The Maytag PowerBlast glossary comes down to five terms. PowerBlast is a heavy-duty wash cycle for tough, baked-on soil. Dual Power Filtration is the two-part filter system that keeps food particles out of the wash water. PowerDry is the drying system. The 3rd Level Rack is the shallow utensil tray above the top rack. And a dBA rating tells you how loud the dishwasher is. This page explains each term the way it appears on Maytag dishwashers such as the MDB8959SKZ, MDB4949SKZ, MDB7959SKZ and MDTS7024SZ, and what it means when you clean or repair one.
What is PowerBlast on a Maytag dishwasher?
PowerBlast is the name of Maytag’s strongest wash cycle. It is built for pots, pans and baking dishes with food that has dried on, and it delivers a more intense wash than a normal cycle. It is on the MDB8959SKZ, the MDB4949SKZ and the MDTS7024SZ, and appears among the listed options for other models in the family. Because it works harder, it usually runs longer and uses more hot water, so reserve it for loads that need it and let a normal cycle handle ordinary dishes.
If dishes still come out dirty after a heavy-duty cycle, the cycle is not the problem. A clogged filter, blocked spray arm or poor hot-water supply is the usual cause, which our Maytag dishwasher filter cleaning guide addresses.
What is Dual Power Filtration?
It is the name for the dishwasher’s two-part filter arrangement. Wash water collects in the bottom of the tub, passes through the filter to remove food particles, and is pumped back up to the spray arms. A two-part design lets the dishwasher keep larger scraps from clogging the pump while a finer stage keeps smaller particles from being redeposited on clean dishes.
The practical lesson: the filters need cleaning. A dishwasher with a dirty filter smells, cleans poorly and may drain slowly. If standing water stays in the tub, read our Maytag dishwasher not draining guide.
What are PowerDry and the 3rd Level Rack?
PowerDry is the name of the drying system. After the final rinse, the dishwasher uses heat and airflow to dry dishes, and models list it as one of their features. Plastic and nonstick items dry less well than glass and ceramic regardless of the system, because they hold less heat. If dishes come out wet, check the rinse aid dispenser, since rinse aid helps water run off the surface; our guide to rinse aid dispenser problems explains the dispenser.
The 3rd Level Rack is a shallow tray above the top rack that holds flatware, ladles, spatulas and small items flat, which frees the lower racks for plates and pots. Load it so that nothing blocks the spray arm above it, and keep sharp items facing down or flat. Our dishwasher loading mistakes guide shows the arrangements that cause poor cleaning.
What does dBA mean and why does it matter?
dBA is a measure of sound level. A lower number means a quieter dishwasher. The MDB8959SKZ is rated about 47 dBA and the MDB4949SKZ about 50 dBA, so the first is the quieter of the two. A few decibels sounds small, but sound is measured on a scale where each ten decibels is a large change, and an open kitchen shows the difference. If your dishwasher has become louder than it used to be, the number on the spec sheet is not the explanation. Noise that grows over time points to a worn pump, a loose spray arm or debris in the sump, and a technician can tell which.
How should you care for a dishwasher with these features?
Each feature has a matching bit of upkeep. For PowerBlast, scrape large scraps off pots but do not rinse everything, because modern detergents need some soil to work on. For Dual Power Filtration, pull the filter out every month or two, rinse it under warm water and brush off any film, then refit it firmly so that it locks into place. For PowerDry, keep rinse aid topped up and let the door stay ajar a little after the cycle if dishes remain damp. For the 3rd Level Rack, check that the rack rolls smoothly and wipe the rails occasionally. For noise, level the dishwasher and make sure nothing is rattling in a spray arm. Spray arm care is covered in our Maytag dishwasher spray arm maintenance guide.
Use detergent made for dishwashers, not hand soap, and keep the tub free of lime scale if your water is hard. A bit of routine care makes every one of these features work as designed.
How do these terms relate to the series you own?
The models differ in how many of these features they include. Some have all five, such as the MDB8959SKZ, with a top control, Dual Power Filtration, PowerBlast, PowerDry and a third rack. Others, such as the MDB4949SKZ, have front controls and a higher dBA rating, and the MDTS7024SZ lists PowerBlast and PowerDry in fingerprint-resistant stainless. Our Maytag dishwasher series comparison lines up the families, and the guide to dishwasher cycles and settings shows how the options map to the buttons on your control.
If your dishwasher blinks codes rather than showing words, see our Maytag dishwasher flashing light codes guide. We are an independent repair company, not the manufacturer. Our Maytag dishwasher repair service can diagnose cleaning, draining and noise problems, and you can schedule a visit online.
