Hot take: fast drying dishwasher cycles are a scam for repairs

I used to think quick wash/dry cycles on dishwashers were just a gimmick for homeowners, nothing to do with us. Then last month I had two calls in one week where the thermal fuse blew because people ran the 30 minute dry setting back to back. The heating element cycles way harder and burns out cheaper relays. Now I tell customers to avoid anything under 45 minutes if they want the board to last. But then again, some guys swear the short cycles save wear on the pump. Anyone else notice this pattern or am I reading too much into it?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_patricia1mo agoMost Upvoted

Yeah that thermal fuse thing is no joke. I had a call last month where the board was completely fried on a unit that was only 2 years old. The guy admitted he ran the 30 minute dry cycle like 4 times in one day. The heating element just cooks the whole system when it's trying to do too much too fast. I've started telling people the same thing, just stick with the normal cycle and let it run its course.

patricia_green211mo ago

My neighbors Bosch had that same fuse issue last spring, and @the_patricia called it right from the start. The guy who installed it told them the quick dry was fine, but we found a melted harness clip inside the door panel when I helped them pull it apart. Ended up costing them a service call and a new control board, so I just run the standard cycle on mine and let it finish on its own.