Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open your machine and discover it is still full of water, try not to lose it just yet. You may be able to figure out the fault without having to call a repair person or invest in a brand-new dishwasher.

Standing water in your dishwasher could have multiple of causes a number of which can be simple to fix. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service try this list of possible components you could identify on your own. A proportion of which are not even caused by the dishwasher itself.

Check the program wasn’t stopped mid-way

If you’re fortunate the fact your dishwasher hasn’t drained may not be an issue at all. Rather, the cycle could have been stopped mid-way.

The program could have been stopped mid-way for multiple of reasons. Little fingers pushing buttons, mistakenly leaning against the buttons, a power cut or opening the machine mid-cycle could all stop the cycle from completing and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you think this may be the circumstance, or you think it may be a good idea to check run your machine again on a quick cycle.

A number appliances may have an empty program meaning it’s worthwhile checking your instruction manual or doing a quick internet search to make sure.

Inspect the waste disposal

If your dishwasher is attached to your disposal check this first as a blocked garbage disposal will block the dishwasher from emptying. Turn on the disposal using lots of water to ensure there are no issues.

If you do find a blockage drain cleaner or a natural alternative may be employed to unclog the obstruction and so this might solve the issue.

Check the plumbing for issues

If you kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently this could signify an issue with the drains as opposed to a fault with your machine.

If the kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently you can attempt putting some bicarb and vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a while and subsequently rinsing it through with boiling water.

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

This might be enough to allow your appliance to drain so start a short cycle to check. If not you may remove the dirty water by hand using a cup as well as a towel and troubleshoot a few more likely causes.

At this point make sure you turn off the machine to stay safe.

If while you are carrying out one of these checks you think you have detected and fixed the error you don’t have to go through the rest of the issues. Just start an empty program to ensure the machine is now draining as it used to.

Examine and clean the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including corn kernels, paper from tupperware, film lids and broken glass. Clear glass could also be difficult to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove the filter and give it a thorough clean before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and easy to remove so you may need to consult the owners manual for this.

Is the drain hose blocked?

The next component to inspect is the waste water hose. 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 may all prevent your dishwasher from emptying.

Subject to the location of the hose (generally the ribbed one) you may manage view it by taking off the kick plate alternatively you may need to move the dishwasher out from the wall.

Have a look at the pipe first to see if it has been crushed or kinked. You could have the means to manually fix any kinks which is likely to fix the issue, however, it’s worth noting that when this has happened it is much more likely to happen again so you could wish to buy a spare hose.

If you are unable to find any obvious kinks or obstructions you could disconnect the waste water pipe from the machine and blow into it to figure out if there are any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the machine there may still be water in the hose.

If you can’t blow air through the pipe this may be the reason your dishwasher isn’t draining.

Remove the other end of the hose and give it a thorough clean to remove the obstruction. If you can’t remove the blockage or the waste pipe is split or worn buy a new one. If you can get rid of the obstruction then re-attach the hose and start a quick program to make sure you have repaired the fault.

You may also inspect where the pipe connects under your sink as well. This is a likely place for blockages to occur so if you do take off the waste pipe give this connection a thorough clean as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You may manually inspect the drain valve to ensure it isn’t seized. The drain valve will most often be found in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Check your instruction manual if you can’t see it.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit should be adequate to find out if it’s stuck. If you can see something stopping it from moving remove this. If you can’t, this could be the right time to get in touch with a plumber unless you are undaunted by procuring and swapping out the part yourself.

Examine your pump is not blocked

Your water pump uses impellers that may get blocked by pieces of china or other objects. Check your pump isn’t broken by removing the safety cover and checking that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

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

Call a repair person

If none of the above investigations has fixed the error, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it may be the moment you need to call for help.

At least having attempted to investigate what is wrong you have managed to avoid having to pay a hefty call-out fee for a blocked hose.