Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always annoying to open a machine and realize the machine hasn’t drained properly, don’t lose it just yet. You may manage fix the issue by yourself, without having to call a plumber or acquire a new dishwasher.

Standing water in your machine may have a number of of causes some of which can be easy to deal with. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service try this list of potential things you can identify on your own. A number of which are not even related to the machine itself.

Ensure the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-program

It is probable that there is nothing stopping your machine from emptying. Alternatively, the cycle could have been cut short.

The program might have been stopped mid-way for any number of of reasons. Children pressing buttons, accidentally leaning on the controls, a power outage or opening the machine mid-cycle could all stop the cycle from completing and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

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

A few dishwashers might have an empty function so it’s worthwhile consulting your instruction manual or consulting google to check.

Inspect the garbage disposal

If you have a waste disposal examine this first as an obstructed disposal will block the dishwasher from emptying. Run the disposal with plenty of water to check there are no issues.

If you do discover a blockage drain unclogger or a natural alternative can be used to clear the obstruction and this could deal with the issue.

Examine the sink for issues

If you sink is emptying slowly this might indicate a plumbing issue instead of an error with your dishwasher.

If the kitchen sink is draining inefficiently you could attempt putting some bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a few minutes and then flushing it through with boiling water.

A plunger may also be employed to try and remove the blockage.

This could be sufficient to allow the dishwasher to work again so start a short cycle now. If this hasn’t worked you can manually drain the dishwasher using a cup and a sponge and check a few more possible issues.

Make certain to turn off the dishwasher to stay safe.

If during any one of these examinations you believe you may have discovered and solved the error you don’t have to go through the rest of the steps. Just complete an empty program to ensure the machine is repaired.

Inspect and wash the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, labels from tupperware, plastic lids and smashed glass. Clear film may also be difficult to spot if you aren’t looking for it.

Take out the filter and scrub it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all filters are obvious and easy to remove so you could need to refer to the instruction manual for this.

Is the waste water pipe obstructed?

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

Subject to the position of the waste hose (normally the corrugated one) you might manage look at it simply by removing the base alternatively you may need to move the machine out from the wall.

Visually examine the pipe first to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You may manage fix these issues by hand which will most likely rectify the issue, however, be aware that when this has happened it is significantly more likely to happen again so you may wish to buy a replacement hose.

If you are unable to find any obvious kinks or obstructions you could remove the waste water pipe from the pump and blow through it to figure out if there are any blockages. Make sure you put down newspaper or towels first as there might still be water in the hose.

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

Remove the other end of the hose and give it a good flush through to clear the blockage. If you can’t dislodge the obstruction or the hose is slit or degraded acquire a brand-new one. If you can clear the blockage then re-attach the hose and run a short program to find out if you have repaired the issue.

You could also examine where the hose attaches to the sink. This is a common point for debris to build up so if you happen to take off the waste hose give this area a good scrub as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You may manually examine the drain valve to ensure it isn’t got stuck. The drain valve will usually be located in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Check your manual if you can’t see it.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle should be sufficient to let you know if it’s seized. If you are able to see any debris stopping it from moving get rid of this. If you are unable to, this could be a good time to get in touch with a plumber unless you are confident in purchasing and replacing the valve on your own.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your dishwasher pump makes use of impellers that may become obstructed by pieces of china or other objects. Check your pump isn’t broken by removing the cover and ensuring that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual noises

If the dishwasher doesn’t sound normal your pump or motor may be damaged and need replacing.

Call a plumber

If none of the above checks has solved the error, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it could be the right time to call for help.

This way though you will at least be able to give them more information and have avoided having to pay a big repair fee for a clogged filter.