“Need a hand with the dishes?” It’s a kind gesture when asked by a guest after a party, but an easy one to decline in favor of loading everything in the dishwasher on the way to bed.

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Although it’s tempting to toss in more dishes and soap to save time, overloading your dishwasher can cause significant problems over time. An overloaded dishwasher struggles to clean your dishes, leading to lackluster results and a taxed appliance.

The Hazards of an Overloaded Dishwasher

Dishes that aren’t clean are an obvious result of overloading a dishwasher. However, some of the most frustrating issues that can happen when you add those additional dirty plates may be less apparent at first glance.

What Can Happen If You Overload Your Dishwasher?

A dishwasher cleans your dishes by dispensing water and detergent during the wash cycle. Spray arms blast food bits and grime with powerful streams of water, leaving pots and pans clean and ready to be used again. Overloading the unit can cause the following issues:

Damaged Spray Arms

Large items can easily block the spinning action of spray arms. Pans need to be angled so their handles point down out of the way, and long utensils should be placed perpendicularly across the top rack, so they don’t fall.

Water Leaks

When you overload a dishwasher, it reduces the amount of space between your dishes and impedes sudsing and rinsing. In worst-case scenarios, the impeded water may leak out, potentially damaging your kitchen floor and cabinets.

Broken Dishes

Stack glassware and metal too close together and you’ll quickly discover that dishwashers make a lot of noise when overloaded. The resulting racket is a clear warning that your dishes are in danger of being chipped or dented as they knock about during the wash.

Frequent Overloading Could Spell Trouble for Your Machine

Overloading a dishwasher forces it to work harder to clean your dishes. Since the load won’t come out pristine, you’ll likely run it again to finish the job, making the dishwasher work even harder. The strain can cause internal parts to wear out faster and potentially lead to avoidable repairs, and you may even need to replace your appliance.

Dishwasher overloading also causes food particles and oily residues to build up over time. This gunk can block water streams and clog filters, making it hard for the unit to rinse and drain. The accumulation is also a breeding ground for bacteria, potentially compromising your family’s health and triggering foul odors.

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• Don’t Get Lost in the Wash: How to Use Your Dishwasher Efficiently
• Weird Sound Coming From the Dishwasher? How to Diagnose Dishwasher Noises
• The Filth Shall Get Them Clean: Why You Don’t Need to Pre-Rinse Your Dishes

How Do You Avoid Overloading Your Dishwasher?

Your dishwasher’s manual is the best place to look for guidance when loading it up. Dishwasher designs vary considerably across brands, but there are tried-and-true rules to follow for any unit.

Check the Detergent Dispenser

Just like the rotating spray arms, the detergent dispenser has to remain unblocked to function. Load cookie sheets, platters and other bulky items along the sides and back to ensure soap flows evenly.

If you use a dishwashing detergent pod, place it in the dispenser. Adding it into the middle of the dishwasher will cause it to dissolve too soon and the dishes won’t be coated correctly.

Mix and Match Sizes

It may make it easier to unload silverware by putting spoons in one section of the tray and forks in another, but mixing them is better since they can easily nest, which can prevent water from rinsing them.

The variety of shapes and sizes will naturally help spread the utensils apart. Similarly, mixing different-sized plates and lids helps the water flow through the running dishwasher and boosts its cleaning ability.

Work With the Tines

Use the tines as a gauge of where to place items. The even spacing helps you spread dishes out. Glasses and mugs should fit between tines to prevent them from bumping into each other, and bowls should be securely placed into the dividers to keep them from flipping over and collecting dirty water.

Dishwasher-Safe Items

One final tip is to always check dishes to ensure they’re dishwasher-safe. Ignoring the manufacturer’s instructions can damage your items. Wooden utensils and cutting boards, for example, can swell and crack, creating gaps for bacteria to develop.

If the thought of backed-up sewage makes your blood run cold (and it should), a sewer line inspection could be a wise investment.

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Having your sewer line inspected is the most effective way to nip sewer problems in the bud before they turn into plumbing disasters.

What Is a Sewer Line Inspection and What Can It Tell You?

A sewer line inspection involves inserting a specialized sewer camera called a sewer scope into your sewage pipe to check for blockages and damage. Unless you’re a plumbing whiz, you’ll need to hire a professional plumber to perform a sewer line inspection for you.

An inspection can help you diagnose and fix issues with your sewer line causing slow drainage, sewage backup in your fixtures and other common plumbing issues. For example, it can tell you whether tree roots are breaching your sewer line.

Often, plumbers use a sewer line cleanout to access the pipe. A cleanout is a small pipe attached to your sewer line, often in your backyard. It improves access to your sewer line and makes it significantly easier to inspect and fix. If you don’t have a cleanout, your plumber will need to remove a toilet to provide access.

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How to Tell If You Need a Sewer Camera Inspection

You don’t need a specific reason to schedule a sewer line inspection. In fact, some plumbers recommend annual inspections to check the condition of your pipework. The advantage of regular inspections is that they allow you to detect small cracks, leaks and blockages before they develop into larger, more expensive issues.

