I have been living in my place for a while now, and have always noticed that when opening up the built in dishwasher, it stinks (unless the dishes were just done)
One might think this was due to residue on the plates and such, but after emptying the dishwasher, it will stink within a few days (even with no dishes, etc inside)
As I said, this is a built in dishwasher, and the kitchen sink does have a garbage disposal (which I rarely use)
Any idea where this funk is coming from, and better yet, how to eliminate it?
Check the drain line from the dishwasher. It might be that water from the sink is backing into it, or that the drain connects to the sewer line below the trap and gas from the sewer line is rising into the dishwasher. Or it might simply not be draining properly, and stagnant water is collecting in the drain line.
Would you classify the funk as a sewer gas funk or a bacteria gobbling funk? I know the two are practically identical, but the human nose can differentiate quite nicely. If it’s a gas-like funk, I would guess it’s an improperly installed waste line with an insufficient trap. The water is evaporating and your dishwasher becomes the impromptu vent for the waste lines.
If it’s a bacteria type funk it could be a couple things. Most dishwashers have a screen at the bottom that filters out the RubesCrudTM and allows water through. Some dishwashers require that you remove the lower whirleygig (or wizmo, or thingamajig). The majority of them don’t require tools to do so, it’s usually a couple plastic tabs that you push together. Remove the screen and wash it out with a weak bleach solution. You might sponge out the place where it sits as well.
If it isn’t that, The next guess is that line has filled up with Bacteria Food, [Homer Simpson]mmmmm, bacteria food[/Homer]. That gets tricky, you’d have to remove the waste hose (Turn off that circuit first!) and clean it out. Not a pleasent job, and best left to a professional. Good luck Hrubes.
Standing water gets funky after a while. This happens to me because I use my d/w as a drying rack, so water collects in the bottom. You might not even see it because it sits in the pump inlet out of site (but not out of smell).
Is there an air gap properly installed? A vapor lock might result in noxious gasses bubbling back into the unit.
Thanks for the Trademark on the RubesCrud NurseCarmen. I’m printing out this thread, and hopefully getting to the bottom of this within the next 10 days (busy weekend scheduled)
Many thanks to all who replied, and Canti, missed you at the show, hope the inlaws were fun.
Just to repeat, buy a jar of Tang and pour about a couple of good sized tablespoons in the detergent cups and run the empty dishwasher through a cycle. The citric acid in Tang should clean up a lot of crud.
