The chopper and filter that Maytag uses
Maytag builds many of its dishwashers around Dual Power Filtration. It has two parts. A microfilter traps small bits of food. A chopper with four stainless steel blades cuts up the rest so it can drain.
This is a strong design, but the chopper area can jam. Glass, bone chips, fruit pits and twist ties get past the rack. When the blades stop, food stays in the wash water. You see grit on the glasses.
We open the sump, clear the jam and check the blades and screen. If the screen has a hole, grit goes to the spray arms and plugs them.
Film, grit and weak cleaning
Besides the chopper, a few other parts cause dirty loads.
- The wash pump has lost pressure.
- Spray arm holes are blocked.
- The inlet valve is slow and the tub fills low.
- Hard water leaves a white film on every load.
- The soap door sticks shut.
Maytag's PowerBlast cycle uses high pressure jets, hotter water and steam. If that cycle cleans no better than Normal, the heater or the pump is not doing its part.
Water that stays in the tub
A Maytag that will not drain has a blocked filter, a jammed drain pump or a clogged hose. The check valve at the pump can also stick. Then dirty water flows back in after the cycle. We test the pump with power and look at the hose loop under the sink.
Plastic items stay wet in any dishwasher. But wet plates and glasses mean the dry stage failed. Some Maytag models have PowerDry, which uses a fan. We test the heater, the fan and the vent. Rinse aid matters too. An empty cup makes every load come out spotted.
Leaks, latches and a dead panel
Door leaks come from a flat gasket or a bent lower door seal. Leaks under the tub come from the pump seal or a hose. A dishwasher that will not start may have a failed door latch switch. The control sees an open door and does nothing. A panel with no lights can be a blown fuse on the board.
Models with a third level rack have an extra water feed at the top. If that feed pops loose, water sprays the door and can leak out the front.
Quick checks for owners
- Rinse the filter under the lower rack.
- Pull a lower spray arm and shake out seeds.
- Run the sink disposal before each load.
- Check that the door clicks fully shut.
- Turn off control lock, which shows as a lit padlock on many models.
Cost, hours and who comes out
We charge $79 to diagnose a dishwasher in a home. Once you approve the repair, that fee is waived. The tech quotes one fixed amount for parts and labor before starting. Maytag shares many parts with Whirlpool, so the truck often has the pump or valve on board.
Call or book online on any day. The first slot is 6 AM and the last is 9 PM. Most Maytag dishwasher calls are seen the same day. Each tech on our dishwasher crew is insured and licensed, and every background check came back clear. Repairs are under our 30-day repair warranty. A+ is an independent repair company.
Repair or replace a Maytag dishwasher
Maytag tubs are stainless steel and last a long time. So the box is usually worth saving. A pump, valve, latch, chopper or heater is a fair repair. If the wash motor and the control board both die on one old machine, we will tell you a new one is the better buy.
Homes in D.C. can reach us via the Washington D.C. appliance repair page. See dishwasher repair for general help and Maytag appliance repair for the brand. We also handle Maytag refrigerator repair and Maytag range repair. After the fix, we run a cycle and check the sump for any scrap the chopper missed.