Broken Drain Impeller? Repair Tips For Your Fridgidaire Dishwasher

Does your Fridgidaire dishwasher have standing water at the bottom after wash cycles? Are dishes left soaking wet, indicating a drainage issue? A faulty drain impeller could be preventing your dishwasher from properly pumping out water. Read on for troubleshooting tips to get your Fridgidaire dishwasher drainage working again.

What is a Drain Impeller?

The drain impeller is a small spinning blade located inside the base of your dishwasher. It sits inside the drain pump assembly which connects to the dishwasher's drain hose. As your dishwasher pump runs, the rapid spinning of the impeller blade creates a force that pushes the water out from the tub. Without a working impeller, this drainage system breaks down.

• The drain impeller has a similar function to a fan blade, using rotational energy to move water.
• A working impeller spins freely to keep water flowing out of the unit during operation.
• Damage or clogging of the impeller disrupts proper water drainage from the system.

Signs of a Faulty Drain Impeller

How can you diagnose if the drain impeller is specifically causing the drainage problems in your Fridgidaire dishwasher? Here are some of the most common signs of a faulty drain impeller:

• Water pools in the bottom of the dishwasher tub after a cycle
• Dishes are left wet and soapy after a full wash program
• Dishwasher seems to run longer than usual without properly draining
• Strange noises emit from the pump area during drain cycles
• Spinning or humming sounds may indicate a stuck impeller

If your Fridgidaire dishwasher exhibits these issues and clearing debris from your drain line hasn't helped, read on for troubleshooting drain impeller problems.

Diagnosing a Bad Drain Impeller

To properly test if failure of the drain impeller blade is preventing drainage in your Fridgidaire dishwasher, follow these steps:

1. Disconnect power to your dishwasher by unplugging the unit or turning off power at the breaker.
2. Gain access to the pump assembly housing. This may require removing lower racks, spray arms, filters and panels depending on your dishwasher model.
3. Locate and visually inspect the drain impeller within the drain pump assembly.
4. Check if the impeller shows signs of cracking, chipping, breakage or melt damage. Also ensure no debris is obstructing the blade.
5. Try rotating the impeller by hand to see if spins freely without friction.

Assessing the state of your drain impeller blade will clarify if the drainage issues are due to a clog versus internal failure requiring replacement parts.

Unclogging a Stuck Drain Impeller

If your visual inspection revealed no cracks or breakage of the drain impeller, it's possible a small obstruction is the culprit. Try the following steps to unclog a stuck impeller:

1. Unplug dishwasher and turn off power supply.
2. Carefully pick out any debris you spot blocking the impeller using needle nose pliers or tweezers.
3. Check drain hoses and ports for obstructions to remove.
4. Flush the pump housing and impeller area with water to clear out passageways.

Spinning the drain impeller several times by hand while flushing can help loosen stubborn debris. If unclogging attempts fail, the impeller itself likely needs replacing.

Replacing a Worn or Damaged Drain Impeller

For Fridgidaire dishwasher models with irreparable drain impeller damage, replacement is necessary. Here are the steps for installing a new drain impeller:

1. Order a drain impeller kit designed specifically for your dishwasher make and model.
2. Disconnect electrical power and water supply lines.
3. Access, remove and disassemble the drain pump housing.
4. Detach and remove the old drain impeller blade from the pump.
5. Clean out any debris inside the pump housing.
6. Install the new replacement drain impeller in its proper aligned position.
7. Reassemble the drain pump unit with new impeller inserted.
8. Reconnect dishwasher water and electrical lines.
9. Run a test cycle and verify proper drainage.

While waiting for your new OEM drain impeller to ship, soak up standing water manually with towels to allow continued use of your dishwasher.

To help avoid failing drain impellers down the road, be proactive with regular Fridgidaire dishwasher maintenance:

• Check and clean filters frequently to prevent debris reaching the drain pump.
• Take care not to overload dishwasher tubs.
• Periodically inspect hoses and pumps for buildup.
• Only use recommended detergents to prevent sudsing issues.
• Always use rinse aid to help prevent scale accumulation over time.

Catching small problems early keeps problematic debris from working its way into the internal workings and breaking components like the drain impeller.

We hope these troubleshooting tips help resolve drain pump impeller issues in your Fridgidaire dishwasher. Properly diagnosing and fixing or replacing the impeller will have you back to sparkling clean dishes in no time!