Dishwasher - Poor Drying

Some water remaining in the bottom of the Dishwasher after the completion of a dry cycle is normal. This does not impact the drying performance of the Dishwasher. If the dishes and other items are not drying properly, please check for the following conditions. Following these tips will elevate the drying performance of the appliance.
 

Diagnosing Causes for Poor Drying In a Dishwasher

  • Water entering the Dishwasher should be between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit for best wash and dry performance. Run the faucet closest to the Dishwasher prior to starting the Dishwasher to purge cold water from the hot water line.
  • Unload the lower rack first. Water from the upper rack can spill on the lower rack if you unload it first, making the dishes in the lower rack wet.
  • Make sure that dishes are not touching. Fancy cookware can also keep dishes from drying properly. For example, dimples, indents or etching allows water to pool resulting in dishes remaining wet at the end of the cycle. These may require the shaking off any pooled water. Do not overload dishes in the Dishwasher.
  • Check the rinse aid dispenser and fill it if it is empty. Rinse aids prevent spots on glasses and promotes drying by causing water to sheet off of dishware and glassware. Rinse aids such as Jet-Dry® can be purchased in your local grocery store.
  • Use the "Heated Dry" feature. This feature adds heat to promote drying.
    • If you do not want to use "Heated Dry", open the Dishwasher door several inches immediately after the Dishwasher turns off. This allows the warm, moist air to escape the Dishwasher and speeds up energy saving drying.
    • If you do not open the door when using the energy saving dry feature, dry times will be long. For energy saving drying, it is best to let your dishes dry overnight.
  • "Power Dry" replaces the Heated Dry button on models with this option. The "Power Dry" option can be added to any cycle but Rinse. "Power Dry" adds 65 minutes of drying time to the cycle. When the Clean light comes on, the fan will run for another 90 minutes or until the door is opened. "Power Dry" works differently on the Express Wash and eWash cycles:
    • Express Wash: The final rinse temperature is increased to aid in water evaporation and adds 15 minutes of fan drying time to the end of the cycle.
    • eWash: Does not increase the rinse temperature. On this cycle, only the fan is used to dry the dishes. The dry time is 1.5 hours.
  • Use the available heat options on your Dishwasher. Any that add heat will improve drying performance. These options have a variety of names. Look for buttons with names like "Added Heat", "Wash Heat Boost", "High Temperature Rinse" and so on. Select one or all of these options. Some models have more than others and some models do not have any at all. If available to you, these options may improve drying performance by increasing the temperature of the water inside the Dishwasher.
  • Use one of the cycles designed for heavy soil. These go by the names of "Cookware", "Pots and Pans", "Potscrubber" and so on. These cycles add more heat than the "Normal" cycle and as a result may improve drying performance for you.

Repair Service Recommended

If the above suggestions do not correct the situation, service will be required. For service, please schedule a repair appointment with GE Appliances Factory Service.