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Appliances Design Dilemma

KitchenAide Dishwasher damaged my cabinets

3 years ago

Hello,
We purchased a KitchenAide dishwasher 3-4 years ago, model KDTE104DSSO. We recently had to pull the unit out and replace the right upper rack railing. When we pulled the unit out we noticed on the left side of the dishwasher MAJOR damage to our cabinet wall; please see attached pictures. When we pulled the units insulation back there was damage there as well, please see attached pictures. We left the unit out and ran multiple washes trying to figure out if there was a hole in the water inlet pipes. Nothing. We finally ran every single wash, Sani rinse, etc. that is when we noticed that on the left side it was so hot and moist that the damage is caused by condensation coming from the water inlet. I am concerned that with the amount of damage to my cabinet from the moisture that we are going to have issues, if not already, with mold. Also, the damage is not only to the side of the cabinet, but it is now going all the way through to the inside of the cabinet.

.

Featured Answer

Kleven

3 years ago

We also have discovered the same problem with a Whirlpool WDT710PAYM6 which was installed when our house was built in 2014.

The water inlet is not closed and allows steam to escape for the hotter cycles - SaniRinse and Heated Dry in particular.

The idea that the dishwasher could allow steam to escape anywhere but the front vent is very upsetting. Fixing the damaged cabinet is going to probably cost more than the dishwasher. Our insurance agent already told us that it is very unlikely they cover cabinet damage incurred slowly over time.

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Comments (12)

apple_pie_order
3 years ago
What is your question?
L A
3 years ago
Insurance claim
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swimkim74
Original Author
3 years ago
Has anyone else had this issue? do I contact KitchenAide to let them know?
wdccruise
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Condensation? The black hose appears to be leaking where it attaches to the gray box.

According to the user manual, the "Sani Rinse" increases the final rinse temperature to 155 degrees and Hi-Temp wash to 140 degrees. Use the other cycles which apparently don't raise the water temperature.

You could also attach a piece of sheet metal (at Home Depot) to the cabinet opening to prevent further damage to the wood.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
3 years ago
Is the damage on the same side as your sink please? If so, your sink could be leaking.
dadoes
3 years ago
The slot on front of the fill flume is an air gap / siphon break. A bit of humidity can emanate from it via incoming hot water flow during fill and/or hot/moist air passing through from inside the tub ... although the machine's insulation blanket covers the area.
wdccruise
3 years ago

So this is open to the atmosphere and steam can emanate from it?
swimkim74
Original Author
3 years ago
@wdccruise we thought it was leaking at the junction you mentioned, be the clamp that was there completely rusted and disintegrated. We placed a paper napkin between the washer and the hoses, ran every possible combination of wash and dry; it wasn’t until we used the “sani wash” did we get enough moisture build up, that resembled condensation, to See that this is where the issues lies. @Joseph Corlett, LLC nope, the sink is on the right side and this is on the left side. @wdccruise that opening is covered by the insulation. The steam escape is on the upper left side.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
This looks nothing like my DW install so sorry can’t help.
wdccruise
3 years ago
"it wasn’t until we used the “sani wash” did we get enough moisture build up, that resembled condensation"

Right. As I wrote earlier, it's for the Sani Wash cycle that the dishwasher boosts the water temperature to 155 degrees. So don't use that cycle and the problem will go away.
dadoes
3 years ago
An air gap on the fill flume is not unusual, many machines have them. Dishwasher interiors cannot be sealed 100% air-tight, else it would pressurize from air displaced by the incoming water and from the heat.

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