JennAir dishwasher repair, from long drains to slow cycles
In February 2007, roughly 2.3 million plastic-tub dishwashers sold as Jenn-Air and Maytag from 1997 to 2001 were recalled, because rinse aid could leak onto the wiring and ignite. We repair the JennAir dishwashers in Oahu kitchens now.
JennAir dishwasher numbers
Sources: CPSC recall notices of 2007 and 2017; JennAir help site articles on cycle time, draining, drying and the F9E1 code
Why does a JennAir dishwasher run for hours?
Mostly because it stops to heat water. JennAir puts a full cycle anywhere from 1.5 to 4 hours, and the machine pauses two or three times along the way while its heater brings the water up. Start with cold water in the line and those pauses stretch. Run the kitchen tap until it comes out hot, then start the cycle. A run that goes well past four hours, or never finishes, is the one worth a visit.
What a JennAir dishwasher is showing you
A JennAir with no display still reports faults, through a flashing Clean light, and the water left in the tub says a lot too. Here is how JennAir reads both.
Clean light blinking
Count the first burst for the F number, wait through a 1 to 2 second gap, then count the E number.
Seven, then one
That reads F7E1. A gap of about 5 seconds comes before the pattern starts over.
Drip tray code
Water has reached the drip tray under the tub. JennAir points to the float switch and its connections.
Puddle above filter
A little water sitting just over the filter suggests a partial clog. Clean both filter stages first.
Water near the door
Water up near the door means a severe blockage, or a drain pump that is not running at all.
Hum, no drain
A humming sound while the water stays put points to a jammed pump impeller, which is a technician job.
What to check when a JennAir shows F9E1
| Check | Where to look | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| Kinked drain line | Under the sink and behind the toe panel | You can look under the sink; behind the machine is our job |
| Disposer knockout plug | A newly installed disposer | See our dishwasher not draining page |
| Clog in the drain or disposer | The disposer and the drain past it | Run the disposer first, then call |
| Hose routing | The path of the hose from machine to drain | Usually a technician after an install or remodel |
| Too many suds | Foam in the tub at the end of a cycle | Owner: use dishwasher detergent only |
Cleaning the two-stage JennAir filter
Twist
Turn the upper filter counterclockwise and lift it out of the tub floor. This is the fine screen on many JennAir models.
Look below
Under it sits the coarser second stage. Clear what it caught before you put anything back in place.
Lock
Set the upper filter back and turn it clockwise until it locks. A loose filter lets debris through to the pump.
Monthly
JennAir pairs a monthly filter clean with a dishwasher cleaner cycle. Both help the machine drain and dry the way it should.