Frigidaire FFCD2413US

This document serves as a comprehensive guide for the use and care of your Frigidaire dishwasher, designed to help you maximize its performance and longevity. It emphasizes the importance of reading the manual before operation and provides troubleshooting tips for common issues.

Function Description

The Frigidaire dishwasher is designed to clean dishware by spraying a mixture of hot water and detergent against soiled surfaces. The cleaning process involves a series of steps: initially, the dishwasher drains for a few seconds to remove any loose soils from loading. It then fills with water, covering the filter area, and pumps this water through the spray arms. Soil particles are filtered and drained out with the water. This sequence of fills, washes, and drains is repeated as needed, with the number of water fills varying depending on the selected wash cycle.

The dishwasher incorporates a Precision Direct Wash System, utilizing energy-efficient motors for both washing and draining. This system contributes to a quieter operation compared to many older dishwashers. The wash action involves the lower spray arm rotating to circulate water, followed by a pause, and then the upper arms spraying water, creating distinct sounds as the wash action shifts between arms.

The appliance features DishSense™ Technology, which intelligently assesses the amount of food soil on dishes and adjusts the wash cycle accordingly, optimizing cleaning performance.

Usage Features

The dishwasher offers a range of cycles and options to accommodate various cleaning needs:

Wash Cycle Selections:
- Heavy Wash: Recommended for heavily soiled items like pots, pans, casseroles, and dinnerware. It includes a High Temp wash and Heat Dry option by default.
- Normal Wash: Suitable for light to heavily soiled loads, offering a balance of cleaning performance and energy efficiency. It is the factory default and recommended for everyday use.
- 1 Hr Wash: Designed for lightly soiled loads when a quicker wash is desired.
- Temp Options: Allows selection of "High" temperature for enhanced cleaning and drying. The High Temp option heats water to approximately 155°F (68°C), aiding in the removal of food grease and soil. It is automatically included with the Heavy Wash cycle.
- Heat Dry: This option, when used with rinse aid, significantly improves drying performance. While it consumes a small amount of energy, it helps ensure dishes are as dry as possible at the end of the cycle.
- Delay Time: Allows you to delay the start of a wash cycle for 4 hours, providing flexibility for scheduling.
- Control Lock: A safety feature that prevents accidental changes to the cycle or starting the dishwasher, particularly useful for households with children. It can be activated by pressing and holding the Options pad for 3 seconds.
Starting a Cycle: To begin a cycle, select your desired wash cycle and options, then press the START/CANCEL pad and immediately close the dishwasher door. If the door is opened during a cycle, you must press START/CANCEL and close the door within 10 minutes for the cycle to resume.
Detergent Dispenser: The dispenser has two cups: a smaller one for pre-wash and a larger one for the main wash. For best results, use fresh automatic dishwashing detergent and add it just before starting the cycle. When using detergent tabs, place one in the main wash cup. The amount of detergent needed varies based on water hardness, with a chart provided to guide usage for soft, medium hard, hard, and very hard water conditions.
Rinse Aid Dispenser: Located next to the detergent cup, this dispenser automatically releases a measured amount of rinse aid during the final rinse. Rinse aid is crucial for improving drying, reducing water spots, and ensuring proper wash arm rotation. The indicator shows when it's time to refill. To add rinse aid, turn the cap 1/4 turn counterclockwise, lift it out, and pour rinse aid until it reaches the indicated fill level.
Loading Racks:
- Dish Preparation: Scrape off large food pieces, bones, and pits. Loosen burned-on foods. Empty liquids from glasses and cups. Pre-rinsing or using the rinse-only cycle is recommended if the dishwasher won't be operated immediately, especially for foods that can cause discoloration.
- Top Rack: Designed for a variety of items like cups, glasses, stemware, small plates, and bowls. Load glasses and plastic items only in the top rack to prevent damage. Ensure items have open ends facing down for better cleaning and draining. Avoid delicate items touching each other. Long-handled knives and utensils can be placed here.
- Bottom Rack: Best for larger items such as plates, saucers, bowls, and cookware. Place large items along the edge to avoid blocking spray arm rotation. Position bowls, casseroles, and saucepans with soiled surfaces facing down or toward the center, tilted slightly for drainage. Ensure pan handles do not protrude through the bottom of the rack.
- Silverware Basket: Load sharp items (knives, skewers) pointing down to prevent injury. Mix items with some pointing up and some down to avoid nesting, which can prevent water spray from reaching all surfaces. Do not mix silver and stainless steel to prevent damage to the silver finish. The basket can be loaded while in the bottom rack or removed for loading on a counter.
- Adding a Dish Mid-Cycle: Unlatch the door, wait a few seconds for the wash action to stop, add the item, wait a few more seconds for cold air to expand, then close the door firmly and press START/CANCEL to resume.

Maintenance Features

Regular maintenance ensures optimal performance and longevity of your dishwasher:

Glass Trap Cleaning: The glass trap, located in the center of the filter, collects debris like broken glass, straws, bones, and pits. To clean, pull the handle up and out, empty the debris, and then slide it back into position, pushing down to lock.
Outer Door Cleaning: Clean with warm soapy water and a dishcloth or sponge, then rinse with clean water and dry. Avoid harsh cleaners.
Interior Cleaning: The inside of the dishwasher and filter are self-cleaning with normal use. If needed, clean around the tub gasket area with a damp cloth.
Overfill Protector: Located in the left front corner of the tub, this component prevents overfilling. Clean it occasionally with a household cleaner containing vinegar or bleach to dissolve any buildup. Ensure it moves freely up and down about one inch.
Drain Air Gap: If your built-in dishwasher has a drain air gap (mounted on the countertop), check and clean it regularly to ensure proper drainage. This is not part of the dishwasher itself and is not covered by warranty.
Removing Spots and Film (Hard Water Buildup): Hard water can cause lime deposits, spots, and film on dishes and the dishwasher interior. To remove this, load clean dishes (no metal utensils), do not add detergent, select the Normal Wash cycle, and let it run for approximately 10 minutes until the second water fill starts. Then, unlatch and open the door, pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher, close the door, and allow the cycle to finish.
Winterizing: If the dishwasher is in an unheated area, it must be protected from freezing. This involves disconnecting electrical power, shutting off the water supply, draining water from the inlet valve and pump, and disconnecting the drain line. To restore service, reconnect all lines, turn on power and water, run a HEAVY WASH cycle with detergent in both cups, and check for leaks.

The manual also provides troubleshooting for common issues such as food soils left on dishes, dishes not drying, glassware/flatware spotting or cloudiness, dishwasher not filling, detergent left in cups, vapor at vent, normal operating sounds, water in the bottom of the tub, dishwasher leaks, dishwasher not running, and cycles taking a long time. These sections offer practical advice to resolve problems without needing a service call.

Frigidaire FFCD2413US Specifications

General

Brand	Frigidaire
Model	FFCD2413US
Type	Built-In Dishwasher
Color	Stainless Steel
Place Settings	14
Wash Cycles	6
Energy Star Certified	Yes
Soil Sensor	Yes
Third Rack	No
Heated Dry	Yes
Delay Start	Yes
Control Type	Electronic