Why is the salt indicator on my dishwasher on? How does it work and what does it say? In the article we will consider all the reasons, possible breakdowns and tell you what to do.
The manufacturer installed indicators on the control panel to make it easy to use the dishwasher. With their help, you can track at what stage the washing is, whether there is enough detergent and rinse aid in the car. all symbols are collected in the instructions, we will focus only on the salt icon.
What is a salt indicator for?
Since the water in the regions of Russia is hard and contains heavy impurities of calcium and magnesium, manufacturers have installed ion exchangers with resin in dishwashers. Resin particles attract heavy impurities, saturating the water with sodium. What does it give:
- Prevents the deposition of limescale on the parts of the PMM.
- Improves the quality of washing. Softened water dissolves detergent better.
- Saves dishes from white plaque and stains.
Most importantly, the ion exchanger extends the life of the dishwasher. When the resin in the tank runs out, special salt comes to the rescue. How does she look?
Special salt is similar to regular salt, but its crystals are much larger. It is purified, so the composition contains only sodium chloride. How to choose dishwasher salt, read in a separate article.
This is what an ion exchanger looks like:
A special sensor detects the amount of salt in the car. If the product runs out, the icon flashes, if it has already ended, it lights up. If the light in the Bosch or Siemens dishwasher is constantly on and does not go out, it’s time to replenish the ion exchanger.
In the first Hansa and Bosch models, there is no such indicator. Therefore, users have to periodically open and check the presence or absence of salt in the compartment.
The harder the water in the tap, the more salt is consumed. Often, when buying equipment, a test strip is included to determine the amount of impurities. To find out the result, you can do this:
- Call the water company.
- Use litmus paper (test strip).
Users offer their own methods, however, they do not give the exact result. If the soap or shampoo does not foam well, and a white coating quickly builds up on taps and faucets, the level of hardness is high.
Possible problems
It happens that you just filled the ion exchanger, but the indicator on the panel is still on. What to do?
- Try restarting the machine. To do this, unplug it, then plug it back in.
- After the reboot, the work of the equipment should be restored.
If this does not happen, mechanical cleaning will help:
- Disconnect the PMM from the network.
- Using a construction vacuum cleaner, pump out the contents of the tank (salt and water).
- You can use a rubber bulb. Mix the contents beforehand and pump out.
- Pour a full compartment of water.
- Top up with crystals.
- Remove excess moisture from the tray.
- Turn on the dishwasher.
Usually this is enough to stop the light from glowing. But if nothing has changed, you need to check the salt sensor.
- Remove the side panel of the machine by unscrewing the fixing screws.
- Remove the heat exchanger (if any). Behind it is a sensor.
- It is easy to remove the sensor by unscrewing the fasteners and unfastening the wiring.
- Disassemble it and clean it from plaque and dirt.
- Start the technique again.
- Is the indicator on? Then you have to install a new sensor.
The problem is that buying a part is not so easy. Usually it is supplied only to workshops. But you can send a request to the manufacturer or contact the nearest workshop.
You can operate the PMM with a non-working sensor, but then the indicator will not work. The salt level will have to be determined manually.
You can find the explanation of each icon and indicator in the instructions. Do not ignore the “messages” of the dishwasher, otherwise the problem may result in a serious repair.