Kitchenaid dishwasher grinder keeps clogging

6 years ago

We have a KitchenAid dishwasher that’s about 7-8 years old. Recently we’ve been having problems with the upper rack not getting clean, which we traced to food collecting in the grinder unit at the bottom. I think that somehow the water intended for the spinner right under the top rack is routed there.

In any event, is this something for which replacing the grinding blades makes sense? We‘ve stripped these parts down at least three times in the last six months, so we don’t mind ordering the parts and replacing them ourselves. But we don’t know whether that’s actually the source of the problem.

Featured Answer

dadoes

6 years ago

I looked up the part per a KA dishwasher model that I know. Very likely that part is the same in all WP-made dishwashers that have the same pump design, whether Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Kenmore, Maytag or whatever brand-label. It's a whopping $14.00 at the source I mentioned above. Tossing the machine out for that cost is equivalent to buying a new car because you caught a flat tire or a dead battery.

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Comments (9)

Stacy
6 years ago
Had a similar problem in our old house with kitchenaid dishwasher. I bought several grinders on Amazon and had to change them out regularly (every 6-8 months) to keep it running well.
Rose Beginner(MA - 6A) thanked Stacy
User
6 years ago
That’s far more likely to be a clogged drain hose. Remove it, and run water through it backwards, then reattach.
Rose Beginner(MA - 6A) thanked User
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dadoes
6 years ago
The coupler piece that's part of the grinder blades and interfaces it to the motor can crack or break such that the blades don't spin or not at proper speed. You already know how to access it, simple matter to change the part. PartsDr.com is an online parts source that I often use ... search the part number (when you determine what is it) other sources.
Rose Beginner(MA - 6A) thanked dadoes
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
I quit reading after "7-8 years old". Junk that thing.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
The average life of a dishwasher is 6-10 years. Sure, you may be able to fix it for fourteen bucks this time, but that thing is toast.
Rose Beginner(MA - 6A)
Original Author
6 years ago
@Joseph Corlett, LLC

Are you saying that because that’s the expected lifespan of a dishwasher from most manufacturers these days? Or just specifically Kitchenaid? Or just specifically the models that Kitchenaid made back then?

If I can get a few more years out of the dishwasher for a $30-$60 dollar part, it doesn’t make sense to junk it.
dadoes
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
My neighbor has a Whirlpool dishwasher that's approx 17 years old (serial number 20th week of 2003). There's a Whirlpool at one of his rental properties that's 13 years (serial 8th week of 2007). Both have had the touch panel replaced but no repairs on the pump or anything else.

My Fisher & Paykel is 16 years.

My parents have a GE with serial number April 2002. They bought it on clearance at Lowe's, installed in either December 2002 or January 2003, I don't recall exactly when. It replaced a 1975 KitchenAid (yeah, I know, vintage KAs are a completely different situation.)

The KitchenAid I referenced above was my aunt's. They replaced it at 12 years only because the racks were deteriorating, it had not had any repairs

edit to correct: My F&P is 17 years (and one month).
Rose Beginner(MA - 6A) thanked dadoes
Rose Beginner(MA - 6A)
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Followup: we replaced it with a Bosch several months ago and have been very happy with it.