actuator
- Broken dispenser door spring
How Do You Fix a Kitchenaid Dishwasher Soap Dispenser That Will Not Open?
Water in your dishwasher must mix with a suitable detergent for the utensils to come out clean. Otherwise, you will have stained dishes at the end of every wash cycle, which is not good. A suitable detergent can break down food stains without producing suds. If the dishwasher soap dispenser is not opening, try these quick tips. They will help resolve the issue and take you back to effective cleaning.
1. Dispenser Door Spring
This part connects the dispenser door with the casing of the dishwasher. If it is broken or faulty in any way, the detergent dispenser will not open. So, inspect the dispenser door spring and look out for any signs of damage. If damaged, be sure to replace it.
2. Dispenser Door Latch
This dispenser part fastens the door. The latch opens and closes to help dispense detergent from the dispenser. If the latch malfunctions for any reason, the dishwasher detergent dispenser will not be able to open and dispense soap.
3. Main Control Board
The main control board is the backbone of the Kitchenaid dishwasher. It controls all the dishwasher’s functions, including dispensing the detergent. The detergent dispenser opens and closes automatically. If any control signals from the main control board malfunction, the detergent dispenser door will fail to open.
So, take a keen look at the control board and replace the faulty components, if any. Since the control board is a technical area, you may want to hire a professional service person to fix it for you.
4. Bi-Metal switch
This tiny metal loop acts as the door switch for the detergent dispenser. The electricity supply causes this loop to bend away from the latch. This, in turn, breaks the contact and causes the dispenser door to open and dispense detergent.
The loop will bend towards the latch when the power supply is cut off. It will close the contact and shut the dispenser door. Any fault with this bi-metallic switch will cause the detergent dispenser to malfunction.
5. Detergent Dispenser Cover
This part covers the top of the dispenser to hold the detergent in place. If the dispenser cover has a fault, the dispenser will likely fail to open. So, inspect it and replace it in case it is broken.
6. Dispenser Door Pin
A damaged dispenser door pin will also cause the whole dispenser to fail. Keeping this in mind, check out for any signs of damage. If present, be sure to replace this part.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I put ordinary detergent in my dishwasher?
Kitchenaid recommends using automatic dishwasher detergent for cleaning dishes in your dishwasher. If you’re using another dishwasher brand, stick to dishwasher-specific detergents. These detergents contain biological enzymes. These enzymes help break down food particles without forming suds in the dishwasher.
If you use regular detergent, a lot of foam will form inside the dishwasher. This is likely to happen due to the high-pressure water jets. These suds will fill the appliance and overflow to the floor.
2. How do I add detergent to the dispenser?
The dishwasher detergent is refillable. So, before you activate the wash cycle, push the release button. This will cause the detergent dispenser flap to slide open. This will give you access to the detergent compartment, in which you will pour your detergent.
Finally, slide the flap back in position and start the wash cycle. Remember, you can only refill the dispenser with either liquid or powder detergent. Yet, some special tablet detergents can still work well in your dishwasher. You must determine what detergent is suitable for your appliance and use it.
3. Will the dishwasher still work if the detergent dispenser is damaged?
Yes. Your dishwasher will still run as usual, even if the detergent dispenser is faulty. The bad news is that you will have to clean your dishes without detergent. You will have to deal with many stained dishes at the end of each cycle.
Even so, you can always put detergent on the reservoir to mix with water during the wash cycle. This can be inconvenient. Keeping this in mind, call a qualified service technician to repair the detergent dispenser.
Conclusion
The detergent dispenser is an essential component of the dishwasher. Its function is to hold the dishwasher detergent and dispense it during the wash cycle. At times, you may notice the Kitchenaid dishwasher soap dispenser, not opening. This may result from a damaged latch, broken cover, or faulty control board. A broken bi-metallic switch and broken door spring can also cause the dispenser to fail to open.
Troubleshooting will help you to diagnose the problem and fix it. Call a service technician if you need help fixing a dishwasher soap dispenser that’s not opening. Remember, your dishwasher will still be able to run even though the dispenser is faulty. The only downside is that the utensils will not come out clean.
