If your Frigidaire dishwasher is not draining, there could be several reasons for this issue. The most common that I’ve seen in over 30 years of appliance repair is due to not rinsing the dishes prior to loading.
In over 80% of no-drain cases, the food debris left on the dishes is the culprit for a dishwasher that won’t drain.
How to Troubleshoot a Frigidaire Dishwasher That Won’t Drain
Here are some troubleshooting steps you can follow to resolve the problem:
Check the Garbage Disposal
If your dishwasher is connected to a garbage disposal unit, make sure it’s not clogged. A clogged disposal can prevent water from draining properly.
Try disconnecting your drain tube from the garbage disposal and put the drain tube in a bucket as you press cancel to activate the drain cycle.
Shake the drain hose as the dishwasher tries to drain to knock out any debris caught in the drain tube. If you have a new garbage disposal, you may need to knock out a plastic plug.
Check the Drain Hose
Ensure that the drain hose is not kinked, twisted, or blocked. Sometimes, debris can accumulate in the hose, causing a blockage. The bucket trick detailed in step one should help.
Check for Foreign Objects
Sometimes, small objects like utensils or food particles can get stuck in the dishwasher’s pump or drain impeller. Check for any obstructions and remove them.
Many times, a small piece of broken glass will get past the filter and get stuck in the impeller. You’ll also often hear a faint hum from the drain motor when the impeller is jammed.
Luckily, clearing it is easy to do.
Inspect the Air Gap
If your dishwasher is connected to an air gap, make sure it’s not clogged. Clean it if necessary.
This is a very common reason that dishwashers have trouble draining. Over 50% of the time, there is a clog in the air gap and it can easily be cleared.
Test the Drain Pump
The drain pump is responsible for pushing water out of the dishwasher. If it’s not working correctly, the dishwasher won’t drain.
You may need to replace the drain pump if it’s faulty. Drain pumps tend to last a long time, but occasionally, the drain impeller gets hit by something hard, and a few of the paddles on the impeller get knocked off.
That will cause slow, weak draining and is fixed by replacing the drain motor.
Inspect the Drain Valve
The drain valve controls the release of water from the dishwasher. If it’s stuck or not functioning, it can cause drainage problems.
Check for any debris or issues with the valve. The drain valve is usually just a flexible piece of rubber located near the drain motor that lets water flow away from the drain pump but blocks water in the drain tube from flowing backward from the drain tube back into the dishwasher.
It’s usually located in the drain tube right where it connects to the drain pump.
Reset the Dishwasher
In some cases, resetting the dishwasher can resolve minor issues. Unplug the dishwasher or turn off its circuit breaker for a few minutes, then plug it back in or turn the breaker back on. This is an easy and often effective way of getting your dishwasher to drain again.
Consult the Manual
Always refer to your dishwasher’s user manual for specific troubleshooting steps and maintenance instructions. There’s always a good section for a dishwasher that won’t drain.
If you’ve tried these steps and your Frigidaire dishwasher still won’t drain, and it’s under warranty, it’s advisable to contact Frigidaire customer support or a professional appliance repair technician for further assistance.
They can diagnose and repair any more complex issues that may be causing the problem.