How to Repair a Dishwasher Fan

Not every dishwasher uses a fan, but those that do will have a vent located in the dishwasher door. The fan is there solely for one purpose – to help dry your dishes. When the dishwashing cycle is done, the vent will open and the fan will blow hot air into the tub. This will help to get your dishes dry and spot-free. However, if the fan fails, you may notice your dishes come out wet. In this case, you will need to replace the fan assembly. These are generalized steps to take and instructions can vary by model and manufacturer.

Before beginning the repair, disconnect the dishwasher from electricity and water for your safety. First, you will want to twist off the vent covering. Now you need to remove the screws from the inner door panel. On the final screw, support the outer panel so it does not fall.

Once the final screw is removed, the outer panel will come out. You will need to disconnect the wire harness from the control panel before it can be fully removed.

The fan is located behind where the vent was. You will need to disconnect the wire harness from the fan assembly. The fan is held on by locking clips that need to be depressed, You will then need to pull it from the duct to fully remove it. The new fan can be snapped into those same locking clips where the wire harness can be reconnected. If you got the proper replacement for your make and model of the dishwasher, it should slide right in with no problems.

With the dishwasher reassembled, the only thing left to do is to test the fan. Run a cycle with a few items inside. If the fan is working, they should come out dry. Be sure to use a dry cycle that will utilize the fan. If you do not choose a dry cycle, then you won’t be able to tell if it works.