Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their machine and discover it hasn’t drained fully but, don’t lose it just yet. You could be able to figure out the problem before you have to call a repair person or purchase a brand-new machine.

Standing water in your machine can be bought about by any number of things a few of which are straightforward to figure out. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service try this selection of probable issues you may identify on your own. A few of which aren’t even caused by the machine itself.

Ensure the program wasn’t cut short

If you’re fortunate the standing water you have discovered may not be a fault at all. Instead, the cycle may have been cut short.

The program may have been interrupted for any number of of reasons. Kids pushing buttons, accidentally pushing on the buttons, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle may all interrupt the cycle and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you think this might be the situation, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run the machine again on a quick program.

Some appliances might have a drain function so it’s worth consulting your owners manual or checking online to make sure.

Check the waste disposal

If you have a disposal examine this before you do anything else as an obstructed disposal will block the dishwasher from draining. Run the garbage disposal using plenty of water to check there are no obstructions.

If you do find an obstruction drain unclogger or a plunger can be sought after to clear the blockage and so this could deal with the problem.

Check the plumbing for clogs

If you kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently this could indicate an issue with the pipes instead of a problem with your dishwasher.

In the case that the kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently you can attempt putting a little bicarb and white vinegar down the drain, leaving it for a few minutes and subsequently flushing it through with boiling water.

A sink plunger might also be employed to attempt to dislodge the blockage.

This could be enough to allow the appliance to empty so run a short rinse and empty cycle at this point. If this hasn’t solved the problem you could manually get rid of the water using a bowl as well as a towel and check a few more likely causes.

At this point make certain to unplug the dishwasher to prevent electrocution.

If in the process of one of these examinations you suspect you may have found and solved the problem you don’t have to go through the rest of the issues. Just complete an empty program to make sure your machine is once again draining as it should.

Check and scrub the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, paper from food jars, film covers and broken glass. Clear film may also be hard to spot if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter then clean it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all dishwashers have their filter in the same place so you could need to consult the instructions for this.

Is the waste hose obstructed?

The next place to check is the waste hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose can all stop your machine from emptying.

Depending on the location of the waste hose (normally the ribbed one) you may have the means to view it by means of taking off the kick plate alternatively you may have to pull the machine away from under the counter.

Have a look at the hose in the first instance to discover if it has been squashed or kinked. You might have the means to fix these issues by hand which should fix the issue, however, it’s worth noting that once this has happened it is significantly more inclined to happen again so you could wish to order a new hose.

If you can’t find anything you may take off the waste water hose from the machine and blow into it to check for any blockages. Make sure you line the floor with newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as there might still be dirty water in the pipe.

If you can’t blow air through the hose this could be the problem.

Remove the other end of the hose in order to give it a thorough clean to clear the blockage. If you are unable to remove the obstruction or the waste pipe is slit or worn acquire a new one. If you can clear the obstruction then re-attach the hose and start a quick program to find out if you have repaired the fault.

You can also examine the point where the hose connects under your sink. This is a typical spot for debris to build up so if you do remove the pipe give this point a thorough scrub as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You could inspect the drain valve by hand to check it hasn’t stopped working. The drain valve will often be located at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Examine your instructions if you can’t see it.

Pushing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit should be adequate to find out if it’s seized. If you are able to see any debris blocking it get rid of this. If you can’t, this may be the right time to get in touch with a plumber unless you are undaunted by purchasing and repairing the part on your own.

Inspect your pump is not broken

Your appliance pump uses impellers that could become blocked by broken china or other objects. Check your pump isn’t broken by taking off the cover and making sure the impellers can rotate freely.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual noises

If the dishwasher sounds unusual your dishwasher pump or motor might be damaged and need replacing.

Call a plumber

If you have been through the above list and the problem persists, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it might be the moment you need to get the professionals.

This way though you will at least manage give them more information and have prevented having to pay a big call-out charge for a blocked drain.