Maytag dual power filtration is the name of the filter system at the bottom of the dishwasher tub on models such as the MDB4949SKZ, MDB7959SKZ and MDB8959SKZ. Its job is to catch food soil so it does not clog the pump or return to your dishes, and it is the one part of the dishwasher that you are expected to take out and clean yourself. This glossary explains the term, lists the models that carry it, covers the two neighboring terms that appear with it (the 3rd Level Rack and the dBA rating) and shows how to tell when the filter is the reason a load did not come out clean.
What is dual power filtration on a Maytag dishwasher?
It is Maytag’s name for the filtering arrangement that sits on the floor of the tub. During a cycle, wash water drains to the bottom of the tub, passes through the filter, and the pump sends it back up to the spray arms. Food particles that stay in the filter are not sent back, so the water that reaches your dishes is cleaner. That is the whole idea, and it is why the filter is also the first place to look when a load comes out dirty.
Our pages describe the system in two slightly different ways. The Maytag PowerBlast glossary calls it a two-part design, while the filter cleaning guide describes a cylindrical micro-filter, a flat coarse filter and a fine mesh underneath. The number of pieces you lift out depends on the model and the year, so when you remove yours, look at what comes out and use the instructions in your owner’s manual as the final word for your tub.
Which Maytag dishwashers list it?
The model pages list it on four dishwashers: the MDB4949SKZ, a front-control model rated about 50 dBA; the MDB7959SKZ, a top-control model; and the MDB8959SKZ and MDB8959SKB, top-control models with the PowerBlast cycle and a 3rd Level Rack, rated about 47 dBA. The MDTS7024SZ page lists the PowerBlast cycle and PowerDry, and its overview does not mention filtration, so if you own that model check the manual for what filter it has. The pages also say some features are available “depending on configuration,” which is another reason to check the model label on your own machine.
How does the filter affect cleaning and draining?
Everything the dishwasher washes with passes through the filter first, so a blocked one affects both results and drainage. When it clogs, you may see standing water in the tub after the cycle, a sour smell when you open the door, a gritty film on glasses or food bits on plates. A clogged filter also makes the pump work harder. None of this means the dishwasher is broken. It means the filter needs cleaning, and that is the single most useful maintenance step you can take. If the tub is holding water, our Maytag dishwasher not draining guide goes through the other causes after the filter.
How do you clean the filter safely?
The full steps are in our filter guide and in your manual. In outline:
- Make sure the dishwasher is not running and let any hot water drain away. Empty the bottom rack.
- Take out the lower rack to reach the tub floor.
- Lift or twist out the filter pieces as your manual shows. Look in the tub for a broken piece of glass or a bone before you put your hand in.
- Rinse each piece under warm running water and loosen film with a soft brush. Do not use abrasive pads on fine mesh.
- Wipe the area under the filter, then refit every piece and make sure it locks. Never run the dishwasher with the filter left out.
The filter guide says Maytag recommends cleaning every two to four weeks depending on use. That is a sensible rhythm, and a household that rarely scrapes plates should lean toward the shorter end. If you meet a stubborn clog, a jammed piece or a part that will not lock back, stop and call us. Do not force it, and do not open the dishwasher’s lower front panel yourself.
What is the 3rd Level Rack?
It is the shallow tray above the top rack, listed on the MDB8959SKZ and MDB8959SKB. It is for flatware and small utensils, which frees space on the racks below. It has nothing to do with the filter, but it appears in the same feature lists, and it affects loading: keep it level and make sure nothing hangs down to block the spray arm. Our spray arm maintenance guide explains why an arm that cannot turn leaves dirty dishes even with a clean filter.
What does the dBA rating tell you?
dBA is a sound level, and lower is quieter. The pages list about 47 dBA for the MDB8959SKZ and MDB8959SKB and about 50 dBA for the MDB4949SKZ. The number is a rating of a new dishwasher under test conditions, so your kitchen may sound different. If your dishwasher has become louder than it used to be, look for a loose item in a spray arm or a worn part, not for a mistake in the rating. A blocked filter can also make the pump sound labored. Our Maytag dishwasher series comparison shows how the families differ.
When does the problem go beyond the filter?
If the filter is clean and the dishwasher still drains slowly, leaves water in the tub or reports a code, the cause is further along: a kinked hose, a clogged drain connection or a pump problem. If the control blinks a pattern, see our dishwasher error codes. Water on the floor, a burning smell or a hot panel means you should switch off the breaker for the dishwasher while standing on a dry floor and book a visit. Our Maytag dishwasher repair page explains how it works.
