You Can Adjust the Water Pressure in Your Dishwasher

If you notice that sometimes food still sticks to things when they come out of the dishwasher, you should check the water pressure switch before abandoning the appliance. The adjustment is simple and can improve the results of using your dishwasher. Here’s how to adjust water pressure and save money on a new appliance. All you need is a screwdriver and gloves.

First turn off the water

The first thing you need to do before starting to work with your dishwasher is to turn off the water supply to the appliance. Most dishwashers are connected to the same plumbing as the kitchen sink, so you’ll find a shut-off valve under the sink. You can then try the sink faucet to make sure it is turned off. Some dishwashers may be connected to a different water source, but they still have a shut-off valve somewhere – follow the water line from the dishwasher to find it.

Turn off the power and move the dishwasher away from the wall.

Once the water is turned off, the electricity should also be turned off. You can either unplug the dishwasher after removing it from under the countertop, or use a circuit breaker to cut off the power. If you do it this way, make sure you have the correct schema; There is always a risk of electric shock when working with a plugged-in appliance.

Next, you need to locate the access panel on the back of the dishwasher and remove it. To do this, you will need to disconnect the dishwasher from the countertop. It is usually held in place by a lower access panel covering the water hose elbow. Disable this; you may then also need to unscrew the brackets holding the dishwasher under the edge of the counter. Carefully move the dishwasher away from the wall, checking for any electrical connections or hardware holding it in place.

Open the rear access panel and adjust the pressure switch.

Next, open the panel by unscrewing it and find the water heater. Under the panel there will be water pipes, a pump and a water heater. The water heater looks like a tube with a box attached to it.

Remove the cap on one end of the pipe, which is held in place by screws, to gain access to the pressure switch. Once the cap is removed, you can adjust the pressure by turning the pressure switch screw to the left or counterclockwise with a screwdriver.

Assemble and check your dishwasher.

Once this is done, you can reassemble the parts, starting with replacing the cap on the pressure switch. Make sure when you connect the hoses to your dishwasher that you do so securely to avoid leaks. Before you do any last-minute work, such as reinstalling your dishwasher on the countertop, you may want to test by starting and then stopping the appliance to make sure all parts are working well. Once this is done, you can try running the dishwasher for one cycle to see if you have solved your problem.