Who's the culprit: Dishwasher, Disposal, or Pipes?

[aphex]

Ok, first let me say how nasty this is....

Ran the dishwasher, finished and opened it up.... Somehow the dishes on the top rack have the crap we stuck in the garbage disposal over the past two days literally caked on to them (gotta love heated dry)

Questions:

#1. There was nothing in the sink, and as far as we know, nothing left in the disposal before we ran the dishwasher.

#2. Why isnt there anything caked onto dishes on the lower rack? (we only have a bottom sprayer)

#3. Where the hell did this crap come from?

 

[olds]

Try cleaning the air gap.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Try cleaning the air gap.

hummana wha?

 

[olds]

The thingy sticking out of the top of your sink.

 

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
The thingy sticking out of the top of your sink.

the faucet?

 

[laurenlex]

You have a dishwasher poltergiest. Beware.

 

[Delleet]

Originally posted by: troytime

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
The thingy sticking out of the top of your sink.

the faucet?

No, the little thing about 2 inches tall next to the faucet.

 

[olds]

http://www.generich.com/customer/prodpics/web7870.jpg

http://www.nachi.org/tips/1551.gif

 

[redly]

OK...important question..what does an airgap do???

allow air out...or allow air in??

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Delleet

Originally posted by: troytime

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
The thingy sticking out of the top of your sink.

the faucet?

No, the little thing about 2 inches tall next to the faucet.

I dont have one.

 

[olds]

The easiest way to check it is to run the dw. But first, take off the cap to the air gap. Place a heavy coffee cup, upside down, over it. Run the dw. When it drains, it will shoot water out of the air gap. The cup will allow it to drain back into the sink. Any debris should come with it.
Of course, you also need to run the disposal to make sure nothings in it.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: redly
OK...important question..what does an airgap do???

allow air out...or allow air in??

Keeps crud from sucking back into the dishwasher from the disposal or undersink pipes.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: Delleet

Originally posted by: troytime

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
The thingy sticking out of the top of your sink.

the faucet?

No, the little thing about 2 inches tall next to the faucet.

I dont have one.

lol
Run the disposal to be sure it's clear. I am sure you know you need to run water at the same time.

 

[Pepsi90919]

what the hell? i've never seen one of those 'air gap' things

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
what the hell? i've never seen one of those 'air gap' things

Must be a regional thing. I've never seen one without it.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
what the hell? i've never seen one of those 'air gap' things

Must be a regional thing. I've never seen one without it.

They are not very popular around chicago either, depending on the age of the house. Most new dishwashers have a vacuum breaker in them now anyway, so they are not needed as much.

 

[Bryophyte]

OMG oldsmoboat, you are too cool. :lips: I just opened up the cap to my airgap and partly disassembled it and found a big glob of ick encrusted lint plugging the central tube. Maybe my dishwasher will drain properly when I run it next. :thumbsup:

 

[laurenlex]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
OMG oldsmoboat, you are too cool. :lips: I just opened up the cap to my airgap and partly disassembled it and found a big glob of ick encrusted lint plugging the central tube. Maybe my dishwasher will drain properly when I run it next. :thumbsup:

ATOT members kick @ss :beer::beer::beer:

 

[Hoober]

Yeah, I've never seen one of those airgap things, either. My dishwasher seems to run fine.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
OMG oldsmoboat, you are too cool. :lips: I just opened up the cap to my airgap and partly disassembled it and found a big glob of ick encrusted lint plugging the central tube. Maybe my dishwasher will drain properly when I run it next. :thumbsup:

Shhhhhhh....!!
Everyone thinks I am an ass.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
what the hell? i've never seen one of those 'air gap' things

Same here.... never seen one around here... at least that I've noticed.

Maybe it's because we've never had a dishwasher.. lol.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Shhhhhhh....!!
Everyone thinks I am an ass.

Sorry, I'll stop posting as you.