Parts of a Dishwasher: What They Are and How They Work
Steven E / Tuesday April 15, 2025
You throw in some dirty dishes, add detergent, hit a button, and walk away. An hour later, boom: clean dishes. Magic, right?
Well, not quite. Behind that sparkling clean dinner plate is a surprisingly complex machine doing a carefully choreographed dance. And if you’ve ever dealt with a dishwasher that suddenly stops draining or doesn’t clean quite right, you know just how frustrating it can be when the magic stops.
That’s why understanding the parts of a dishwasher and how they work together can be super helpful. Whether you’re just curious or trying to troubleshoot a problem, this guide breaks down each part.
Key Parts of Your Dishwasher
Every dishwasher is built from a series of parts that work together to wash, rinse, and dry your dishes. Understanding these pieces helps you troubleshoot issues and perform routine maintenance.
The Control Panel
The control panel is the set of buttons or digital screen usually on the front or top of your dishwasher door. This is where you choose your wash cycle, drying options, or if you want to delay the start.
What it does: Think of this as the dishwasher’s brain. Once you press start, it sends signals to the other components to get going, fill up, heat up, spray, drain, dry, and so on. It controls the timing and sequence of each phase.
Pro tip: If your dishwasher isn’t doing anything, the control panel or the board behind it might be the culprit.
The Door Latch
Ever try to start your dishwasher without closing the door all the way? It won’t work. That’s thanks to the door latch, a little mechanical piece that tells the dishwasher, “Okay, it’s safe to start.”
What it does: It physically locks the door shut and also triggers a safety switch that allows the machine to turn on. If it’s broken, your dishwasher won’t start, or worse, it’ll leak mid-cycle.
The Water Inlet Valve
Your dishwasher doesn’t have its own water reservoir. It needs hot water from your home’s supply through something called a water inlet valve.
What it does: It opens when needed to let water in, then shuts off once the dishwasher has enough. If your dishwasher isn’t filling, this might be the issue.
The Circulation Pump & Motor
Here’s where things get powerful. The circulation pump pushes water through the spray arms, and the motor powers it.
What they do: The pump sucks up water from the bottom of the tub and blasts it through the spray arms to get your dishes clean. The motor spins an impeller to make this happen.
Why it matters: If your dishes come out with food still stuck, the pump or motor might not be doing its job.
Spray Arms
Open your dishwasher and look down, see those rotating arms with holes in them? Those are spray arms, and they’re like tiny car washes for your dishes.
What they do: They spin around and shoot hot water to all corners of the dishwasher. Most machines have two or three: one under the bottom rack, one in the middle, and sometimes one on top.
Maintenance tip: If they stop spinning or seem clogged, take them out and clean them. Food bits and hard water can block those holes.
Heating Element
Most dishwashers have a visible coil at the bottom; that’s the heating element. It heats water during the wash cycle and dries dishes afterward.
What it does: Hot water cleans better, and heat helps dishes dry faster. Some newer dishwashers skip the heated dry phase and just rely on good airflow, but if yours has this coil, it’s doing double duty.
Safety reminder: That coil gets HOT. Don’t touch it right after a cycle ends.
The Detergent Dispenser
That little compartment where you put detergent? It’s more important than it looks.
What it does: At just the right moment in the cycle, the door pops open, releasing detergent into the hot water. Many also have a spot for rinse aid, which helps with drying and prevents water spots.
Troubleshooting tip: If your detergent door never opens, it could be jammed or the release mechanism might be faulty.
Drain Pump
Once the washing and rinsing is done, all that dirty water has to go somewhere. Enter the drain pump.
What it does: It sends wastewater through a hose and out into your home’s plumbing. This usually happens several times, after the initial wash and after each rinse cycle.
Common issue: Standing water in your dishwasher often means the drain pump or hose is clogged. Time to check for bits of food, glass, or even stray labels from jars.
Filters
Down in the bottom of the tub is the filter. Depending on your model, it could be self-cleaning or manual.
What it does: It catches food particles so they don’t end up back on your plates. Self-cleaning filters use a grinder (a bit noisy), while manual ones require you to rinse them under the tap once in a while.
Don’t ignore this: A dirty filter means cloudy glasses, funky smells, and poor performance.
Racks and Tines
Your dishwasher’s racks aren’t just wire baskets, they’re designed with specific dish types in mind. And those vertical rods? They’re called tines, and they keep your plates upright and spaced for maximum water coverage.
What they do: Adjustable racks let you customize space for tall glasses, cutting boards, or big pots. Some even have folding tines or removable sections.
Smart usage: Load dishes so they don’t nest together; water needs to reach every surface.
Float Assembly
This little float, usually found in the bottom of the tub, acts like a mini life preserver.
What it does: It rises as water fills the tub. When it hits a certain level, it tells the dishwasher to stop letting water in. If it didn’t do its job, your kitchen could flood.
Quick fix: Sometimes food gunk gets under it and keeps it from moving. Clean it gently if it feels stuck.
Thermostat
You’ve got hot water and a heating element, but you also need a thermostat to make sure things don’t get too hot, or stay too cold.
What it does: It regulates temperature during the cycle and ensures the water gets hot enough to clean effectively (usually around 120–160°F).
Why you care: If water isn’t hot enough, detergent doesn’t activate properly. If it’s too hot, plastics can melt. Balance is key.
Vent and Fan
Older dishwashers have a vent that opens during the drying cycle to let out steam. Some also have a fan to speed up the process.
What they do: They help evaporate water and keep moisture from settling back on dishes. Newer models might use condensation drying instead, no fan needed.
If your dishes are wet: Check if the vent is stuck or if your rinse aid needs a refill.
How It All Comes Together
Okay, so how do all these parts work together during a typical dishwasher cycle? Here’s a simplified play-by-play:
- You press start. The control panel checks the door latch and signals the inlet valve.
- Water fills the tub. The float monitors the level and shuts the valve once it’s full.
- The pump and motor kick in. Water circulates through the spray arms.
- The detergent door opens. Hot water mixes with detergent to blast food off your dishes.
- Dirty water drains. The drain pump expels it down your kitchen pipes.
- Fresh rinse water comes in. Same spray-arm action, but cleaner.
- Final drain. Out goes the rinse water.
- Drying phase. The heating element warms up and the vent (or fan) kicks in.
- Done! Clean, dry dishes ready for your next meal.
Where To Learn More
If you need any replacement parts for your appliances, you can enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com to locate and order them quickly. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have tons of great information in our repair help section and YouTube videos to help you troubleshoot.
Stay connected with the latest DIY tips, tutorial videos, and repair guides by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We love hearing about your repair stories and successes. If you need more help or want personalized guidance, feel free to reach out. We’re ready to help you take on your next project with confidence!
The information in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.
Keep Reading:
Your Guide To Finding the Ideal Dishwasher for Your Home
What is the white gunk in my dishwasher & how can I clean it?
With nearly a decade of experience in providing top-notch customer service regarding appliance parts and repair, Steven enjoys sharing practical advice, troubleshooting tips, and interesting information to help readers stay informed.