Fisher & Paykel dishwasher and DishDrawer repair
Fisher & Paykel launched the DishDrawer in 1997 on one idea: each drawer runs as its own dishwasher. So on a double model, one drawer can stop with a fault while the other keeps washing. We diagnose each drawer separately.
What a DishDrawer A-code is telling you
| Code | Meaning in the user guide | First thing to look at |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Water supply fault | The tap under the sink and the inlet hose |
| A3 | The drawer cannot drain | A blocked or kinked hose, or the drain connection |
| A6 | Spray arm loose or off its mount, or pressure too low | Whether the spray arm sits firmly in place |
| A7 | Too much foam; a recovery program runs by itself | The detergent that went in |
| A09 | Sanitize missed its temperature | Whether the cycle was stopped or the water shut off |
How high should a DishDrawer drain hose sit?
The hose support goes at least 29 1/2 inches above the floor. Where the hoses run into a standpipe, they may reach no more than 4 3/4 inches down it, which stops dirty water siphoning back into the tub. The maker also recommends a dual air gap. Power order matters too: the installer connects electricity before the water, because flood protection only works while the dishwasher has power. In a stacked Honolulu condo, a drawer that floods while switched off at the wall reaches the unit below.
How a DishDrawer gets diagnosed
Codes
We read the code on each drawer. An F-code that returns after a power cycle is the fault itself; an A-code often points at water or detergent.
Water
Models without a softener accept 4.3 to 145 psi; softener models need at least 14.5. The inlet is a 3/8-inch male compression fitting.
Power
The drawer wants 120V, 60Hz with at least 8.7A available. Low supply can look like a failed motor, so it is measured first.
Drive
SmartDrive runs both wash and drain with few moving parts. If it has failed, we explain the part and the order before anything ships.
DishDrawer figures
Sources: Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer range page; DD24DCTX9 product page; DishDrawer user and installation guides