How to Clean a Frigidaire Dishwasher Drain

Getting to Know Your Frigidaire Dishwasher Drain System

The heart of your dishwasher, the Frigidaire dishwasher drain system, plays a critical role in proper drainage and preventing water from pooling inside. If your Frigidaire dishwasher is not draining, understanding this system is the first step to diagnosing and fixing the issue. This system is made up of the drain pump, drain hose, and internal drain.

The dishwasher fills with water during the wash cycle. Once the wash cycle ends, the drain pump kicks in, forcing the water out through the drain hose. The internal drain system and filters at the bottom of the dishwasher collect and filter screen out solid particles to prevent them from clogging the drain hose or damaging the drain pump.

Common issues leading to a Frigidaire dishwasher not draining water include clogs in the drain hose or internal drain system, a malfunctioning drain pump, or a clogged sink drain. Spotting signs of improper drainage or unusual noises during the drain cycle can indicate a problem with the drain system. Regular maintenance, including learning how to clean a Frigidaire dishwasher drain and checking the drain hose, is crucial to keep your drain system in top shape. If you encounter issues that you can't resolve, our skilled technicians at Sears Home Services are just a call away.

How to Clean a Frigidaire Dishwasher Drain System: A Comprehensive Guide

Wondering how to clean a Frigidaire dishwasher drain effectively? Regular drain cleaning is a key part of maintaining your dishwasher. Here's a step-by-step guide to doing it right.

Before you begin: Ensure your safety by turning off and unplugging the dishwasher, and wear protective gloves to prevent injuries. You can also use the switch by the sink beside the garbage disposal light switch to shut off power to the dishwasher if your home has that switch installed.

Clean the Dishwasher Filters

The dishwasher filter system traps food particles, preventing them from clogging the drain. Here's a parts diagram showing the filters and a step-by-step procedure for cleaning them.

1. Remove the bottom dishrack.
2. Pull the bottom spray arm straight up and remove it from the dishwasher.
3. Remove the coarse filter (Key #66) at the bottom of the dishwasher by rotating it counterclockwise to unlock it and then lifting it out. Remove debris from the filter and wash it in the kitchen sink to remove deposits. Scrub stubborn residue away with a soft brush.
4. Pull out the lower spray arm support (Key #62) and rinse it out in the kitchen sink.
5. Remove the middle filter (Key #63) and the mesh filter (Key #65). Wash those filters thoroughly in the kitchen sink to remove debris and deposits.
6. Clear any deposits and debris from the sump in the pump area under the mesh filter.
7. Reassemble the dishwasher in reverse order and restore power to the dishwasher.

To thoroughly clean and freshen the dishwasher, run an empty wash cycle with a dishwasher cleaner tablet such as Affresh added to the bottom of the dishwasher tub.

Clearing Clogs in the Drain Hose

If your Frigidaire dishwasher is not draining, there might be a clog in the drain hose or the problem could be caused by a stopped up sink drain or garbage disposal. View this video that shows how to find and clear a clog in the dishwasher drain path:

Here are some of the initial DIY troubleshooting steps for clearing a dishwasher drain system clog described in the video:

