How to Fix a Dishwasher That has a Spray Arm That Won't Turn

Unplug your dishwasher from its electrical outlet or switch off the circuit breaker that supplies power to your kitchen.

Open the dishwasher door. Slide out the lower dish rack and remove it from the dishwasher. Remove any items of cutlery you see beneath the dish rack once it has been removed. These may block the spray from turning properly during a cycle.

Check the spray arm for blockages. Attempt to turn the spray arm with your hand. Pull one end of the spray arm upwards and allow it to settle back into place. The arm should wobble up and down freely. If the arm has problems turning or doesn’t wobble when pulled, food debris or detergent probably is stuck beneath the arm.

Remove the bolt at the center of the spray arm with a wrench. Pull the spray arm upwards and remove it from the appliance. Gently lift up on the spray arm and rock it back and forth until it slips out of place if no bolt is present. Remove any washers on the spray arm and make a note of their positions.

Clean the fitting from where you have removed the spray arm. Remove any food debris or detergent powder that may be preventing the arm from turning. Rinse with clean water to remove smaller particles of food.

Soak the spray arm in hot water and bath soap. Rinse any stubborn residue off by using a pressure washer to blast it with high pressure water. Pressure washers usually are used to remove paint and stubborn dirt from buildings or road surfaces. Reconnect the spray arm once cleaned.

Pull the spray tower upwards until it won’t come any further. The tower should slide back down in a single, fluid motion.

Unscrew the spray tower from its portal if it did not settle back into place with ease. Inspect the portal for any food debris, detergent or foreign objects, such as cutlery. Remove any debris you find and wipe the area clean with a cloth. Clean the spray arm with warm, soapy water and reinstall in the dishwasher.

Check the water tube. Draw out the upper dish rack and slowly push it back. Watch the water line to see if it connects to the upper spray arm as you push it in. Reposition the water line at the back of the appliance until it connects to the dishwasher spray arm when pushed back.

Remove the spray arm by following the procedure in Step 4 if the spray arm needs replacing. Spray arms with cracked seams or ones that fail to rotate once cleaned should be replaced. Discard the old spray arm and fit a new one by screwing it into the empty portal by hand. Replacement spray arms usually can be bought from your dishwasher manufacturer or hardware stores.