KitchenAid Poor Drying Performance

Dishwasher interior stays wet; dishes do not dry properly; no heat-related error code.

Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

Possible Causes

Rinse aid empty, plastic items retaining water, short or eco cycle selected, heating element partially failed, vent fan not operating (on vented models)

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety First: Turn off power before testing heater or vent fan.

User settings:

Ensure rinse aid dispenser is filled.
Select a cycle with heated dry or extended dry option.

Loading:

Angle items to allow water to run off; avoid stacking plastic items.

Component checks:

Verify the heating element works (see F7E1). On models with a vent fan, listen for fan operation during dry; if silent and dishes stay wet, the vent fan assembly may need replacement.

Repair Difficulty

Medium 3/5

Required Part

Heating Element

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