How to Access the Chopper System in a Whirlpool Dishwasher

Whirlpool dishwashers come equipped with a blade in the bottom of the washtub to grind up larger food particles that find their way past the filter. Without the chopper blade, food particles could pass through the pump, causing the pump or the dishwasher drain hose to clog. If your dishwasher fails to drain or leaves dried food particles on your dishes, the blade may be worn or damaged. You must access the chopper system in the bottom of your dishwasher to replace the chopper blade.

1. Shut down the proper circuit breaker inside the main service panel. The dishwasher should be installed on a 20-amp circuit breaker dedicated exclusively to the appliance. Test to make sure you turned off the correct breaker.

2. Open the dishwasher door to remove the bottom dish rack. This allows you to access the bottom of the washtub and the spray arm.

3. Look for the water-supply tube running from beneath the lower wash arm and up the back wall of the washtub. Find the tab on the top of the water-supply tube where it connects to the tube beneath the wash arm. Use your fingers to pry up on the tab and release the connection between the two pieces of tube. Push on the side of the tube at the connection point to disconnect the two pieces.

4. Grab the lower wash arm with your hands. Pull the wash arm assembly from the bottom of the washtub to expose the two screws holding the filter assembly in the bottom of the tub.

5. Remove the two screws. Grasp the filter assembly with your hand. Lift the assembly from the dishwasher to expose the foreign object screen and pump inlet cover at the front of the depression in the bottom of the tub.

6. Look for the screw in the foreign object screen in front of the depression and to the right of the curved pump inlet cover. Remove the screw from the screen. Lift the screen from the depression in the bottom of the washtub.

7. Find the pump inlet cover screw to the left of the curved cover. Remove the screw. Lift the inlet cover from the depression to access the chopper system.