1. Check the sink drain or garbage disposal for a clog. The dishwasher can’t drain if the sink is clogged. Run the water to see if the water drains. If not, clear the sink drain and your dishwasher should drain properly. If your sink has a garbage disposal, run the disposal to see if the water drains then. If your disposal is clogged, clear it out. But if it’s broken, you’ll likely need to replace it or it will clog again. By the way, if you just installed a new garbage disposal and forgot to remove the knockout plug, do that now. The knockout plug prevents water from leaking through the dishwasher drain opening until you install the drain hose. It's easy to skip this important step when installing a new garbage disposal. Refer to the installation guide for your garbage disposal for more information on removing the knockout plug.
2. Look for a clog in the drain hose at the sink. If the sink or garbage disposal drains okay, pull off the dishwasher drain hose from the sink or garbage disposal connection and check the end of the drain hose for a grease clog. Grease often builds up in this area. Clear the grease clog and reinstall the drain hose. See if the dishwasher drains by running the drain pump. You can run the drain pump on your Frigidaire dishwasher by pressing and holding the Cancel button for 3 deliberate seconds. The dishwasher will drain and then the drain pump will shut off.
3. Check the air gap. Not all dishwashers use an air gap, so you may not see this component next to your sink faucet. If you have an air gap, check for water stains or water trails coming from the vent holes in the air gap cap. Water coming out of the air gap vent holes indicates a clogged air gap. Remove the air gap cap and then the cover. Run a plumber's snake through the drain hose between the air gap and the sink drain or garbage disposal to clear the clog. Or clear the clog by blowing air through the drain hose or by using a wet/dry shop vac to suck out debris. Reassemble the air gap and run the dishwasher drain pump to see if the dishwasher drains properly.
4. Clear the drain hose. If the dishwasher still won't drain, you'll need to access the drain hose connection on the drain pump. Disconnect electrical power to the dishwasher by unplugging the power cord or shutting off the house circuit breaker for the dishwasher. Remove the water from the dishwasher tub, either by bailing it out or by sucking it out with a wet/dry vac. Once that’s done, remove the bottom front service panel and toe panel. Remove the mounting screws from each side and then pull off the panels. On some dishwashers, you can remove the outer door panel and control panel to get better access to the drain pump. Before you remove the drain hose, place a towel or shallow pan under the drain pump to catch any water remaining in the dishwasher sump. Check the drain path between the drain pump and the sink drain for a clog. Place the pump end of the drain hose in a shallow pan and pour some water through the drain hose from the sink end of the hose. If you have an air gap, you'll need to pour water through the dishwasher side of the air gap to check the drain hose. You've already checked or cleared the sink side of the air gap drain hose. If water doesn’t move through the drain hose, then you know there's a clog somewhere in the drain hose. You have to pull the dishwasher out to check the entire drain hose for clogs. Here’s how. First, shut off the water supply to the dishwasher. If the power cord plugs into an electrical outlet, position the power cord so it moves freely when you pull the dishwasher out from under the counter. If your power cord doesn't plug into an electrical outlet, then it’s hardwired into the junction box. Remove the junction box cover and disconnect the supply wires. Remove the strain relief nut to release the power cable from the junction box. Open the dishwasher door and remove the bottom dishrack to avoid damaging interior parts when you tip the dishwasher over to find the drain hose clog. Remove the screws from the mounting brackets that hold the dishwasher under the counter. Carefully pull the dishwasher out from under the counter. Check each section of the hose until you find the clog. Use a plumber's snake to clear the clog from the drain hose. Reassemble the dishwasher, add some water to the tub and run the drain pump to see if water drains. If it does, then you've fixed the problem. If water flows from the sink or the air gap to the pump end of the drain hose, then you know the drain hose is clear. You also know the drain hose is clear if you found and cleared a clog.

If you get to a point where you’re not confident in continuing with DIY troubleshooting or you can’t find and fix the drain clog yourself, schedule dishwasher repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix your Frigidaire dishwasher.

Keeping Your Frigidaire Dishwasher Drain Clean and Clear

Regular maintenance of your Frigidaire dishwasher drain is essential for its optimal performance. Over time, food particles, grease, and debris can accumulate in the drain, leading to clogs and unpleasant odors. That's why it's important to know how to clean a Frigidaire dishwasher drain and the filters. Clean the filters at least once a month.

Prevent future clogs by not rinsing large food particles into the dishwasher and scraping off excess food before loading the dishes. Running the garbage disposal before starting the dishwasher can also help prevent food particle buildup in the drain.

Keep an eye out for signs of a malfunctioning drain system such as water pooling at the bottom of your dishwasher, frequent backups, foul odors, or slow drainage. Schedule dishwasher repair service or clear the drain path as described in the above video when you detect problems.

Have your Frigidaire dishwasher professionally maintained every year to help keep it in top shape and draining smoothly. Our Sears Home Services technician can spot problems during maintenance service and fix them before you wind up having a dishwasher that won’t drain or wash the dishes. Annual professional maintenance will also help your Frigidaire dishwasher last longer.