Archives: February 2013

For those of you who have an interest in how machines work, this is just an outline guide on how a dishwasher does the washing up.These days, all modern machines are only connected to the cold water supply, which is then heated to the required heat, depending on the programme cycle selected.  The time for heating the water is taken into account in the timing for each cycle the dishwasher offers.

Even though many of the branded detergents available on the market today claim they provide both the required amount of rinse aid and dishwasher salt, along with  the detergent, this will be insufficient to keep your machine working to its best, especially in a hard water area.

Modern machines are designed to soften the water to give you the best results, in order to do this, you need to top up the salt as and when required by the machine.  This will be depend on the make and model of the machine, plus the frequency of use. Read more…

One of the most important household appliances is the dishwasher,  they get a lot of use and are very likely to have problems at some point so make sure you know what to do should you encounter problems.

Before doing anything with any electrical appliance, especially a large item such as a dishwasher, you must ensure it is disconnected from the mains power supply.  It may sound a simple thing to do but too many serious accidents occur every year because someone has forgotten to turn it off, or assumed someone else had already disconnected the supply.

Dishwashers are far more complex than many people realise.  It is generally thought a dishwasher is much more simple than a washing machine, but there are probably as many moving parts in a dishwasher, and they are all capable of going wrong! Read more…

Bearing failure on a washing machine is a common problem and often the owner user will dispose of the appliance due to this fault.  Replacing the bearings can be a fiddly job so we have created a video showing you the steps to take.  See the guide here…

As with anything, the best you can afford is the way to go.  Cheapest may be better for your purse, but is not always going to give you the cleanest dishes.There are various types of product you can buy – liquid, tablets or gel caps, and generally it is a trial an error basis until you find the best results for your specific dishwasher model. The hardness of the water in your area may also direct you to using a particular type of detergent. Read more…

This is not a common job to undertake however if you do need to carry this work out this is a comprehensive guide showing you exactly what to do.  See the guide here

Dishwasher Filling with Dirty or Waste Water 

The dishwasher fills with water when switched off, or fills with dirty water – this is probably one of the most common problems with a dishwasher. It can happen overnight, or you may notice it if you have been away for a few days.  It can sometimes become apparent if you are using your dishwasher more than usual, maybe at Christmas when the family have been to stay.There is always the option this could be a problem with the valve, but it is generally a far more simple solution to the problem.Its very unpleasant when you find stale water inside your dishwasher, especially when you know you correctly turned it off after use.  If not noticed quickly this will result in a very unpleasant smell!Please be aware that even though your Dishwasher may be under Warranty, or Extended Warranty, it is best to check out a few things prior to calling in an Engineer under your Warranty, as it may well be that you will be charged if the problem is not related to the actual dishwasher. Read more here…

The model used in this guide is a  Hotpoint WMA60P, see the guide on the yourspares.co.uk website here

How to identify a fault on your washing machine 

It is very frustrating when your machine machine does not work, and even more frustrating when you don’t know what the problem is.

Hopefully this article will help you to find out what is wrong with your machine, whether it is very simple to fix, or whether it is something that may require a visit by a professional washing machine engineer.There are very common faults that turn up all the time on washing machines, it will help you if you know how to recognise these minor faults, and how you can deal with these yourself.You must bear in mind when your washing machine goes wrong, before you do anything else, you must ensure you have disconnected the machine from the mains.

Safety to yourself or to someone who is helping you to resolve your problem, is absolutely paramount and should never be ignored. Read more here…

This article is not designed to provide you with solutions to faults in your washing machine, but is a guide on how to identify what the cause of the fault may be.  It is the first step in enabling you to work out the reason for the fault, rather than assuming it is just one thing.Before you can repair the fault, you must know what is causing the problem.  You should have a plan, and the following may give you an idea of how to identify and resolve the issue, Read more