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Why Is My Indesit Dishwasher Salt Light Flashing? Here’s What to Do!
You’re unloading your dishwasher after a long day, hoping for perfectly clean and sparkling dishes, and then you notice it the salt light on your Indesit dishwasher is flashing. Don’t panic! This light is there to help you maintain your dishwasher for optimal performance, and it’s usually something quite simple to fix.
In the course of the discussion, we’ll go through the reasons why the salt light may blink, then give you simple steps on how to repair it. At the end of this guide, your dishwasher shall be running as if in a dream.
What does the Dishwasher Salt Light Mean?
Well, first of all, let me clarify what that blinking light is trying to say to you. The salt light on the Indesit dishwasher indicates that the amount of dishwasher salt inside this appliance has reached a low level. Now, dishwasher salt is quite critical in ensuring the prevention of limescale and, consequently, water softener magic. If it runs out, then the possible consequence is having streaky dishes and reduced dishwasher performance.
If the salt light is flashing, it is essentially the machine telling you to pay more attention to the salt reservoir. However, sometimes it may keep on blinking even when you have already replaced the salt correctly-oh dear, don’t sweat it; we take a crack at that too!
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Fix the Flashing Salt Light
Here’s how you can troubleshoot and resolve this with ease:
1. Check and Refill the Salt Reservoir
The most common reason for the flashing salt light is a low salt level. Here’s how you can refill the reservoir:
- Open your dishwasher and locate the salt compartment. It’s usually found at the bottom, near the drain.
- Unscrew the cap of the salt reservoir.
- Using a funnel, pour dishwasher salt into the compartment. (Tip: Avoid using regular table salt; it’s not designed for dishwashers and may cause damage.)
- Fill the reservoir until it’s almost full but not spilling over.
- Wipe off any spilled salt to prevent corrosion, then screw the cap back on tight.
2. Make Sure You’re Using the Right Salt
Dishwasher salt is a type made to break down and dissolve correctly for the machine’s water softening system. If you have used the wrong product, such as table salt or water softener tablets, it may not work. Check that you have the proper type of dishwasher salt, which is easily available in most supermarkets or online.
3. Check that the Salt Cap Is Tightly Sealed
Sometimes the salt light will continue to flash simply because the salt cap isn’t tightened. Make sure that after refilling, the cap is fully on.
4. Reset the Dishwasher
If the compartment of salt is full and yet the light is still blinking, your dishwasher just needs a quick reset. How to do this is described here:
- Switch off the dishwasher and pull it from power.
- Wait for some time, about 5 to 10 minutes, before reconnecting the appliance.
- Switch it on again and observe if the salt light has stopped blinking.
5. Run a Cleaning or Rinse Cycle
If this flashing persists, it may well be due to the sensor’s reaction to residual salt particles or debris. Allow water to cycle in either a cleaning or rinse type cycle so it may reset for the salt.
6. Inspect the Salt Sensor
If all else happens, the problem may be with the salt sensor itself. Sensors can get dirty over time or malfunction, providing bad reads. You can clean it gently with a soft cloth or sponge. If cleaning doesn’t resolve your issue, you may want to seek professional help to have the sensor checked and possibly replaced.
Pro Tips for Preventing Future Issues
- Monitor regularly the level of salt in your dishwasher. You should at least check the level every fortnight, mainly when you know the water supply at your house is hard water.
- Clean your dishwasher monthly: Performing a cleaning cycle with a dishwasher cleaner in your appliance could be a prevention to residue buildup which may potentially impair sensors.
- See the User’s Manual: Oftentimes, your user’s manual comes along with guidelines targeted for an Indesit model.
Why does Dishwasher Salt matter?
In case you are wondering why you would need dishwasher salt in the first place, here is a brief explanation. Water that is considered hard contains lots of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These can affect your machine by causing the buildup of limescale within it. The dishwasher salt helps your machine and its integrated water softener work together to eliminate these minerals for better cleaning and longer life on your dishwasher.
Without enough salt, you’ll start noticing these:
- Cloudy glasses and streaky dishes
- White residue on plates and cutlery
- Poor cleaning
- Limescale formation on the heating element and inside the machine
Conclusion
There is little quite as satisfying as loading the dishwasher and watching perfectly clean dishes pop out at the end. If the Indesit dishwasher salt light is blinking, all it’s asking for is some TLC so it could keep giving you those results. With the steps outlined above, you should be in this position in no time.
If you have tried everything and the problem still persists, then contact the authorized technician or Indesit’s customer service for further assistance. They’d be glad to help get your dishwasher to work optimally again.