Frigidaire Dishwasher Not Cleaning Dishes

Image
Authorized Service
February 8, 2021
Dishwasher Repair

Frigidaire is a manufacturer of dishwashers and other household appliances that has been in operation for a long time. They are renowned for their quality products and are a popular consumer brand in the appliances market.

But sometimes their products break down and need to be fixed. One common problem people have with dishwashers is that they stop working properly and don’t clean dishes as well as they should.

If your Frigidaire dishwasher isn’t cleaning dishes properly, check out this extensive list of possible causes and how you can fix them.

This guide covers lots of different models, including:

DW1800Y0

DW4500FW1

DW5900PW1

F71C663BB0

F71C663BD0

F71C663BS0

FDB1502RGB4A

FDB1502RGC4A

FDB1502RGM4A

FFBD2409LB0A

FFBD2409LB0B

FFBD2409LM0B

FFBD2409LS0A

FFBD2409LS0B

FFBD2411NB1A

FFBD2411NM1A

FFBD2411NS1A

FGBD2431KB1A

FGBD2431KF1A

LFBD2409LB0B

LFBD2409LM0B

Check the Water Inlet Valve

The water inlet valve in your dishwasher opens up and lets water into the dishwasher. Sometimes it can get clogged up, which results in your dishwasher not getting enough water and thus not cleaning dishes properly. To check your water inlet valve:

  1. Examine the water inlet valve to see if it’s clogged up with debris.
  2. If so, you will need to replace it – there is no way to clean it properly, and if you attempt to do so, you’ll probably make the problem worse.

Check the Water Pump Belt

Another cause of your dishwasher not cleaning properly is that the water pump belt might be worn or broken. A water pump belt is not in every dishwasher, so the first thing you need to do is search your specific model number to see if it has a water pump belt. If it does you need to:

  1. Remove the lower panel of your dishwasher so that you can access the water pump belt.
  2. You’ll find the water pump belt on the bottom of the motor.
  3. Once you find it, give it an extensive inspection, and if broken, it will need to be replaced.

Check the Center Spray Arm

Every dishwasher has spray arms (sometimes called wash arms) that circulate water into and around the dishwasher during wash cycles. The first one you should check is the center spray arm. You can do this by:

  1. Removing the spray arm from your dishwasher and checking if there is any debris in the holes on it.
  2. If so, give it a thorough clean, and put it back in the dishwasher. Make sure that the spray arm fits properly onto the spray arm assembly (the part the spray arm connects onto) so that you can be sure water is flowing through it correctly.
  3. If the spray arm is extremely clogged up and/or has cracks in it, you will need to replace it.

Check the Lower Spray Arm

The next spray arm to check (if your dishwasher has one) is the lower spray arm. This spray arm distributes water to the lower rack in your dishwasher, so if you notice dishes are particularly bad in the lower rack but not the top rack after a wash cycle, this could be your problem. To check the lower spray arm:

  1. Remove it from your dishwasher, and check if there is any debris clogged in the holes on it.
  2. If so, give it a thorough clean, and put it back in the dishwasher. Make sure that the spray arm fits properly onto the spray arm assembly (the part the spray arm connects onto) so that you can be sure water is flowing through it correctly.
  3. If the lower spray arm is extremely clogged up and/or has cracks in it, you will need to replace it.

Check the Upper Spray Arm

The upper spray arm makes sure the dishes in the top rack are cleaned thoroughly by blasting them with water during wash cycles. To check the upper spray arm:

  1. Remove it from your dishwasher, and check if there is any debris clogged in the holes on it.
  2. If so, give it a thorough clean, and put it back in the dishwasher. Make sure that the spray arm fits properly onto the spray arm assembly (the part the spray arm connects onto) so that you can be sure water is flowing through it correctly.
  3. If the upper spray arm is extremely clogged up and/or has cracks in it, you will need to replace it.

Check the Circulation Pump

The circulation pump in the dishwasher is powered by a motor and impeller to force water up through the spray/wash arms. If the pump doesn’t circulate water correctly, this is a sign the pump might be defective, and this will result in dirty dishes after a wash cycle. One of the obvious signs that the motor within the pump is burned out is if it isn’t making any sound or just a slight humming sound once the dishwasher has filled up. To check the circulation pump:

  1. Make sure that the motor is getting power to it.
  2. Make sure that the impeller can turn around freely.
  3. Check the pump housing for debris. If you find that power is getting to the motor and that there are no signs of debris, this means the motor will most likely need to be replaced. Please note that replacing the circulation pump is quite difficult to do, so it might be best to consult someone experienced with replacing them.

Check the Pump and Motor Assembly

The purpose of the motor is to drive the impeller to force water up and out through the dishwasher’s spray arms. If there is a problem with the motor, the impeller breaks, or debris gets stuck in the pump, then this can cause dishes to not be cleaned properly. What you need to do is:

  1. Ensure that power is getting to the circulation pump and motor correctly.
  2. If it is and they still aren’t operating correctly, then you will need to replace them.

Check the Wash Impeller

You can also check to see if the wash impeller is working correctly. The wash impeller is a small, plastic blade that distributes water up through the spray arms. Here’s how to check it:

  1. Check to see if the impeller is broken or is missing some of its fins. If it is broken or missing fins, it will negatively impact its ability to generate pressure that it needs to push water up to the spray arms.
  2. If it is broken, then you’ll need to check your specific model number to see if the impeller can be replaced, and if so, you should arrange for it to be replaced. If it can’t be replaced, then the entire pump and motor assembly will need to be replaced.

Thanks for checking out this guide. Hopefully, you have been able to fix your Frigidaire dishwasher or arranged for a technician to repair it so that it is now cleaning dishes correctly.

Sharing

Leave a Reply