You may also decide to hire a plumber to inspect your sewer line before completing the purchase of a property. A sewer camera inspection can raise your awareness of potentially costly plumbing problems before you commit to buying a house. If you’re scheduling a home inspection before your purchase, your company may include a free or cut-rate sewer line inspection as part of the service.

Other signs you need a sewer line inspection include:

Water Level Fluctuations

You probably pay little attention to the water level inside your toilet bowl, but changes to the level can help reveal hidden problems with your sewer system. Unusually low, high or fluctuating water levels could signify a leaking or blocked sewer line.

Drainage Issues

Slow-draining toilets, sinks and bathtubs are classic signs of a clogged sewer line. Blockages usually get worse (and more expensive) the longer you leave them, so it’s worth scheduling a sewer inspection as soon as possible.

Nasty Smells

If you notice unpleasant odors coming from your plugholes or toilets, you could have a backed-up or poorly ventilated sewer line. These smells are often a warning sign of an impending sewage backup, where sewage enters your home through your fixtures. The gases coming from a sewer line can also cause health concerns, so it’s important to address the issue promptly.

Sewage Backup

If blockages become severe, you may see sewage coming out of your toilet, sinks and other fixtures. Sewage backups can also happen when a tree root grows inside your sewer line or as a result of flushing diapers, feminine hygiene products and other plumbing no-nos down the toilet. Sewage inside your home is a health hazard, so resolving the blockage and repairing any damage is crucial.

Overflowing Septic Tank

You can sometimes see the results of a blocked or damaged sewer line in your backyard. Sewer line issues can cause your septic tank to overflow, leading to pools of wastewater on your lawn. This water is extremely unhygienic, so you should call a plumber immediately and keep family members and pets away from your yard until you resolve the issue.

When your AC stops working correctly, it’s natural to fret about the cost to fix or replace it. Weird noises, inefficient cooling or constant running could be signs your AC is headed for air conditioner heaven, but you may simply need to replace a part.

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A worn-out air conditioner compressor is a common cause of air conditioner woes.

What Is an AC Compressor and What Does It Do?

Your AC compressor is a crucial part of your HVAC system. It works by increasing the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant inside your AC. The refrigerant then cools, turning from a gas into a liquid. The liquid passes through the evaporator, where its low temperature causes evaporation and cools the air. Without a fully functioning AC compressor, your unit can’t change the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant and can’t cool your home.

What Can Go Wrong With an Air Conditioner Compressor?

Generally, AC compressors last for between 10 and 15 years if you maintain them correctly. You should have your air conditioner professionally serviced at least once per year and regularly remove any leaves or other debris. If you don’t keep your air conditioner clean, debris can get inside the unit and damage the compressor and other components.

Air conditioner compressors can be prone to ice buildup. Sometimes, the ice is a sign of a refrigerant leak, but it can also accumulate when the evaporator becomes clogged. Mechanical issues, electrical faults and problems with other parts of your AC system can also stop your compressor from working properly.

How Do You Know When to Repair or Replace an AC Compressor?

Unless you’re an HVAC expert, it can be hard to know whether a problem with your air conditioner is due to a faulty AC compressor or another part of your HVAC system. Therefore, the best way to diagnose and fix the problem is to call an HVAC technician. Signs you may need to replace or repair your compressor include:

• Your compressor is constantly running
• Inadequate cooling
• Strange ticking or whirring sounds coming from your AC unit

You should never try to repair or replace an AC compressor yourself because inhaling the refrigerant gas inside your unit can cause serious health problems and even death. A qualified HVAC technician has the training required to handle AC refrigerant safely.

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How Much Does an AC Compressor Cost?

The average cost to replace an AC compressor is between $800 and $3,000 (CAD 1,100 and CAD 4,127), according to This Old House. These figures apply to central ACs, mini-split air conditioners and heat pumps. Replacing the compressor in a window AC unit is significantly cheaper at $200 to $700 (CAD 275 to CAD 963).

These AC compressor costs include the price of the unit itself and installation labor. HVAC technicians typically charge around $75 to $150 (CAD 103 to CAD 206) per hour, or a total of $400 to $1,200 (CAD 550 to CAD 1,651). How much you’ll pay for labor depends on the job complexity and the cost of living in your city.

The size of your AC unit can also impact the cost. As a rule of thumb, the larger the unit, the more expensive it is to replace the compressor. For example, replacing the compressor in a small 1.5-ton unit usually costs between $800 and $1,400 (CAD 1,100 and CAD 1,926). Meanwhile, compressor replacement for an extra-large 5-ton unit could cost as much as $3,000 (CAD 4,127).

You may need to replace the refrigerant when replacing your air conditioner compressor. This job can be dangerous, so you should always hire a professional unless you have the relevant certification and training. Most HVAC professionals charge between $100 and $300 (CAD 138 and CAD 413) for refrigerant refills.

Finally, don’t forget to check your warranty before paying for a replacement compressor out of pocket. If your warranty is still valid, your unit’s manufacturer will likely cover the cost of replacement parts. While you’ll still pay for labor, getting a replacement via your warranty could reduce your costs by 50% to 70%.

All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.