Frigidaire Dishwasher Leaking and Sparking in Palm Harbor: Why We Said Replace It
- Symptom
- Dishwasher dripping water.
- Cause
- A string of problems: a broken drain pump mount, a sparking circulation pump, a failed door spring and dead buttons.
- Fix
- We recommended replacing the dishwasher with a new one that has a leak sensor, rather than repairing it.
The owner of this Frigidaire Professional Series dishwasher in the Wexford Leas neighborhood of Palm Harbor had been calling about it dripping. When we looked it over, the leak was only the start.
What we found
- It was dripping. That’s what we were called out for.
- The circulation pump was throwing a lot of sparks.
- The mount on the drain pump had broken off, so the pump was lying on the floor of the dishwasher.
- The door spring needed replacing. The door just dropped open.
- The buttons didn’t work. Only one cycle would run.
Our recommendation
We told the owner, plainly, that we didn’t see the point in repairing it. That was too many failed parts for one old dishwasher, and a sparking pump is not something to leave running.
There’s one more thing that pushed us toward replacing it. When laminate was put down in the kitchen, the dishwasher ended up sitting lower than the floor. If it starts leaking again, nobody would see it until the damage was done.
So we recommended a new dishwasher, and one with a leak sensor. Some models have a float switch in the very bottom pan. If water starts to collect there, the switch reports a leak, so you find out before it spreads.
If your dishwasher is dripping, sparking or just not working right, our dishwasher repair service can tell you honestly whether it’s worth fixing.
FAQ
When is it better to replace a dishwasher than repair it?
When several parts have failed at once. On this Frigidaire the pump was sparking, the drain pump had come loose, the door wouldn't stay up and most of the buttons were dead, so a new dishwasher made more sense than fixing everything.
What is a dishwasher leak sensor?
Some dishwashers have a float switch in the bottom pan. If water starts to collect there, the switch reports a leak, which matters most when the dishwasher sits where you wouldn't see a drip.