This document is a user and care manual for a Frigidaire Dishwasher, providing essential information for its operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. The dishwasher is designed to clean dishes by spraying a mixture of hot water and detergent against soiled surfaces. It employs a Precision Direct Wash System with energy-efficient motors for both wash and drain cycles, which contributes to its quieter operation compared to older models. The cleaning process involves a series of water fills and drains, with water pumped through spray arms, and soil particles filtered out and drained away. The number of water fills varies depending on the selected cycle.
Function Description
The Frigidaire dishwasher offers multiple wash cycles and options to accommodate various soil levels and user preferences. The available cycles include:
- Heavy Wash: Recommended for heavily soiled pots, pans, casseroles, and dinnerware.
- Normal Wash: Suitable for lightly to heavily soiled loads, and is the recommended cycle for everyday use due to its balanced performance.
- 1 Hr Wash: Designed for lightly soiled loads when a quicker wash is desired.
- Energy Saver: A cycle aimed at reducing energy consumption.
The dishwasher incorporates DishSense™ Technology in the Heavy Wash and Normal Wash cycles, which automatically detects the soil level on dishes and adjusts the cycle time and water usage accordingly. This intelligent feature ensures optimal cleaning while conserving resources.
Several options can be selected to customize the wash cycle:
- Temp: Allows users to choose between "Sanitize" or "High" temperature settings. The Sanitize option raises the final rinse water temperature to 155°F (68°C) for 9 minutes, meeting NSF requirements for sanitization. The High Temp option heats the main wash water to approximately 155°F (68°C) for enhanced cleaning of greasy and soiled dishes.
- Dry: Offers "Max Dry" and "Heat Dry" options. Max Dry extends drying time by about 20 minutes for improved drying performance, especially when combined with higher wash temperatures and rinse aid. Heat Dry also enhances drying performance with rinse aid. Users can choose not to select a dry option, but this may result in dishes not being completely dry.
- Delay: Enables users to postpone the start of a wash cycle by 2, 4, or 6 hours.
The dishwasher features status indicator lights to keep users informed about the cycle progress:
- Washing light: Illuminates at the beginning of the cycle and stays on until the main wash concludes.
- Clean light: Comes on at the end of the cycle and remains on until the door is opened.
- Sanitized light: Glows when the Sanitize cycle is successfully completed, indicating that dishes have been properly sanitized. If the cycle is interrupted or sanitization criteria are not met, this light will not illuminate.
Usage Features
To operate the dishwasher, users need to follow a simple sequence:
- Load Dishes: Scrape off large food particles, bones, and pits. Burned-on foods should be loosened. Empty liquids from glasses and cups. For best results, pre-rinse or use the rinse-only cycle for highly acidic or tomato-based foods if the dishwasher won't be run immediately, to prevent discoloration.
- Add Detergent: Use only fresh, household-grade automatic dishwasher detergent. The dispenser has two cups: a smaller one for pre-wash and a larger one for the main wash. For detergent tabs, place one in the main wash cup. The amount of detergent depends on water hardness, with a chart provided for guidance.
- Add Rinse Aid: Rinse aid is crucial for improved drying, reduced water spots, and proper wash arm rotation. The dispenser automatically releases a measured amount during the last rinse. Users can adjust the amount dispensed by rotating a dial under the cap. The indicator shows when a refill is needed.
- Select Cycle and Options: Choose the desired wash cycle and any additional options (Temp, Dry, Delay) using the control panel.
- Run Hot Water: Turn on the hot water faucet nearest the dishwasher for several minutes to ensure the incoming water temperature is at least 120°F (49°C) for optimal performance.
- Start Cycle: Press the START/CANCEL pad and immediately close the dishwasher door to begin the cycle.
The dishwasher is designed to remember the last selected cycle and options, allowing for quick restarts by simply pressing the START/CANCEL pad.
Loading Racks:
- Top Rack: Ideal for cups, glasses, stemware, small plates, and bowls. Plastic items and delicate items should be placed here. Items should be loaded with open ends facing down for better cleaning and draining. Some models include fold-down cup shelves or stemware holders for loading two levels of smaller items.
- Bottom Rack: Best for plates, saucers, bowls, and cookware. Large items should be placed along the edge, facing down or toward the center, and tilted slightly for drainage. Care should be taken to ensure items do not block the spray arm rotation.
- Silverware Basket: Sharp items (knives, skewers) should be loaded pointing down for safety. Silverware can be loaded in the basket while it's in the bottom rack or removed for loading on a counter. Mixing items with some pointing up and some down helps prevent nesting, ensuring water spray reaches all surfaces. Avoid mixing silver and stainless steel to prevent damage.
Child Lock: To prevent accidental changes or starts, the controls can be locked by pressing and holding the Dry pad for 3 seconds while the door is open. An indicator light confirms the lock is active. To unlock, repeat the action.
Canceling a Cycle: A cycle can be canceled at any time by pressing and holding the START/CANCEL pad for 3 seconds. The dishwasher will then perform a 90-second drain.
Opening the Door During a Cycle: If the door is opened during a cycle or delay countdown, the dishwasher will pause. To resume, press START/CANCEL and close the door immediately. If the door remains open for too long, the cycle will be canceled.
Maintenance Features
Regular maintenance is essential for maximizing the dishwasher's performance and lifespan.
Cleaning the Interior:
- The inside of the dishwasher and the filter are self-cleaning with normal use.
- The tub gasket area should be cleaned occasionally with a damp cloth.
- The glass trap, located in the center of the filter, collects debris like broken glass, straws, bones, and pits. To empty it, pull the handle up and out, remove debris, and slide it back into position until it locks.
- The overfill protector, in the left front corner of the tub, should move freely. If it doesn't, lift and clean underneath. It can be cleaned with a household cleaner containing vinegar or bleach to dissolve buildup.
- For a thorough interior cleaning and freshening, Frigidaire ReadyClean® Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets are recommended monthly. Place one tablet in the bottom of an empty dishwasher tub (not the dispenser), run a rinse cycle, leave the door closed for at least 6 hours, then resume normal use.
Removing Spots and Film: Hard water can cause lime deposit buildup, leading to spots and film on dishes and glasses. To address this:
- Load clean dishes and glasses (no metal utensils).
- Do not add detergent.
- Select the Normal Wash cycle and start it.
- After approximately 8 minutes (when the second water fill begins), open the door and pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher.
- Close the door and allow the cycle to finish.
Care of Drain Air Gap: If a drain air gap is installed (not part of the dishwasher), ensure it is clean for proper drainage.
Winterizing: For dishwashers in unheated areas, protection from freezing is necessary. This involves disconnecting electrical power and water supply, draining water from the inlet valve and pump, and then reconnecting and flushing the lines before resuming service.
Troubleshooting: The manual includes a comprehensive troubleshooting section to help users diagnose and resolve common issues such as food soils left on dishes, dishes not drying, glassware/flatware spotting or cloudiness, chipped dishware, detergent left in cups, dishwasher leaks, cycle taking too long, dishwasher not starting or filling, and odors. Many of these issues can be resolved by checking water temperature, water hardness, detergent usage, loading practices, or ensuring proper installation and maintenance.
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