Replacing Spray Arms in Whirlpool Dishwasher

**NOTICE**
Due the danger and complexity of electronic equipment repair, the following shared technical tips are intended for professional reference only. Please refer to manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability or safety of this information. 

Your Whirlpool dishwasher is a time-saver. When it’s working properly, the time you spend in the kitchen is drastically reduced. However, nothing is more frustrating than opening your appliance to find the dishes inside are still dirty. While this may seem like a serious problem, it can actually be a simple fix. Damaged spray arms are a likely culprit. Luckily, replacing the lower or upper spray arm in your appliance is not a difficult or an expensive repair.

Safety First
Before starting any type of dishwasher repair, be sure to unplug your appliance. You should also turn off the water supply. Wearing a pair of work gloves and safety glasses to protect you from injury is highly recommended. If you don’t feel confident in your ability to safely carry out the repairs listed below, please contact a professional.  Also, keep in mind that dishwasher models vary and these steps may not match your dishwasher exactly.

The Spray Arm
Malfunctioning spray arms can affect your dishwasher’s ability to clean. Your appliance’s upper and lower spray arms discharge a strong stream of warm water and detergent, which helps sterilize your dishes. The holes in the spray arms can become blocked due to food particles or other types of debris, such as broken glass or hard water deposits. If a blockage is an issue, simply cleaning the small holes with a paper clip should solve your problem. However, the spray arms in your Whirlpool appliance can also become damaged over time. Cracks or separated seams can form, causing the spray arms to become ineffective. Luckily, replacing a spray arm is an easy fix. For help just follow the directions below.

• Before you can remove the lower spray arm, pull out the bottom dish rack. Once the dish rack is out of the way, the spray arm will be visible. Next, pull up on the spray arm to detach it from the appliance. After discarding the old spray arm, carefully line up the new arm before pushing down to reattach the part. You should hear a snap when the spray arm is connected properly. Spin the arm around a few times to ensure it is secure and moves freely.
• To gain access to the upper spray arm, remove the top dish rack. Then, separate the water supply tube from the mounting bracket, which is located on the top of the dishwasher’s tub. Once the tube is free, detach the spray arm assembly. Take the new upper spray arm and snap it into place on the water supply tube. Now reattach the water supply tube to the mounting bracket. Before you insert the dish rack, spin the spray arm to make sure it is stable and can move without any obstructions.

Special thanks to Fred’s Appliance Academy for this valuable tip!