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Frigidaire Dishwasher I30 Error: Causes & Fixes

On a Frigidaire dishwasher, i30 appears when water has collected in the drain pan under the dishwasher and lifted the styrofoam float that sits there.

What Frigidaire dishwasher i30 means

With the float raised, the dishwasher may keep its pump running, which is the machine protecting the kitchen from an overflow rather than a fault in the pump itself.

Before you work on your dishwasher

  • Power: Unplug the dishwasher or switch off its circuit breaker before removing panels or touching wiring.
  • Water: Turn off the water supply valve before disconnecting hoses or the inlet valve.
  • Heat: Water and the heating element can be hot right after a cycle; let the dishwasher cool first.
  • Sharp debris: Wear gloves when reaching into the filter or sump; broken glass often collects there.
  • Stop: If you smell burning, see smoke or sparks, or find water near wiring, switch off the breaker and call a technician.
  • Water on or near electrical parts: Water is on or near the dishwasher's wiring, power cord, outlet, or control board. Do not touch the dishwasher, its cord, or standing water around it.
  • Disconnect power before accessing internal dishwasher parts: Unplug the dishwasher or switch off the circuit breaker that powers it before removing panels, the filter, or the drain pump cover, or before reaching into the sump.
  • Shut off the water supply before disconnecting hoses: Turn off the water supply before disconnecting the drain hose, siphon connection, or water inlet, or before pulling the dishwasher out for service.
  • Hot water and steam scald risk: Open the dishwasher door carefully during or right after a cycle. Hot water or steam can escape and cause burns; wait until water noises stop and steam subsides before fully opening the door.
  • Sharp debris near the filter and drain pump: Wear gloves and use caution when removing the filter, pump cover, or other parts for cleaning; broken glass or other sharp debris can collect near the drain pump impeller.

What causes Frigidaire i30

  1. Water standing in the base pan holding the float up: On a Frigidaire dishwasher, i30 appears when water has collected in the drain pan under the dishwasher and lifted the styrofoam float that sits there. Difficulty 2/5.
  2. Drain hose blocked, pinched, or too low: i30 often appears alongside i20, the code for a unit that did not drain properly, when the dishwasher has overfilled or failed to drain and the excess water reached the base. Difficulty 2/5.
  3. Dish soap or too much detergent causing over-sudsing: Using dish soap or hand soap instead of dishwasher detergent, or using too much detergent, causes over-sudsing that can result in leaking; spilled rinse aid does the same. Difficulty 1/5.
  4. Clogged filter or glass trap: A clogged filter can make a Frigidaire dishwasher leak, and it also blocks draining; Frigidaire's leak guidance is to clean the filter, glass trap, and spray arms and run a clean cycle. Difficulty 1/5.
  5. Loose or kinked supply hose connection at the water valve: A loose or kinked water supply hose connection at the water valve leaks into the cabinet and the base of the dishwasher; Frigidaire's leak checks start with making sure those connections are secure and free of kinks. Difficulty 3/5.
  6. Knockout plug still in the garbage disposal inlet: When a dishwasher drains into a garbage disposal, the knockout plug inside the disposal's inlet must have been removed; the plug sits right inside the nipple where the drain hose attaches, and the dishwasher cannot drain while it is in place. Difficulty 2/5.
  7. Leak inside the dishwasher that the checks did not find: If water keeps returning to the base pan after the pan is dried and the drain path, filter, detergent, and supply connections have been checked, the dishwasher has a leak that needs a service visit; Frigidaire asks owners of units installed more than 30 days ago to contact it to schedule service. Difficulty 1/5.

Find the cause of i30 on your dishwasher

Step-by-step checks for Frigidaire i30

Check the filter and look for a second code

About 20 minutes

  1. Note every code on the display: i20 often appears with i30.
  2. Let the interior cool, then scoop out any standing water in the tub.
  3. Open the dishwasher and remove the filter and its cover from the bottom of the tub.
  4. Twist the filter counter-clockwise and lift it out; rinse it until the mesh is clear.
  5. Check the glass trap for food soils and glass, and lift debris out with tongs.

Check the drain hose, air gap, and disposal

About 25 minutes

  1. Open the cabinet under the sink and follow the drain hose from the dishwasher to the drain pipe.
  2. Check it for kinks and pinched sections, and straighten any you find.
  3. Check that the hose end sits at least 32 inches above the floor, as Frigidaire requires.
  4. Check the sink air gap fittings for obstructions.
  5. If the dishwasher drains into a garbage disposal, check whether the knockout plug inside the disposal inlet was ever removed.

