The Bottom Arm on My Dishwasher Is Broken

Residential dishwashers have a spray arm located on the bottom of the dishwasher. The spray arm has several nozzles, which spray water onto the dishes on the bottom rack of the appliance. As the dishwasher runs, the pressure of the water causes the wash arm to spin as it sprays, ensuring that all dishes receive an equal amount of soap and water. The spray arm is made of plastic, and may become warped or cracked after regular use of the dishwasher, which hinders the dishwasher's ability to clean your dishes. To restore the cleaning power of the dishwasher, remove the old spray arm and install a new one.

Flat-head screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Open the dishwasher door, and remove the lower rack.
- 2
  Lift the tabs on the underside of the wash arm, and then lift the wash arm off of the lower wash-arm support.
- 3
  Unscrew the plastic cap in the center of the top of the wash arm, if there are no tabs below the arm. Lift the wash arm and filter guard out of the dishwasher.
- 4
  Remove the wash arm from the filter guard be releasing the tabs securing it in place, if applicable to your model.
- 5
  Look on the underside of the wash arm for two metal heat shields, located near the end of each arm. If the shields are present on your dishwasher's wash arm, use a flat-head screwdriver to depress the tabs securing them to the underside of the wash arm, and transfer them to the new wash arm.
- 6
  Snap the new wash arm into the top of the filter guard, if applicable to your model.
- 7
  Place the new wash arm onto the wash arm support, and then press down to engage the tabs, or replace the plastic cap in the center of the arm, threading it clockwise to secure the arm.
- 8
  Replace the lower dish rack, and then close the dishwasher door.

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