Whirlpool Dishwasher Not Spraying Water [7 Common Reasons]
Is your Whirlpool dishwasher not spraying water? If yes, you’re in the right place to know the possible reasons such is happening to your dishwasher.
Dishwashers spray water when washing plates. That is how they operate. So, a dishwasher that can’t spray water won’t get your dishes washed.
The Whirlpool dishwashers are among the top-rated dishwashers out there. But these are electrical appliances and, like every other brand, could develop a fault over time.
Here, we discussed why a Whirlpool dishwasher might stop spraying water, including what you can do when such an issue occurs. Read to learn more.
Reasons And Fixes For Whirlpool Dishwasher Not Spraying Water
A Whirlpool dishwasher not spraying water is a problem that can happen for several reasons. But the main thing that can cause this issue is the water inlet valve. The water inlet valve helps distribute water to the spray arms. This valve can be blocked by food particles or damaged entirely. In either case, your dishwasher won’t spray water.
Other things can make your Whirlpool dishwasher have a problem spraying water. These include a lack of water supply, faulty spray arm, faulty wash impeller, faulty water pump belt, overloading the machine, and faulty circulation pump.
Here is a quick summary of all the things we mentioned that could make it impossible for your Whirlpool dishwasher to spray water.
- Faulty water inlet valve
- Lack of water in the tank
- Faulty spray arm
- faulty wash impeller
- Faulty water pump belt
- Overloading the machine
- Faulty circulation pump
Now, let’s discuss how you can fix each of these problems.
1: Faulty Water Inlet Valve
The Whirlpool dishwasher’s water inlet valve controls the flow of water into the machine. When it opens, water flows into the dishwasher. And when it closes, it prevents water from entering the dishwasher.
The water inlet valve controls the amount of water that enters the dishwasher. It ensures the machine gets the volume of water it requires to wash dishes.
Unfortunately, particles in the water can clog this valve, disrupting the flow of water into the machine. In other words, the particles will prevent the water inlet valve from closing or opening, which is how it was designed to function.
Additionally, note that the water inlet valve can be damaged following regular usage. And when this happens, it would stop functioning, as it should.
How To Fix It:
You can fix the water inlet valve by unclogging it, but is this advisable? No, it is not. Clearing the debris or food particles from the inlet valve will only fix the problem temporarily. Your dishwasher will still be susceptible to a similar problem in no time.
The best thing to do is replace the water inlet valve, whether clogged or damaged. This valve doesn’t cost a fortune, so it shouldn’t be an issue to replace. It costs less than $100.
A Handy Tip: In addition to debris and food particles, overuse or a short circuit can damage your water inlet valve. So, ensure you don’t overuse your dishwasher. Otherwise, it may develop a fault sooner than later. The Whirlpool dishwasher is a rugged machine, but overusing it isn’t advisable.
Furthermore, utilize your dishwasher only when it has a full load. Using it to wash a handful of plates will waste water and energy. You can leave your dishes in the machine until the next day.
Some people use their dishwashers daily, while some use theirs every two days. The choice is yours to make.
2: Lack of water in the tank:
Dishwashers do not produce the water they use in washing plates. They get water from your home supply. So, your dishwasher won’t spray water if water isn’t available in your home.
How To Fix It:
The dishwasher isn’t a problem if there’s no water in your home. It could be a general problem with the water supply or just your property. Just try to figure out where the fault is and resolve it.
3: Faulty wash impeller:
When you observe the dishwasher working, you’ll find that water gushes out from the spray arms from the top and bottom area of the machine. That’s the work of the impeller. It distributes water into the spray arms with high pressure.
So, if your Whirlpool dishwasher is not spraying water, the wash impeller could be the culprit. The regular usage and constant pressure the washer impeller uses to distribute water to the spray arms could cause it to lose a couple of fins along the way.
When a fin is broken or the wash impeller becomes faulty, it won’t be able to push water with high pressure into the spray arms. In this case, your spray arms won’t be able to function, as they should.
You can identify a faulty impeller by observing the dishwasher. Pay attention to disturbing noises from the machine. The noise will be so loud that you can tell something is wrong.
How To Fix It:
If your Whirlpool dishwasher has a faulty wash impeller, you have to get a replacement. However, in some Whirlpool dishwashers, you’ll find the wash impeller attached to the motor and pump. It might not be the case for other dishwashers.
