Smeg Dishwasher Repair

Smeg dishwashers are built along European lines. Most are 24-inch built-in units, many fully integrated behind a custom cabinet panel, with a stainless tub, a fine filter assembly in the sump, a circulation pump with a heating element, and a separate drain pump. Many models also include anti-flood protection: a tray in the base with a float switch that shuts the machine down and runs the drain pump if water collects there.

That float switch explains one of the more confusing Smeg complaints. A machine that suddenly will not start, or pumps out continuously, often has water in the base tray from a small leak, a cracked hose or overfilling with the wrong detergent. Other common faults are a drain pump jammed by glass or a cherry pit, a blocked filter, a heater or heating circuit that stops warming the water, and door springs or hinges that wear under the weight of a heavy decorative panel.

First, turn the machine off and pull the bottom filter; rinse it and look into the sump for debris. Make sure the drain hose is not kinked behind the cabinet and that the disposer knockout was removed if the dishwasher drains through a garbage disposal. Use only dishwasher detergent, and if you have well water in Union or Iredell County, check the inlet hose screen for sediment, which can slow filling.

Our diagnosis tests the drain pump, inlet valve, heating element, float switch and door switch, and we look for the source of any water in the base rather than simply drying it out. We explain the problem and the price before starting. Integrated models need the cabinet panel handled carefully, and we treat it that way.

Pumps, valves, heaters, seals and door springs are reasonable repairs. A failed control board on an older unit is when replacement deserves a hard look.