This is one of the more distinctive calls we get on Fisher & Paykel’s DishDrawer models, precisely because of how the appliance is built: unlike a standard single-tub dishwasher, each drawer has its own wash motor, its own pump, and its own spray arm, running entirely independently of the drawer above or below it. That’s exactly why one drawer can wash flawlessly while the other quietly struggles.
Start With That Drawer’s Spray Arm
Because each drawer has a dedicated spray arm at its base, a jet clogged with a food particle or a mineral deposit will only ever affect the drawer it’s mounted in. Slide the drawer out, lift the arm free, and check that every jet spins freely and isn’t packed with debris — a toothpick works well for clearing a blocked hole.
Check That Drawer’s Filter Basket
Each drawer also has its own filter basket sitting in its own small sump at the base of that drawer, separate from the other drawer’s basket entirely. A basket that’s overdue for cleaning restricts water circulation to that drawer’s spray arm without touching the other drawer’s performance at all.
Loading Habits Matter More in a Drawer
Because a single drawer is shallower and wider than a traditional dishwasher tub, tall items or stacked plates can block that drawer’s spray pattern in ways that wouldn’t happen in the other drawer if it’s loaded differently. Rearranging a stubborn load is worth trying before assuming a mechanical fault.
When It’s a Genuine Fault
If the spray arm spins freely, the filter is clean, and loading isn’t the issue, that drawer’s wash pump or heating element has likely failed and needs a technician’s attention — independent of whatever the other drawer is doing. Visit our Fisher & Paykel dishwasher repair page to book a visit.