Dishwasher repair · Ottawa · all brands
Dishwasher not cleaning dishes in Ottawa
Gritty, filmy or still-dirty dishes after a full cycle: what usually causes it, the cleaning steps worth trying first, and when a pump or valve needs a technician.
Diagnostic$89+ tax
Residential diagnostic visit. The repair is quoted in writing before any work.Residential appliances. Gas, commercial and sealed-system rates below.
Online requests are confirmed by call or text.
- TSSA-certified gas work
- In business since 1995
- Factory-authorized repairs
- 5.0 on Google · 59 reviews (Oct 2026)
OttawaONGatineauQC
Written diagnostic report
- Fault
- Explained on site
- Quote
- Approved first
- Warranty
- 3 months
- Service areaOttawa
- Diagnostic$89 + tax residential
- LanguageEnglish & French
- Warranty3 months on repairs
Short answer
A dishwasher not cleaning dishes, leaving them gritty, filmy or still dirty, usually has clogged spray arms, a blocked filter, a worn wash pump or motor, a weak water inlet valve, or hard water and the wrong detergent. Clean the filter and spray arms first and run the kitchen tap hot before you start a cycle. If results don’t improve, book a diagnosis: it is rarely a reason to replace the dishwasher.
01Before you book
Safe checks first
Five minutes that sometimes save a visit, and always make it faster. Skip anything you are not comfortable doing.
- FilterTwist the filter out of the tub floor, scrub it gently with a soft brush in warm water and lock it back in place.
- Spray armsSpin each arm by hand; it should turn freely. Clear blocked holes with a toothpick.
- Hot water firstRun the kitchen tap until the water is hot before starting, so the first fill isn’t cold.
- Detergent and rinse aidUse fresh detergent and keep the rinse aid topped up. If your water is hard, set the dishwasher’s water-hardness or softener option where it has one.
- Rack layoutKeep tall pans and trays from blocking the spray arms or the detergent door.
Stop using it if you notice
- Water leaking onto the floor
- A burning smell or a tripped breaker
- Loud grinding or a pump that only hums
Switch the dishwasher off at its breaker and close the water valve under the sink. Then call 613-301-0016.
02Common causes
Common causes of a dishwasher not cleaning dishes
- Clogged spray arms. Food and mineral build-up block the spray-arm holes, so water can’t reach the dishes.
- Dirty or blocked filter. A clogged filter recirculates dirty water and leaves residue on dishes.
- Worn wash pump or motor. A failing pump can’t push water hard enough to clean properly.
- Faulty water inlet valve. A weak valve lets too little water in, so the cycle can’t clean.
- Hard water or wrong detergent. Mineral scale and the wrong detergent or rinse aid reduce cleaning performance and leave a white film.
03Problem by problem
Dispenser, top rack and spray arm faults
Detergent dispenser won’t open
A tablet still sitting in the cup, or a lump of wet powder stuck behind the lid at the end of the cycle, means the dishes were washed without detergent. Sometimes the lid simply hit a baking sheet or a pot handle on its way open. If nothing was in the way, dried detergent may be gluing the lid or its latch, or the lid spring has weakened; rinse the cup and latch with warm water and check that the lid closes and catches smoothly. If it still stays shut, the latch actuator in the dispenser has usually failed, although a control that never sends the release signal looks the same. We test both, and when the dispenser is the cause we replace the dispenser assembly.
Top rack not cleaning
Clean plates below and dirty glasses on top point to the upper spray arm, which hangs under the top rack and, on many models, gets its water through a feed tube on the back of the rack. Pull the rack out, rinse the arm, and check that the tube lines up with the water inlet on the back wall of the tub when the rack is pushed fully in. On racks with adjustable height, set both sides at the same level; on some models an uneven rack lets the tube miss the inlet. A cracked arm or a damaged feed tube is replaced.
Spray arms not spinning
An arm that will not turn by hand is jammed: glass chips, seeds or a label wrapped around its hub, or a utensil hanging through the rack. An arm that turns freely by hand but still leaves food behind is usually short of water pressure from a clogged filter, a low fill or a worn wash pump. We test the pump and the fill before quoting any part.
04Our diagnosis
Testing the spray, pump and water supply
We check the spray arms, filter, wash pump, inlet valve and water temperature to find why the dishwasher isn’t cleaning, then clear or replace the faulty part so the spray reaches every rack again. Our dishwasher repairs are factory-authorized, and we have worked across Ottawa and Gatineau since 1995.
A blocked filter often causes standing water too; see dishwasher not draining. Clean but wet dishes are a different fault: dishwasher not drying.
05Rate card
Clear diagnostic pricing
One fee to find the fault. The repair itself is quoted in writing, and nothing proceeds until you approve it.
- You approve a written quote before any repair work.
- Repairs carry a 3-month warranty — ask for the written terms.
- Travel charges may apply more than 30 km from downtown Ottawa.
Residential diagnostic
Visit and diagnosis; written quote before any repair
Gas appliances
Gas ranges, ovens, cooktops and dryers
Commercial equipment
Restaurants, property managers, landlords
Sealed-system diagnostic
Refrigerant, compressor
After-hours visit
Between 9 PM – 7 AM
- Diagnostic visit$89 + tax, residential. The technician finds the fault.
- Written quoteYou see the repair price and approve it first.
- RepairNothing is repaired until you approve the quote. Repairs carry a 3-month warranty.
06Dispatch, step by step
How a visit works
Four stages, and you always know which one you’re in.
Request sent · not yet booked
Request
Book online or call. Tell us the appliance, brand and what it’s doing.
Next: we call or text you
- Appointment starts here
Booking confirmed
Confirm
We call or text to confirm a time window. Your booking is confirmed only then.
Your confirmed time window
Fault found
Diagnose
The technician tests the appliance and explains the fault. $89 + tax residential.
Written diagnostic report
Quote approved
Repair
You approve the written quote first. Repairs carry a 3-month warranty.
3-month repair warranty
A request is not an appointment. Your visit is booked once we confirm a time window with you by call or text.
08By area
Dishwasher repair near you
Local pages for the neighbourhoods we serve most, with what is specific to each.
09Coverage
Dishwasher repair on both sides of the river
Two primary markets, one dispatch: Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec.
Also serving
Why are my dishes still dirty after a cycle?
Most often clogged spray arms or a blocked filter, so water and detergent can’t reach the dishes properly. Both are common, affordable fixes.
Is it worth repairing a dishwasher that will not clean?
Usually yes. A spray arm, filter or pump repair costs far less than a new dishwasher, and you get the price in writing first.
Do you service all dishwasher brands?
Yes: Bosch, Samsung, LG, KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Maytag and more, across Ottawa and Gatineau. See Bosch dishwasher repair for Bosch-specific faults.
11Ready when you are
Book a dishwasher repair in Ottawa.
Ottawa and Gatineau. $89 + tax residential diagnostic; the repair is quoted in writing before any work. We call or text to confirm your time window.