6 Reasons Your Dishwasher Isn't Spraying Water & How to Fix It

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DIY fixes and a breakdown of repair costs

Co-authored by Trevor Storey and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: November 10, 2024 Fact Checked

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Causes & Fixes

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Repair Costs

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How Dishwasher Sprayers Work

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Video

If water is filling up the bottom of your dishwasher, but the dishes are still dirty, it's highly likely the spray arms aren't doing their job. Luckily, most dishwasher spray issues are easy to fix. Read on to discover common causes of a dishwasher not spraying water, step-by-step repairs, and how much you can expect each fix to cost.

Why isn't my dishwasher spraying water?

When a dishwasher no longer sprays water, the most common cause is clogged spray arms. Clean the spray arms by removing and soaking them in soapy water and using a toothpick to poke debris out of the holes. For stubborn calcium deposits, soak the spray arms in equal parts white vinegar and water.

Section 1 of 3:

Causes & Fixes for a Dishwasher Not Spraying Water

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Clogged spray arms Your dishwasher's spray arms dispense the water through small holes. If these holes are blocked with food, plastic, or calcium deposits, the water won't be able to get through them.^{[1]
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- How to fix: Remove the spray arms and clean the spray holes. Unscrew the upper and lower spray arms and soak them in warm soapy water. Use a toothpick to poke debris from the holes and a toothbrush to gently scrub off any remaining grime. Rinse the spray arms off, let them dry, and screw them back into place.
- Sometimes calcium deposits build up on spray arms. These are harder to remove than food. If soaking them in warm water alone doesn't help, try soaking them in a solution with equal parts white vinegar and water.^{[2]
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Broken spray arms If the spray arms are cracked, for example, they may not spin properly and disperse the water evenly across the dishes.^{[3]
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- How to fix: If the spray arms are cracked or have broken pieces, replace them with new spray arms designed for your specific dishwasher model.
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Damaged spray arm support tube The support tube that leads to the spray arm receives water from a water supply tube nozzle at the back of the dishwasher. If the spray arms are getting little to no water, the support tube might be leaking and need replacing.^{[4]
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- How to fix: Examine the spray arm support tube for cracks or holes. If you find any, unscrew the spray arm and unclip the support tube from the rack. Replace the entire assembly with the one recommended by your dishwasher manufacturer in the manual.
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Clogged drain filter The drain filter at the bottom of the dishwasher is supposed to separate the large food particles from the water before it drains. When the filter gets too dirty, the excess debris gets taken up into the spray arms and clogs the holes.^{[5]
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- How to fix: Check if the drain filter is dirty. Locate the filter in the back and bottom of the dishwasher. Pull it out and soak it in warm, soapy water in the sink. Use a soft toothbrush to remove any stubborn debris. Rinse the soap off the filter until the water runs clear, let it dry, and then put it back in the dishwasher.^{[6]
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- If the filter looks damaged or moldy, throw it away and buy a replacement that fits your dishwasher model.
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Blocked water circulation pump Sometimes food or plastic gets stuck in the impeller mechanism that forces the water into the spray arms, blocking the water's path.^{[7]
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Research source} If this is the problem, you may hear the motor humming, but your dishes will still be dirty because the pump isn't circulating water through the spray arms.
- How to fix: Remove the water circulation pump and assess the damage. First, unplug the dishwasher from the power source and shut off the water supply. Then, detach the dishwasher from the counter and the floor and pull it out. Tip it onto its back so you can unplug and detach the pump.^{[8]
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- If the pump appears blocked but has no other obvious damage, remove the debris and reinstall it.
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Broken circulation pump motor When this happens, you won't hear the motor humming, but you may hear the sound of the electric contacts clicking.^{[9]
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- How to fix: When you examine the circulation pump and don't see any blockage, but it looks black, broken, or worn down, replace it with an identical pump as recommended by the dishwasher manufacturer.

Section 2 of 3:

Cost to Repair Dishwasher Not Spraying Water

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The cost to DIY repair a dishwasher that isn't spraying can range from $10-$120. The impact on your wallet depends on how bad the damage is and whether you need to replace any parts. Below is a breakdown of typical price ranges of dishwasher parts you may need to purchase.^{[10]
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- Spray Arms: $20-$30
- Drain Filter: $10-$20
- Circulation Pump: $30-$120
Appliance repair technicians charge $60-$70 per hour. The more complicated the spray issue, the more time and parts the technician will require to fix it.^{[11]
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If the fix costs more than 50% of the dishwasher's value, replace it. The last thing you want to do is pour more money into a dishwasher than it would cost to purchase a new one.^{[12]
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- Dishwashers typically work for 10 years before they break down. If you've owned your dishwasher for that length of time or longer and it starts malfunctioning, you may save more money in the long run by replacing it with a new one.

Section 3 of 3:

How Dishwasher Sprayers Work

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The water pools in the bottom and heats up, and the heat activates the dishwasher detergent to create suds. A circulation pump intakes the soapy water and pushes it to the spray arms, and the spray arms spray the water onto the dishes at a high pressure.^{[13]
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After the (now dirty) water drains, the dishwasher starts a rinse cycle. The tub fills with water again, the pump sends the water to the spray arms, and the spray arms rinse the dishes clean. The rinse water drains and the dishwasher starts a heating cycle to dry the dishes.^{[14]
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- Most Whirlpool, Frigidaire, GE, Bosch, and KitchenAid dishwashers work the same way and use the same basic components. The parts they use vary in shape and size based on the dishwasher model, so check your manual or ask the manufacturer to tell you the number of the part you need to replace.