Appliance Repair in 08108 · Collingswood, Audubon & Oaklyn

In an older Collingswood kitchen, the dishwasher is almost always a later addition. To make room, someone removed a base cabinet next to the sink and ran a water line, a drain and power to the opening. The result can work well for years, but the way it was done affects how the machine behaves.

The drain is the first thing we look at. A dishwasher needs either a high loop in its drain hose, fastened up under the counter, or an air gap at the sink, so dirty water from the sink cannot flow back into the tub. Without that loop, a dishwasher can smell, leave cloudy dishes or refill with water when the sink drains. Retrofits also tend to have a long drain run to the garbage disposal or sink tailpiece, and a disposal that was installed with its knockout plug still in place will keep the dishwasher from draining at all.

Next is the water supply and the fit. Older homes may have a shared hot line under the sink with a small valve that restricts flow, so the dishwasher fills slowly and throws an error. Openings cut from old cabinetry are sometimes slightly off in width or height, leaving the dishwasher unsecured to the counter, which lets it tip forward or leak at the door. A technician who sees these conditions can often fix the real problem instead of replacing a pump or a board that is fine.

Empty the dishwasher and clear the sink cabinet, since the supply valve and drain connection are usually inside it. Note whether the dishwasher shares a drain with a garbage disposal. Collingswood streets are narrow and many homes lack driveways, so tell us if parking is easier on a side street or behind the house.