Frigidaire dishwasher not draining / i20
Frigidaire checks drain-hose installation, filter/glass trap, disposer knockout, and cycle reset before service.
What this guide covers
Error codes: i20 · Symptoms: Won’t drain / standing water
This guide follows a structured decision tree built from manufacturer troubleshooting information. It does not assume that the most commonly replaced part is the failed part, and it does not show an exact-fit replacement part unless model compatibility has been independently verified.
Continue this exact diagnostic
Safe troubleshooting sequence
Start with the observations and external checks that can be verified without opening energized assemblies. The interactive version asks these in order and changes the path based on your answers.
- Check the drain hoseFrigidaire lists kinks, restrictions, and incorrect installation as common drain causes.
- Clean the filter and glass trapFrigidaire notes that food and debris can clog the filter/glass trap and contribute to standing water or i20.
- If connected to a disposer, check the knockout plugA new garbage disposer must have its dishwasher inlet knockout removed.
- Clear the current cycleFrigidaire says holding Cancel or briefly disconnecting power can clear certain drain-related faults after the physical drain path is checked.
What the answers can lead to
Correct the visible drain-hose problem
The drain path must be open and correctly routed for the pump to empty the dishwasher.
Evidence strength: Strong
Clean the accessible filter / glass trap
Food soil in the sump/filter can restrict draining.
Evidence strength: Strong
Have the disposer inlet opened correctly
A retained knockout plug blocks dishwasher discharge.
Evidence strength: Strong
Reset the cycle once and retest
A completed reset can clear a latched drain fault after external causes are corrected.
Evidence strength: Strong
The reviewed external drain checks are exhausted
A pump, pressure-sensing, control, or internal drain-path issue may remain.
Evidence strength: Strong
When professional diagnosis is the safer next step
A retained knockout plug blocks dishwasher discharge. A pump, pressure-sensing, control, or internal drain-path issue may remain.
Appliance Verdict stops before energized electrical testing, gas-system work, sealed-system work, and other checks that can create unnecessary risk. A technician can use the model, issue, and completed checks from the interactive diagnostic as a starting point.
Repair or replace?
A diagnosis and a repair decision are different questions. Once you have a real repair quote, compare the total repair cost with the all-in price of a comparable replacement. Warranty or protection-plan coverage, appliance age, reliability history, efficiency, and likely future repairs can all matter. Appliance Verdict’s interactive result includes a transparent cost comparison rather than a black-box replacement recommendation.
Manufacturer sources
Dataset reviewed through 2026-09-11. Appliance Verdict is independent and is not endorsed by the manufacturers cited. Always follow the exact owner or service documentation for your model.
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