A dishwasher air gap is a simple device that sits slightly higher than your sink on your counter, often along the back of your kitchen sink near your faucet. Its purpose is to keep contaminated water from flowing back into the dishwasher by creating a gap filled with air between the hose that pulls the dirty water out of the dishwasher and the hose that leads to the drain.

If the parts cost more than a new dryer, it may make more sense to replace it. However, newer units require installation, and you'll also need to remove the old dryer. Fortunately, dryers aren't as complex as washing machines, which may make them easier and cheaper to repair. If the dryer isn't drying properly, it could be as simple as cleaning the lint trap — something that's easily forgotten but very easy to remove, clean and replace. If the problem seems too complex for you, a repair tech might be needed.