In a nutshell, if your dishwasher has a damaged or faulty impeller, don’t try repairing the damaged impeller. Fix a brand new impeller that can function properly and do the job wash impellers do.
4: Faulty Spray Arm:
The spray arm plays a massive role in cleaning up dishes. It ensures water distributed to it is sprinkled on the plates generously from holes on both sides of the arm, leaving the plates clean.
Unfortunately, the spray arms may develop a fault over time. The holes could be clogged by grime, mineral build-up (common in areas with hard water), and detergent, grease, or food particles.
Once the holes on both sides of the spray arms get clogged, it won’t be able to sprinkle water on the plates, as it should. This means your plates will remain unwashed in the dishwasher.
How To Fix It:
The approach you’ll take in fixing your faulty spray arm will depend on the problem it has. If the spray arm holes are clogged, all you have to do is unclog it. Get a toothpick, or any sharp object that can pass through the holes. Now, remove the dishwasher rack to access the spray arms easily. Then push the object through the holes to get the debris out of the way.
There’s also a chance the spray arm is stiff or faulty. How can you determine this? It is simple. Manually rotate the spray arm with your finger. If it spins freely, then it is working fine. If it doesn’t, the spray arm is bad, and you have to replace it. By the way, this item is not an expensive one.
A Handy Tip: You can also wash your dishwasher’s spray arms in warm soapy water.
5: Faulty water pump belt:
If your Whirlpool dishwasher isn’t spraying water as it should, the pump belt could be the likely culprit. However, remember that not every Whirlpool dishwasher uses a pump belt.
You can find out if your dishwasher uses a pump belt by checking the manufacturer’s manual. If it does, the manufacturer will mention it in the manual.
The Whirlpool’s pump belt’s chances of developing a faulty increase as the machine ages. So, if your dishwasher is old and refuses to spray water, check the rubber pump belt.
How To Fix It:
If your dishwasher’s water pump belt is weak or damaged, get it replaced. Just remove the bottom panel to locate the rubber belt and change it.
6: Overloading the machine:
Overloading isn’t a good way to use a dishwasher or any type of machine. It would increase the chances of the machine breaking down or developing a fault.
When you overload a dishwasher, dishes in the machine could block the spray arms, making it difficult or impossible for them to spray water. In addition, dirt from the plates could clog the water hose if the dishes aren’t cleaned appropriately.
How To Fix It:
Avoid overloading your machine. That’s the simple thing to do. If the plates you want to wash are many, wash them in batches.
7: Faulty Circulation pump:
As the name implies, the circulation pump makes the circulation of water in the dishwasher possible. It moves water to the machine’s spray arms from the water inlet valve. So, it plays a vital role in keeping your plates clean.
The circulation pump can become faulty following constant use and given the kind of work that it does in the machine. And when this happens, your spray arms won’t be able to pump water.
How To Fix It:
Open the dishwasher’s bottom panel to access the pump’s housing. Remove debris or grime. If the machine refuses to spray water after unclogging it, the pump is bad. In this case, you have to test for continuity using a multimeter.
Support and Warranty
Whirlpool offers a wide range of support across its product line. If you are not satisfied with the above fixes, please feel free to contact Whirlpool customer care.
For more troubleshooting steps, please check their product help page
You can reach out to Whirlpool customer support at:
US: 1-866-698-2538
Canada: 1-800-807-6777
Hour of Operation:
Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST
By Chat:
Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST
Before calling, make sure you keep your model’s serial number handy. If you need help regarding getting your model and serial number, here is a link to check out.
Conclusion
Whirlpool dishwasher not spraying water is an issue no one likes to witness. A dishwasher that can’t spray water will not wash your dishes.
However, several factors can make a dishwasher not spray water. We gave them as:
- Faulty water inlet valve
- Lack of water in the tank
- Faulty spray arm
- faulty wash impeller
- Faulty water pump belt
- Overloading the machine
- Faulty circulation pump
So, identify the factor making it impossible for your dishwasher to spray water and fix it. We gave clues on what you can do in each scenario. However, if you have fixed your dishwasher but it still doesn’t work properly, consider buying a new Whirlpool dishwasher.
