Water ran into unused dishwasher FDB126RBS2

[highstream]

Model Number

FDB126RBS2

Brand

Frigidaire

Age

More than 10 years

Background: Frigidaire/Electrolux Model No. FDB126RBS2. It was in the condo when I moved in in 2008 (condo was built in the late 1970s). Used once that year and not since. Dial is in top off position. I'm in SW MT and from about Monday to Friday morning this past week, temps ranged from ~0 to -33F, mostly in the negative teens and twenties. I have the building's pipes in my garage, so I have to keep the heater running. The temperature there stayed above freezing, 33F at the lowest, except for a few brief periods when pulling car in or out (by coincidence, front and deck doors soon to be installed were blocking one of the two wall floorboard style heaters). I kept the cold water running lightly all week to prevent freezing pipes. Hot water fine throughout.

Friday night I came down to make dinner and discovered hot water running into dishwasher, 1/2" deep on the kitchen floor and onto the nearby carpet, and dripping down into the garage, including apparently shorting out the garage opener unit too. First thing after placing a container under the spout was finding and turning off the valve for the dishwasher line, which I had been unaware of. So what might have happened to cause this?

Best guess on a plumbing forum is that there's a solenoid that controls flow and it failed, perhaps freezing and cracking from the cold floor underneath. Does that ring true? If so, where would this solenoid be, and how close to the floor? It's fair to assume that this wasn't merely coincidental, as another unit elsewhere in the complex suffered the exact same thing (with lots more damage). Thanks,

 

[Dan O.]

plumbing forum is that there's a solenoid that controls flow and it failed, perhaps freezing and cracking from the cold floor underneath. Does that ring true?

There is a solenoid that controls the filling of the machine. It might have been damaged by freezing temperatures and caused the overfilling. Either that or the valve was being powered which is unlikely if the machine wasn't in use.

LINK > Appliance411: How does a water fill valve work?

If so, where would this solenoid be, and how close to the floor?

Very. It will usually be right behind the lower access panel at the front of the dishwasher. The repair video at the following link may give you an idea how to access it on yours.

LINK > FDB126RBS2 Water Fill Valve

another unit elsewhere in the complex suffered the exact same thing

If the water connecting lines used to the dishwasher were metal and not cheap plastic, the water valve might have been the most susceptible to freezing otherwise I'd expect the plastic water line to fail first.

Dan O.

---

Using the links provided in forum messages to trusted parts vendors helps support this forum and the professionals that give their time to assist you for free. If you use the services here and then go to Amazon to save a couple of dollars on parts, soon it will not be worthwhile to maintain these forums and you will need to seek your future advice from Amazon too. (Good luck!)

Please support the people that help you here by using the links in replies to partner vendors to make purchases whenever possible.

 

[highstream]

Thanks. The irony is that at the time it must have failed the outside temp had been climbing all day and reached about 10F and the garage had reached 37. Perhaps an accumulation of strain.

 

[highstream]

If the valve or solenoid isn’t working, does that prevent the dishwasher from responding electrically when the dial is turned on? I tried the latter yesterday to see the extent of the damage and didn’t get a response.

 

[Dan O.]

If the valve or solenoid isn’t working, does that prevent the dishwasher from responding electrically when the dial is turned on?

No, it would just stop water from entering the machine. That symptom is something else.


Dan O.