Frigidaire Dishwasher Not Draining? 7 Causes And Fixes

Have you piled up the dirty dishes in your Frigidaire dishwasher only to find out it is not draining and creating a bit of a mess? 

If your Frigidaire dishwasher is not draining, a blocked or clogged drain filter might be the culprit behind it. The drain filter ensures there are no blockages by screening out the food particles and debris. Cleaning it periodically can help you get the dishware draining and working correctly again.  

Below, we’ll explain the possible causes of the Frigidaire dishwasher not draining issue and how to fix it quickly.

What would cause a Frigidaire dishwasher not to drain?

A faulty motor in your Frigidaire dishwasher may cause it not to drain. The motor is responsible for circulating water during the whole wash cycle and can fail or overheat due to dirt or grime accumulation. Another possibility can be frayed wires in the motor, causing it to stop working.

Along with this reason, some other signs and symptoms may result in the Frigidaire dishwasher not draining, which are discussed below.

Clogged Drain Filter

Like most dishwashers, Frigidaire has a water filter at the bottom that traps food particles and debris to prevent clogging the sink drain. This filter, if left uncleaned, gets clogged over time and causes a blockage at the bottom, resulting in drainage issues.

Blocked or Damaged Drain Hose

A drain hose is a flexible pipe that runs through the dishwasher to the sink drain or the garbage disposal, allowing the water to drain out from the appliance. But sometimes, it tends to coil, leading to a blockage and causing the Frigidaire dishwasher not draining problem. 

Faulty Drain Pump

The Frigidaire dishwasher’s drain pump plays a vital role in draining the dirty water out of the appliance. If it malfunctions, it can cause a hindrance in the drainage process.

Clogged Air Gap

An air gap is a small device that keeps the used water away from the Frigidaire dishwasher by forcing it through the drain hose into the garbage disposal. However, if it is blocked due to food particles or debris buildup, the water will flow back into the dishwasher, causing your Frigidaire dishwasher not to drain correctly.

Defective Float Switch

The float switch is an integral part of the Frigidaire dishwasher that is located at the base of the appliance’s tub. It controls the water flow and prevents the appliance from filling up with too much water. 

Sometimes, the switch gets stuck, leading to the water overflowing and leaking out of the dishwasher, failing it to drain.

Clogged Garbage Disposal

Sometimes, the frigidaire dishwasher might not be draining because of the garbage disposal rather than the appliance being the cause itself. 

If your frigidaire dishwasher is connected to clogged garbage disposal, the wastewater fails to flow through it and finds its way back to the dishwasher. This results in the dishwasher overflowing and leaking out of the door rather than draining properly. 

How do I get my Frigidaire dishwasher to drain?

To get your Frigidaire dishwasher to drain, unclog the drain filter, hose, air pump, and garbage disposal. If the issue persists, inspect the float switch, motor, or drain pump and call a qualified technician to replace these parts if needed. 

Here are 7 solutions in detail to get your Frigidaire dishwasher working and draining again. 

Clean The Drain Filter

The quickest way to fix the Frigidaire dishwasher not draining issue is to clean the drain filter with these steps:

• Separate your Frigidaire dishwasher’s bottom rack.
• Spin the water handle anticlockwise while pressing down on the wash arm.
• Pull the spray arm up to remove it with the filter.
• Detach the filter from the wash arm and place it under running water to remove the food debris.
• Join the filter and the wash arm back together and place them back in the compartment.
• Rotate the water handle clockwise this time, pressing it down on the spray arm to lock it in place.

Check And Clean The Drain Hose

Inspect the drain hose to see if there are any kinks. If so, gently straighten the hose to remove the blockage. You’ll need to replace the drain hose if it is damaged.

If the hose is not kinked, there is a possibility of it being clogged, and you need to unclog it in the following way:

• First, remove the plug from the dishwasher.
• Locate the hose by referring to the dishwasher manual/guide.
• Next, detach the drain hose from the pump.
• Check if there are any obstructions or clogs in the hose; use a screwdriver or a pipe cleaner to remove the blockages gently.
• If a clog can’t be reached, detach the hose from the sink or the disposal. 
• See if you clear the stubborn clog; otherwise, replace the hose.

Inspect The Dishwasher Drain Pump

The Frigidaire dishwasher drain pump can also clog, so use the Frigidaire dishwasher’s manual to locate where the pump is, inspect it, and remove any blockages or debris seen.

If there are no blockages in the pump, it could indicate that the pump motor is faulty, and you have to replace it with the help of a professional repair service.

Unclog Air gap

As discussed above, the air gap is an important part of the Frigidaire dishwasher that can cause a draining issue if clogged. To clean the air gap, locate it, open the cap, and take out any food particles or debris seen using a soft bristle brush.

Next, reattach the cap, and use the dishwasher to see if this resolves the issue.

Check The Defective Float Switch

To ensure that the floating switch is operative, open the front panel of your frigidaire dishwasher and take a look inside. This is a tricky task, as your naked-eye analysis may fail to pinpoint the issue. Therefore, asking for a professional’s help is advised.

Garbage disposal

The last method you can try is to run the disposal for thirty to sixty seconds before running the Frigidaire dishwasher to remove any blockages causing it not to drain. Additionally, you can use a tong to remove the debris and give your dishwasher another try to check if this fixes the problem.

Run your garbage disposal connected to your dishwasher. Make sure this system is working at its best. Running the disposal for 30 seconds might also unclog some of your drains.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve looked at the different causes Frigidaire dishwasher not draining issue. We also provided easy and quick fixes to assist you in resolving the problem on your own, where possible.

We hope you can now enjoy the ease provided by your Frigidaire dishwasher without facing any troubles and say bye-bye to the piled-up dishes for a long time.

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