Check the water supply connection

About 25 minutes

  1. Unplug the dishwasher or switch off its circuit breaker so it cannot turn on while you work.
  2. Shut off the water supply valve under the sink before touching any water line.
  3. Check that the supply hose connections to the water valve are secure.
  4. Check the hose for kinks along its length.
  5. Look for water stains or drips around the fittings and the floor of the cabinet.

Inspect and dry the drain pan

About 40 minutes

  1. Unplug the dishwasher or switch off its circuit breaker so the unit cannot turn on while you work.
  2. Shut off the water supply before disconnecting any water line, and keep a drain line that still holds water aimed into the sink.
  3. Find the insulation on the side of the dishwasher near the base and move it aside.
  4. Look into the drain pan beneath the dishwasher for standing water.
  5. Remove the water with a shop vac or paper towels. If water reached the cord, outlet, or wiring, leave the power off and stop here.
  6. Clip the side insulation back into place.

How to fix Frigidaire i30

Clean the filter, glass trap, and spray arms

About 30 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Let the interior cool, then remove the filter by twisting it counter-clockwise and lifting it out.
  2. Clean the filter, glass trap, and spray arms, lifting out glass and hard debris with tongs.
  3. Refit the filter and run a clean cycle to sanitize the unit.
  4. Confirm the tub empties and i30 does not return.

Use the right detergent, in the right amount

About 15 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Stop using dish soap or hand soap in the dishwasher; Frigidaire says non-dishwasher soap causes over-sudsing that can result in leaking.
  2. Always use the recommended amount of dishwasher detergent, or one tablet.
  3. Wipe up spilled rinse aid, which also causes foam.
  4. Run a cycle and see whether i30 returns.

Clear and re-route the drain hose

About 40 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Straighten any kinks and free pinched sections of the drain hose.
  2. Clear blockages and obstructions from the hose and from the air gap fittings.
  3. Set the hose end at the correct height, a minimum of 32 inches from the floor.
  4. Run a cycle and confirm the tub empties and i30 and i20 do not return.

Dry the drain pan so the float drops

About 60 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Unplug the dishwasher or switch off its circuit breaker.
  2. Shut off the water supply before disconnecting any water line.
  3. Move the insulation on the side of the dishwasher near the base aside.
  4. Remove the water from the drain pan with a shop vac or paper towels, and dry the pan so the styrofoam float can drop back down.
  5. Clip the side insulation back into place.
  6. Restore power and run the dishwasher to confirm i30 is cleared and the pump no longer keeps running.
  7. If i30 comes back, water is still reaching the pan: work through the drain path, filter, detergent, and supply connection checks.

Remove the disposal knockout plug

About 30 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Unplug the disposal or switch off its circuit breaker.
  2. Disconnect the dishwasher drain hose from the disposal inlet, keeping it aimed into a bucket or the sink if it still holds water.
  3. Look right inside the nipple where the hose attaches: if a plug is still there, the dishwasher cannot drain.
  4. Knock the plug out and remove the pieces from inside the disposal.
  5. Reconnect and clamp the hose, restore power, and run a cycle.

Secure the water supply connection

About 45 minutes · Difficulty 3/5

  1. Unplug the dishwasher or switch off its circuit breaker.
  2. Shut off the water supply valve before touching the water line.
  3. Make the supply hose connections at the water valve secure.
  4. Straighten any kinks in the supply hose.
  5. Turn the water back on, watch the fittings for drips, then restore power and run a cycle.

When to call a technician about Frigidaire i30

  • Schedule service for a leak that keeps returning

Sources

  1. Dishwasher SP.. Instruction Manual, Bosch Home Appliances US (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  2. Dishwasher SHSM63****, SHS863****, SHS843****, SHVM63****, SHV863**** Operating Instructions, Bosch Home Appliances US (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  3. Dishwasher SMS6HAI01A User Manual, Bosch Home Appliances US (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  4. Dishwasher Error Code i20 - Unit did not drain properly, Frigidaire / Electrolux (retrieved 2026-09-19)
  5. Dishwasher - Water Leaking, Frigidaire / Electrolux (retrieved 2026-09-19)
  6. How to Fix the Frigidaire Dishwasher i30 Error Code, iFixit (retrieved 2026-09-19)
  7. Frigidaire Dishwasher Not Draining - iFixit Troubleshooting, iFixit (retrieved 2026-09-19)

Last updated October 2, 2026 · facts last verified September 19, 2026 · How we source and verify

Guidance only; follow your appliance manual and local codes. If anything looks unsafe, stop and call a qualified technician. Safety disclaimer