Maytag Dishwasher Repair

Maytag sells its dishwashers on power, and the names say so: PowerBlast is a hotter, higher-pressure cycle for baked-on pans, and Dual Power Filtration describes the two filters in the floor of the tub. Mechanically these are Whirlpool-platform machines with a wash motor feeding both spray arms, a separate drain pump, a heater, an inlet valve and a door latch whose switches tell the control the door is sealed.

That filter design is the key to most service calls. Older dishwashers chopped food up with a grinder and flushed it away. Maytag's filters trap it instead, which keeps wash water cleaner but leaves the owner with a job to do. When the cylinder and flat screen clog with grease, glasses come out gritty, the tub smells sour and the water drains slowly, which works the drain pump harder over time.

With the breaker off, pull the lower rack, twist the cylindrical filter about a quarter turn and lift it out with the flat screen beneath it. Rinse both with warm water and a soft brush and wipe the sump clean. Spin the lower arm by hand to feel for drag. Under the sink, the drain hose should rise in a high loop with no kinks. Tampa Bay water often leaves scale too, so check the arm holes for white crust.

Beyond the filters, the usual failures are a drain pump jammed by a fruit pit or broken glass, a latch switch that stops reporting a closed door so the panel lights but nothing runs, a heater that has burned open so dishes stay wet, and a slow drip from a tired door gasket. We test pump draw and the impeller, measure the heater, inlet valve and thermistor, check the latch, and look under the tub for leaks.

Pumps, latches, heaters, valves and gaskets are all reasonable repairs on a Maytag dishwasher. The one case where we hesitate is a control board failure on a basic, older unit, since the repair can come close to the price of a new machine. You hear that before we start. Pre-acquisition Maytag dishwashers use entirely different parts, so for those we confirm the part can still be found.