Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s never a welcome sight to open a dishwasher and discover the machine is still full of water, don’t lose it just yet. You could be able to figure out the fault before you have to call a plumber or purchase a new dishwasher.

Standing water in your dishwasher may be bought about by a number of issues a proportion of which are simple to fix. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of possible things you can troubleshoot yourself. A number of which are not even related to the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the dishwasher wasn’t interrupted mid-program

It is probable that there is nothing preventing your dishwasher from draining. Instead, the cycle may have been cut short.

The cycle might have been cut short for any number of of reasons. Kids pressing controls, accidentally pushing on the controls, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-program could all stop the cycle from completing and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

If you suspect this may be the case, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run your machine again on a short cycle.

A number dishwashers could have an empty cycle so it’s worth consulting your owners manual or checking online to find out.

Examine the garbage disposal

If you have a disposal examine this first as a blocked disposal will prevent the machine from emptying. Run the waste disposal using lots of water to make sure there are no blockages.

If you do discover an issue drain unclogger or a natural alternative can be sought after to remove the blockage and so this could deal with the issue.

Check the plumbing for issues

If you sink is emptying inefficiently this may suggest an issue with the pipes as opposed to an issue with your machine.

If the kitchen sink is draining reluctantly you could try putting some bicarb and vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a few minutes and subsequently washing it through with boiling water.

A plunger could also be employed to attempt to shift the blockage.

This could be all you need to do to permit your dishwasher to empty so run a quick program now. If this hasn’t solved the problem you could manually empty the dishwasher using a jug as well as a sponge and check the next few possible issues.

At this point make certain to turn off the machine to avoid electrocution.

If during any one of these checks you suspect you have discovered and solved the problem there is no need to continue to the next step. Just run an empty cycle to make sure the dishwasher is fixed.

Examine and rinse the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, paper from tupperware, plastic covers and smashed glass. Clear plastic lids may also be difficult to see if you don’t look carefully.

Take out the filter and clean it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all machines have their filter in the same place so you may need to refer to the instruction manual for this.

Is the waste hose blocked?

The next area to inspect is the waste water pipe. Many things could cause a blockage including a build up of food debris, a kink in the hose, or a crushed hose. All of which can all prevent your dishwasher from draining.

Contingent upon the position of the waste pipe (generally the ribbed one) you could have the means to look at it by means of taking off the base alternatively you may have to pull the machine away from under the counter.

Have a look at the hose first to see if it has been crushed or kinked. You could be able to manually remove any kinks which will most likely fix the issue, but be aware that when this has occurred the chance of it occurring again is greatly increased so you might need to buy a new hose.

If you are unable to see anything you may remove the waste pipe from the machine and blow into it to check for any blockages. Be sure to put down newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as there could still be waste water in the hose.

If you are unable to blow air through the waste pipe this may be the issue.

Remove the hose at the sink end and give it a thorough clean to get rid of the blockage. If you can’t shift the obstruction or the hose is split or degraded acquire a new one. If you can remove the blockage then put the hose back and start a quick cycle to check that you have fixed the error.

You may also check the point where the waste hose connects under your sink as well. This is a common spot for debris to build up so if you do take off the pipe give this area a good clean as well.

Check the drain valve

You could check the drain valve by hand to check it hasn’t got stuck. The drain valve will most often be found at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your owners manual if you can’t see it.

Pushing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be enough to tell you if it’s seized. If you are able to see something stopping it from moving carefully extract this. If you can’t, this may be when you should get in touch with a repair person unless you are undaunted by ordering and replacing the component on your own.

Inspect your pump is not blocked

Your dishwasher pump makes use of impellers that could be obstructed by pieces of glass or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t obstructed by taking off the safety cover and ensuring that the impellers are free to move.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

If it doesn’t sound right your dishwasher pump or motor may be broken and need to be repaired.

Call a plumber

If you have been through the above list and the fault persists, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it could be a good time to get the professionals.

This way though you will at least manage give them more information and have avoided needing to pay a big repair fee for a blocked hose.