Is the dishwasher indicating it needs salt?
This is a common issue that does arise and a lot of dishwasher users don’t know what to do. If you are in a situation such as this, you might wonder, why does the dishwasher keep asking for salt?
The dishwasher keeps asking for salt to activate the water softener. If there’s no salt in the dishwasher, this can impact its performance. To fix the issue, find the softener unit at the bottom of the appliance, unscrew the cap, and fill it to the top.
Don’t rush when it comes to this type of process. Take your time and go through each step with a lot of care.
If you ignore the message, you could end up ruining the dishwasher and the water will not soften as it needs to.
If you are in this situation, this guide will shed light on how to add salt to a dishwasher and what to consider.
Table of Contents
Best Dishwasher Salt (EDITOR’S CHOICE)
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How To Use Salt In A Dishwasher
1. Find the Softener Unit
The first thing you have to do is find the softener unit.
This is where the salt is going to release from. Make sure you find specialized dishwasher salt for this task (as shown above) and then locate the unit.
For the average dishwasher, the softener unit is going to be installed near the bottom of the appliance. It should be easy to see when you look for it.
It’s recommended to take a look at whether or not the reservoir is leaking. This can happen if it is an aging dishwasher. If there is a crack running along the side, this might be an example that something is wrong.
It’s best to repair the problem if that is what’s happening. You will have to replace the softener unit in the dishwasher.
2. Unscrew The Cap
You are now going to unscrew the cap.
The cap should easily come off allowing you to see inside the reservoir. It’s important to make sure you are not letting the salt spill out when you do this.
In most cases, the message will only come when the salt has run out. However, some dishwashers let you know in advance.
Your goal is to unscrew the cap and assess the situation in front of you.
3. Fill With Dishwasher Salt
The last step to fix the issue is to fill it with dishwasher salt.
There is no set amount for how much dishwasher salt has to be added. You will want to look at the reservoir and fill it to the top.
This should suffice as dishwashers come equipped with softener units that can handle a certain amount of salt in one go.
What Happens If You Don’t Put Salt In Dishwasher?
If you don’t put salt in the dishwasher, it leads to hardened water. This means any dish or cup washed in the appliance is going to have a grittier texture due to the excess hardiness. It can also lead to streaking.
This is why it’s important to add dishwasher salt and make sure the softener unit is filled to the brim.
If you create a schedule, it is a lot easier to keep up with this. For the most part, you should add dishwasher salt once a month.
This will keep it at a reasonable level.
Can You Put Too Much Salt In A Dishwasher?
If you put too much salt in a dishwasher, the most that will happen is it’s going to spill out of the softener unit. It can also lead to cutlery corrosion depending on how much salt leaks into the water. Otherwise, there is no such thing as too much salt in a dishwasher as long as it’s in the softener unit.
This is essential when adding salt to a dishwasher.
How Long Does Dishwasher Salt Last?
DIshwasher salt lasts 20 days when a softener unit is filled to the brim. This is assuming the dishwasher is being used once a day. It’s highly recommended to keep the softener unit full to ensure the dishwasher doesn’t leave streaks on the dishes and cups.
This is the best way to ensure the dishwasher works the way it is supposed to.
Final Thoughts
Why does my dishwasher keep asking for salt?
Your dishwasher keeps asking for salt because the softener unit is running out. If the softener unit runs out of salt, this can lead to a grittier texture and streaking on the dishes. It’s recommended to keep the softener unit full at all times.
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