Dishwasher Dead

[OutOfTheFire]

Not sure if our dishwasher is dead or if it can be fixed for a reasonable amount.

It is about 5 years old, gets used 2-3 times per day, Bosch.
Started tripping the breaker every time we tried to run it. 
Been washing dishes by hand for 10-15 people for the last three months.

Please help.  Thanks.

[Bird In Hand]

Have you considered the possibility that the breaker is bad?

Can any of the other 9-14 ppl help with the dishes until you get the dishwasher sorted out?

[Model96]

I have had quite a few bosch appliances fail at the 5-6 year mark, unfortunately.
Is the breaker that is tripping a simple overload type, or does it also have an earth leakage/ RCD ?
Either way, it is worth trying it out on another circuit using an extension cord, preferably on a circuit without earth leakage protection.

[Retireatee1]

Generally speaking, circuit breakers are far less likely to fail than the appliances connected to them.

[BudgetSlasher]

It's hard to tell from the limited info.

First thing first, as suggested try plugging in/connecting the dishwasher to a different circuit. Especially if you are not 100% certain that the dishwasher is on a dedicated circuit. My dishwasher used to share a circuit with the garbage disposal and one outlet ...

If it works then. Either the breaker is gone bad or there is something else on the circuit with the dishwasher and together the two trip the circuit.

If it doesn't work and the breaker still trips then you really do have an excessive draw somewhere between to breaker and the dishwasher (or the return trip to the breaker ... which is the same route). I can think of (all pure speculation) high resistance from a faulty heating element, high resistance in a bad wiring connection, water leaking into the body of the dishwasher and causing a short, or a frayed/loose wire causing a path to ground.

[OutOfTheFire]

Have you considered the possibility that the breaker is bad?

Can any of the other 9-14 ppl help with the dishes until you get the dishwasher sorted out?

They have been helping.  Only reason it hasn't been replaced yet.

I will check those suggestions and go from there.

[big_owl]

2-3 times per day to run the dishwasher seems very excessive.  It may be only 5yrs old but with that amount of running it's got the wear and tear of a unit 10-15yrs+ old. 

[sailinlight]

Maybe the 10-15 people that use it can pitch in to buy a new one.. should be about $30 each if they don't want to hand wash dishes

[MoseyingAlong]

Maybe the 10-15 people that use it can pitch in to buy a new one.. should be about $30 each if they don't want to hand wash dishes

Any suggestions on how multiple 2- and 5- year olds will get $30 each and/or how to teach 2-year olds to hand wash dishes?

[sonofsven]

The "bad breaker" is possible, but very unlikely.
Have you done a google search of your model with appropriate keywords? That would be step one. Are you up for removing the dishwasher completely, removing parts (such as the pump, which is a very common failure), ordering and installing parts (which may or may not be the problem) then re-installing the unit? And possibly doing this again? And again? DIY often takes a few tries to get it right.
Or would you rather spend your valuable time removing the old unit and installing a new unit and being done with it?
If you hire a tech by the time you pay the "show up" fee, parts, and labor you'll be close to the price of a new (cheap) one.
What happened when you plugged into a different outlet?

[OutOfTheFire]

Maybe the 10-15 people that use it can pitch in to buy a new one.. should be about $30 each if they don't want to hand wash dishes

Any suggestions on how multiple 2- and 5- year olds will get $30 each and/or how to teach 2-year olds to hand wash dishes?

Best question all day!

[Model96]

Sounds like buying a new dishwasher is the best idea, seeing as it has been broken for 3 months already and it needs to ne used 3 times a day for a dozen children...

[Jon Bon]

I would bet this is NOT a dishwasher issue but an electrical wiring issue.

First I would turn off the breaker, and check/rewire the dishwasher connection itself. With that sort of usage its possible you got water somewhere near the connections or just something got knocked lose. Sure sounds like its the connection at the dishwasher. Wire nuts can slip off over time.

Most of the time the dishwasher is the only thing on the circuit, if not. I would check those connections too.

If you can't fix the wiring a new dishwasher is not going to help you.

[OutOfTheFire]

****Update****

It was the dishwasher.
We splurged and bought a new one.  Installed yesterday.  Only regret is that we waited so long.

Now to train my toddlers to load it and squeeze that $50 each out of them.