Lower Spray Arm

Lower Spray Arm

Scott from MN

Lower Spray Arm needed to be replaced

Hand

Google the install video, or just fit opening of spray bar over where it goes and counter turn it a 1/4 tell it's locked in. Super easy 10 sec install.

Lower Spray Arm

Robert from WA

Leaking at the bottom of the dishwasher door - towards the inside edge of the door.

None (for this part)

Dishwasher was leaking at the bottom of the dishwasher door - towards the inside edge of the door's bottom. Replaced the inside tank rubber gasket/seal (the one that runs along the two side and top edges of the tub, and makes contact with the door when it closes. Also replaced the bottom plastic seal/gasket, which mounts to the bottom of the door. Much to my chagrin, dishwasher still leaked. Later learned that the bottom seal/gasket does not make a strong seal by design. At this time, I researched more and learned that a broken spray arm could be the problem. A broken spray arm could direct the spray at the bottom of the door, which would challenge that weak seal. Validated this by listening (dishwasher did sound differently when it ran, then when it was newer; you could hear more water being sprayed/sloshed inside now). Also took the outer door panel off and watched the inner lip of the tub, which runs just outside of the door, when the dishwasher was running. This showed a small surge of water coming from under the bottom door seal every time I heard the water sloshing. Then, I unmounted the original spray arm (no tools required) and examined it; this plastic part was coming apart at its seams (where its assembly was connected together, maybe with glue or another method). This created the leak in that water was spraying/sloshing out sideways from the arm, instead of being directly upward to the dishes. The sideways sloshing was directing water to the bottom of the door, and this caused the leak. Finally, we had also noticed that the dishes sometimes did not come out of the dishwasher as clean as they had previously. The leaking spray arm caused this too! Found and ordered Part #WPW10195601 Lower Spray Arm from Parts Dr.; they had the cheapest price for this part (even when shipping was included). Received an OEM replacement part quickly from Parts Dr., installed it, and now the dishwasher works well again. Yay! Doing this repair was very, very easy. Finding and validating the root cause of the leak was the hard part. I must also give a callout to PartsSelect.com for their video (link follows) which identifies (seemingly every) reason why a dishwasher can leak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBAfmgORE6Q. In the end, I made my purchase for a replacement based on availability and price of the product. Parts Dr. had the part and at the best price.

Lower Spray Arm

Mark from NY

Dishes and silverware started not getting clean.

Garden hose.

I started to notice that dishes and silverware weren’t getting as clean as they used to get. This kept getting progressively worse over time. Then I found that pots and pans placed on the bottom rack weren’t getting cleaned at all. I started researching the issue and found many references to defective pump, drain pump, low water level, unclean filters, diverter motor/valve and spray arm. I kept interrupting the wash cycle and noticed that the lower spray arm wasn’t moving even though I could tell there was plenty of water movement in the dishwasher. I pulled the arm and didn’t find any blockage or obvious damage. I took the arm outside and placed a garden hose against the arm where the water would normally enter the arm. That immediately exposed the problem. This arm is made in two halves; top and bottom. The halves are glued together. When I put the garden hose to the arm I found that the water was coming out of the arm at the seam where the halves are glued together from about 2/3 of the perimeter of the arm. Virtually no water was coming out of the nozzles on the arm. I found that the plastic arm had deteriorated where it was glued together and when water from the hose was applied, it opened up the seam enough to be visible. I then started calling appliance parts stores for a replacement. Almost everyone I called suggested that I just spend the $245 replacement cost towards the purchase of a new dishwasher. Every place I checked, the cost was $245+. I ordered a new $1000 dishwasher from Lowe’s. Luckily the dishwasher I wanted was back ordered because the factory in the Carolinas was shutdown because of Covid. I kept scouring the web for the part number and stumbled across the Parts Dr website. There I found the needed part for over $100 less than ANYWHERE ELSE! They even offered different shipping options in case you wanted to expedite the shipping! Because of saving so much on the part price, I opted to spend a few extra dollars for 2-day shipping. The part arrived in two days and was installed two minutes after its arrival. The dishwasher once again cleans great! The new dishwasher order was cancelled.