We have a GE Cafe dishwasher that was installed in September 2022 and it’s been pretty good so far but lately I’ve noticed what looks like peeling clear silicone caulk along what looks like seams inside. Should I be concerned here?

Of course we are past the warranty now so I’m on the hook for any repairs.

Looks like plastic. When the new GE dishwasher came this week for my families house it had plastic covering much of it that was tight and really hard to get off. Not sure if we got all of it as it was wedged in places almost impossible to get out. I would guess that is what you are seeing.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Looks like plastic. When the new GE dishwasher came this week for my families house it had plastic covering much of it that was tight and really hard to get off. Not sure if we got all of it as it was wedged in places almost impossible to get out. I would guess that is what you are seeing.

So you think that might’ve been some sort of plastic protective film shrink wrap type thing that was on it to protect the stainless steel interior prior to installation?

I plan on emailing these pictures to GE support as well.

Personally, I would just pull some of it off and inspect it up close. It should be easy enough to tell if it's plastic film or a silicon caulking compound. If silicon, peel it all off and recaulk the seam...

Im going with the protective shrink wrap but it has partially melted.

My sister in law has a newer fridge with shrink wrap still stuck in the nooks and crannies. It almost appears the pieces had the wrap on when they were assembled and another piece was installed over top. You would need a razor blade and a magnifying glass to get the plastic out of the corners.

Looks like protective wrap to me as well. As long as it's not leaking I would lose zero sleep over it.

I’d say protective plastic as well. Probably want that off ASAP will clog up your filter something nasty.

You can test it. Silicon has a very high melting temperature compare to most plastic. It will only soften if at all with a few second of heat from a lighter while most plastic film will instantly burn.

quote:

Originally posted by TXLe:
You can test it. Silicon has a very high melting temperature compare to most plastic. It will only soften if at all with a few second of heat from a lighter while most plastic film will instantly burn.

Thanks! I’ll try that later when I have a chance.

This is a pretty high end DW and I can’t understand why it would even have caulk in it anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Looks like plastic. When the new GE dishwasher came this week for my families house it had plastic covering much of it that was tight and really hard to get off. Not sure if we got all of it as it was wedged in places almost impossible to get out. I would guess that is what you are seeing.

So you think that might’ve been some sort of plastic protective film shrink wrap type thing that was on it to protect the stainless steel interior prior to installation?

Yes

I’ve recently seen a similar substance in our 2014 Whirlpool. I’m tracing it back to the plastic packaging the dishwasher soap pods use.

It seems to get caught on the serrations of steak knives, incomplete dissolving.

I haven’t had a chance to test it yet, but the theory that it may be the plastic protective coating may be true. I’m thinking back to the install day, the installers were competent, but they were in an awful rush and carelessly ripped off the plastic coating on the fridge, and I spent a good hour or longer pulling the rest of it off from various nooks and crannies after they left.

Update:

Whoever suggested trying to burn it, THANK YOU!

I pulled out as much as I could, and then stood at my sink with a barbecue lighter, held that to it and it burned right up, so it must’ve just been remnants of a plastic protective coating.

Just glad it’s not caulk

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Update:

Whoever suggested trying to burn it, THANK YOU!

I pulled out as much as I could, and then stood at my sink with a barbecue lighter, held that to it and it burned right up, so it must’ve just been remnants of a plastic protective coating.

Just glad it’s not caulk