Whirlpool Dishwasher: not drying

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Are your dishes coming out of your Whirlpool dishwasher still wet or damp? This issue often occurs despite using the Heat Dry or Extended Dry options. Common causes include improper cycle settings, malfunctioning rinse aid, or a faulty heating element. Understanding these factors can help you troubleshoot effectively.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Whirlpool Models

  • Whirlpool official troubleshooting emphasizes selecting appropriate dry options (Heat/Extended Dry) and use of rinse aid for optimal drying performance.
  • Whirlpool Product Help indicates Extended Dry and Open Dry functions improve drying; testing Sanitize cycle can check heating element function.

Possible Causes

Improper cycle/settings or user-loading issues

How to Identify: Heat dry/Extended dry not selected; dishes overloaded or placed to trap water (especially plastics causing puddling

Part: User settings/Loading habits

Lack or malfunction of rinse aid

How to Identify: Rinse aid reservoir empty or dispenser cap damaged; detergent alone not removing surface tension of water

Part: Rinse aid dispenser

Faulty heating element

How to Identify: Dishes are cold after cycle finishes or element shows no continuity on multimeter test; element shows visible damage

Part: Heating element

Vent/vent motor assembly failure

How to Identify: Vent door doesn’t open or vent fan doesn’t run during dry cycle; moist air stays inside

Part: Vent assembly or vent fan motor

Faulty high-limit thermostat or temperature sensor

How to Identify: Heating element shuts off prematurely; multimeter test shows thermostat out of spec

Part: High-limit thermostat/temperature sensor

Control board or wiring issues

How to Identify: No power to heating/vent components despite correct settings; intermittent faults

Part: Control board/Wiring harness

DIY Solutions

Check & Adjust Cycle Settings and Loading

Easy 5–10 minutes
  1. Ensure Heat Dry or Extended Dry option is selected before starting a cycle
  2. Load dishes with space between items and angle especially plastics so water drains off
  3. Avoid overloading and place items where airflow isn’t blocked

Fill & Inspect Rinse Aid Dispenser

Easy 2–5 minutes
  1. Locate rinse aid dispenser on dishwasher door and check level
  2. Refill with recommended rinse aid if low
  3. Inspect dispenser cap and mechanism for damage

Test Heating Element With Multimeter

Moderate 20–40 minutes
Tools Needed: Multimeter, Screwdriver
  1. Disconnect power at breaker
  2. Access heating element at bottom of dishwasher tub
  3. Disconnect element wiring and test continuity with multimeter
  4. Replace element if no continuity
⚠️ Safety First: Disconnect power before inspection

Inspect Vent Door and Fan Function

Moderate 20–40 minutes
Tools Needed: Screwdriver, Flashlight
  1. Open dishwasher mid-dry cycle to see if vent door opens
  2. Listen or visually inspect vent fan running
  3. Check for obstructions and disengaged linkages
⚠️ Safety First: Disconnect power when accessing internal assemblies

Professional Repairs

Replace Heating Element

Estimated Cost: $40–$120 for part, $150–$300 installed

Replace Vent Assembly or Vent Fan Motor

Estimated Cost: $50–$150 for parts, $200–$400 installed

Replace High-Limit Thermostat or Temperature Sensor

Estimated Cost: $15–$60 for part, $150–$300 installed

Control Board Diagnostics/Repair

Estimated Cost: $100–$350 for parts, $250–$600 installed

When to Call a Professional

Heating element tests show no continuity
Vent assembly shows mechanical failure
Persistent electrical/control issues
Uncertain diagnosis after basic DIY checks

Preventive Maintenance

  • Refill rinse aid regularly: Poor drying due to high water surface tension
    Frequency: Weekly or per cycle use
  • Proper loading of dishes: Water pooling and blocked airflow causing drying issues
    Frequency: Every cycle

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Whirlpool Dishwasher not drying?
Common causes include improper cycle settings, lack of rinse aid, or a faulty heating element.
How do I fix Whirlpool Dishwasher not drying myself?
Check cycle settings, refill rinse aid, and inspect the heating element and vent for issues.
How much does it cost to fix not drying?
Professional repair costs range from $40 to $600 depending on the issue.
When should I call a technician for not drying?
Call a technician if DIY solutions fail or if there are complex electrical issues.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

100%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: DIY

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Heating element malfunction (3 mentions)
  • OWI sensor failure (1 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Replaced the OWI sensor

    Success rate: 25.0%

  2. Clean the filter and spray arms; check heating element and vent; reset the dishwasher

    Success rate: 25.0%
Analysis based on 4 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. Is it even worth calling a repair guy?
  2. Sanity check
  3. Dishes not dry
  4. Dishwasher not drying

Community Discussions

Dishes not dry

Replaced the OWI sensor, which resolved the issue.

DIY View on Reddit →

not drying dishes well, leaving white residue

Clean the filter and spray arms; check heating element and vent; reset the dishwasher.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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