Frigidaire Dishwasher Not Draining: Reasons and What to Do

Imagine how frustrating it can be with your Frigidaire dishwasher not draining residual water yet you have dishes to do. It would be awful if the water starts smelling bad and making everyone in the house uncomfortable. If the technicality makes the kitchen unbearable, you may need to call your technician or a company customer rep to troubleshoot the problem with your appliance.

If your Frigidaire dishwasher won’t drain, below may be some of the reasons and what you should do.

Frigidaire Dishwasher Troubleshooting

Imagine you have just woken up and want to deal with the yesternight party’s dishes but your dishwasher won’t drain. How would you face that if you do not have an idea about Frigidaire dishwasher troubleshooting? It may be that you have noticed Frigidaire dishwasher water in bottom and the residue will not go.

If that happens, here is how to troubleshoot Frigidaire dishwasher problems:

• Make sure that the knockout plug is removed from inside the food waste disposer outlet.
• Ensure to check that the drain hose is not kinked.
• Also, ensure that the cycle is complete and not in pause status.
• Check that the filter/glass trap is maintained and installed properly and with no clogs.

Possible Reasons Your Frigidaire Dishwasher Won’t Drain

After a thorough Frigidaire dishwasher troubleshooting, you may have identified different reasons. You may also have been stuck since you already had your Frigidaire dishwasher clogged. Whichever the case, the following are some of the possible reasons why it may be down and not draining:

Faulty Drain Pump

The drain pump on the dishwasher uses an impeller for forcing water through the drain hose. If the motor is not working, you will have standing water in dishwasher Frigidaire unless you conduct a Frigidaire dishwasher drain pump test. To check if the drain pump is the cause of the Frigidaire dishwasher problems, you can use a multimeter to check the pump motor for continuity.

If the motor does not have continuity or if it has power but not running, you should replace the drain pump. If you have a tool set nearby, grab some screwdrivers or a drill/driver with a magnetic screwdriver and nutdriver tips. A drain pump is not repairable and if defective, replacing it is the only remedy.

Broken or Damaged Drain Impeller

If the drain impeller that pushes water through the drain hose is broken or damaged, it may result in a dishwasher drain problems. If that is the problem, you should consider replacing it.

Faulty Pump and Motor Assembly

The role of the motor is to drive the impeller to force water out of the drain hose. The motor should run seamlessly during the drain cycle unless there is a blockade. If it stops running or starts to hum instead of running, the issue may be with the pump and motor, and both should be replaced.

A Clogged Drain Hose

If the drain hose is clogged, it may also mean a Frigidaire dishwasher clogged. In this case, you may unclog the drain hose yourself by removing it from both the sink drain and dishwasher to clean it. You may also want to avoid clogging it again by constantly checking the garbage disposer and the dishwasher branch tailpiece.

A Clogged Drain Valve

Over time, the drain valve may be a victim of debris clogging blocking water from running through. The tip for this one is an easy one as you will only need to clean it. If it does not actuate after cleaning, it may be about time to replace it since they are not repairable.

A Clogged or Improperly Installed Garbage Disposer

All garbage disposers are supplied with a solid plug in the drain tube. If the garbage disposer installation was done recently, the plug might still be intact. If you are not connecting the dishwasher to the garbage disposer, you should leave the drain plug intact.

If the waste disposer is connected to the dishwasher, however, the plug needs to be removed.

Also, if the garbage disposer was not replaced recently, it may be highly possible that the disposer is clogged. You should, therefore, remove the dishwasher drain hose from the disposer to clean it out. You should also ensure to clean the fitting on the disposer as well as the end of the drain hose.

If the Frigidaire dishwasher won’t drain, these are among the most common places an obstruction is likely to occur. You should, therefore, not overrule them while conducting dishwasher troubleshooting.

Faulty Drain Solenoid

For the dishwasher water to exit from the unit, the drain solenoid has to open the drain valve. If the drain solenoid fails to open the valve, the dishwasher will not drain and would need a technician to troubleshoot or repair it. If it is beyond minor repairs, replacing it may be the best option.

A Faulty Check Valve

The dishwasher has a check valve fitted to it for preventing water from returning to the unit after it is drained. If the valve is closed by any chance, it will be preventing the water from draining from the dishwasher. If the valve is stuck closed, you can start by cleaning it and then replacing it if need be.

The Check Ball

The check valve has a small plastic called the check ball. The ball is responsible for preventing water from returning to the dishwasher after the unit is drained. However, if the check ball gets stuck, water is prevented from running out of the dishwasher through the check valve and should be freed for functionality.

The Water Pump Belt

The water pump belt may also be broken or worn out. Either case, it may result in standing water in dishwasher Frigidaire. However, not every dishwasher is fitted with a water pump belt.

To establish if your dishwasher has a water pump belt, you can start by searching for its model number and where the belt is located. If it has one, access it by removing the lower panel. The belt should be on the bottom of the motor and should be replaced if it is broken or worn out.

A Faulty Timer

A dishwasher has a timer located on the control panel. The timer controls the motor as well as the drain solenoid. Your Frigidaire dishwasher may not drain probably because it has a faulty timer. A defective timer should be replaced by a qualified DIYer or an experienced technician.

To check whether the timer is the reason for your dishwasher problems, you need to understand the unit’s wiring and schematics. However, each Frigidaire dishwasher has its variations when it comes to wiring and schematics. That calls for you to locate the exact timer contacts wired to command the drainage system and check whether they are working.

To troubleshoot the timer, check whether there is continuity of current. If there is current continuity yet the unit won’t drain, the timer may be defective. If there is no current, you can locate the fault by following the wire for any breakages and replace such.

Clogged Drainage Basket

A clogged drainage basket is one of the commonest causes of dishwasher drain problems. The drainage system of the unit consists of a filter designed to prevent food debris from going through. You can locate the drainage basket by draining all the residual water from the dishwasher manually until it is visible.

Remember to do this with caution as it may be pieces of glass or other sharp objects clogging the drainage basket. If the basket is cleared, unscrew the bolts or screws, depending on the type of fasteners used to remove the basket. Start by cleaning it around the filters and then replace it by screwing back the fasteners.

Safety Precautions While Conducting Dishwasher Troubleshooting

When the dishwasher won’t drain, you may want to call a technician or troubleshoot the issue yourself. If doing it by yourself, ensure your safety is maximized to avoid risks of electric shock and sharp object injuries.

To begin with, every appliance has a source of power, and with most modern dishwashers, their motors are powered by electric power. You should, therefore, ensure to be wary of any open cables to avoid being electrocuted. Also, ensure to unplug the dishwasher first before you can disassemble anything or dip your hands in it; especially if it has water.

If you have old towels, place them under the dishwashing unit and carefully remove the lower front panel. Most of the panels will snap off easily, but some may have a screw or two that you can unfasten with ease. If you are unsure about anything, do not hesitate to contact a trusted technician or your dealer.

Summary

If your problem is a Frigidaire dishwasher not draining, it is perhaps the right time that you called a technician. You may start by troubleshooting it yourself and fixing the little bits that you can. If it proves beyond your attempts, ensure to get a qualified and competent technician to handle the technicalities.