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HomeRepair HelpWhite-Westinghouse Dishwasher RepairWhite-Westinghouse Dishwasher has a burning smell Repair
White-Westinghouse Dishwasher has a burning smell
A White-Westinghouse dishwasher burning smell usually points to an electrical part overheating or shorting out, and the most likely place to check first is the drain valve solenoid. If your dishwasher smells like burning, inspect the drain valve and drain solenoid kit for scorch marks near the terminals and test the solenoid for continuity. Next, check the heating element, since a shorted element can overheat, blister, or even break and cause a dishwasher electrical burning smell. After that, look at the timer and control board for visible burn marks or other signs of a short. If those parts look okay, the pump and motor assembly is another common cause, especially if the dishwasher fills but the circulation pump only hums or stays quiet instead of running normally. A White-Westinghouse dishwasher overheating smell should be taken seriously, since continued use can damage wiring and other components. Enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact White-Westinghouse replacement part for your dishwasher, whether you need a drain valve assembly, heating element, timer, control board, or pump and motor assembly.
01 - White-Westinghouse Dishwasher Drain Valve
The drain valve will often use a solenoid to open the valve to allow the water to exit the dishwasher. Since the solenoid is an electrical component, it can short out and produce a burning smell. You should inspect the solenoid for any burn marks near the terminals. You can also use a multimeter to test the drain valve solenoid for electrical continuity to determine if the component is able to function properly. If the solenoid is faulty, the entire drain valve assembly may need to be replaced.
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02 - White-Westinghouse Dishwasher Heating Element
The heating element may be shorted, causing a burning smell. In most cases when the element shorts out, it will have blisters or raised sections on it; in other cases a shorted element will break in half. To determine if the heating element has burned out, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. If the heating element does not have continuity, replace it.
Highly Likely
03 - White-Westinghouse Dishwasher Timer
On some dishwasher models, the timer determines when power is sent to the various components of the dishwasher. If the timer receives a power surge, or a component fails, the timer can short-out causing a burning smell. Inspect the timer for burn marks. A damaged timer will need to be replaced.
Highly Likely
04 - White-Westinghouse Dishwasher Control Board
The control board provides power to the various components of the dishwasher. If the control board receives a power surge, or a component fails, the control board can short-out causing a burning smell. Inspect the control board for burn marks. A burnt control board will need to be replaced.
Highly Likely
05 - White-Westinghouse Dishwasher Pump and Motor Assembly
The circulation pump uses a motor and impeller to force water up through the wash arms during the dishwasher's wash and rinse cycles. If the motor has burned out or is in the process of failing, it can produce a burning smell. You can often tell that a circulation pump motor has burned out if the motor isn’t making any noise or is just making a humming sound after the dishwasher has filled.
Common
06 - White-Westinghouse Dishwasher Drain Solenoid Kit
The drain solenoid opens the drain valve to allow the water to exit the dishwasher. Since the solenoid is an electrical component, it can short out and produce a burning smell. You should inspect the solenoid for any burn marks near the terminals. You can also use a multimeter to test the solenoid for electrical continuity to determine if the component is able to function properly.
Common
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my White-Westinghouse dishwasher have a burning smell?
How do I tell if the heating element is causing my dishwasher burning smell?
Can a dishwasher drain valve or drain solenoid cause a burning smell?
My dishwasher has a burning smell and hums. Is the pump motor bad?
How do I find the right White-Westinghouse dishwasher part for a burning smell repair?
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