Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open a dishwasher and realize it is still full of water, try not to overreact just yet. You could have the means to solve the error before you have to call a plumber or invest in a new dishwasher.

Your dishwasher failing to drain may have a number of of causes a number of which can be simple to deal with. So, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of possible components you could identify yourself. A number of which aren’t even caused by the machine itself.

Check the cycle wasn’t interrupted

It is probable that there is nothing stopping your machine from draining. Rather, the cycle may have been stopped mid-way.

The program may have been cut short for multiple of reasons. Kids pushing buttons, inadvertently pressing against the buttons, a power outage or opening the machine mid-cycle may all interrupt the program and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you believe this might be the case, or you feel it may be a good idea to check start the dishwasher again on a short program.

A proportion machines may have an empty function meaning it’s worthwhile consulting your instruction manual or consulting google to make sure.

Examine the disposal

If you have a disposal examine this before you move on as a blocked disposal will prevent the machine from emptying. Turn on the garbage disposal with plenty of water to check there are no blockages.

If you do discover an obstruction drain unclogger or a plunger could be used to unclog the blockage and this might rectify the problem.

Examine the sink waste for clogs

If you kitchen sink is draining inefficiently this may signify a plumbing issue as opposed to a problem with your machine.

If the sink is emptying reluctantly you can attempt putting a little bicarb and white vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a while and then rinsing it away with boiling water.

A sink plunger may also be used to attempt to remove the obstruction.

This could be enough to let your dishwasher to drain so run a quick cycle now. If this hasn’t sorted the issue you could remove the standing water by hand using a bowl as well as a towel and check the next few possible issues.

Make sure you turn off the dishwasher to prevent electrocution.

If while you are carrying out any one of these investigations you think you have found and solved the issue there is no need to continue to the next step. Just start an empty cycle to make sure your machine is now draining as it should.

Inspect and rinse the filters

Popcorn, paper from food jars, plastic film covers and broken glass, as well as scraps of food, can all obstruct the dishwasher filter. Clear plastic lids may also be difficult to see if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove the filter and give it a good scrub before replacing it. Not all filters are obvious and easy to remove so you could need to refer to the manual for this.

Is the waste hose blocked?

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

Subject to the position of the waste pipe (usually the corrugated one) you could be able to view it by lifting away the kick board alternatively you might need to move the dishwasher away from under the counter.

Have a look at the hose in the first instance to find out if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You might manage manually straighten out any kinks which will most likely fix the issue, but be aware that once this has happened it is much more likely to happen again so you could need to buy a replacement hose.

If you are unable to find an issue you could disconnect the drain hose from the dishwasher and blow into it to figure out if there are any blockages. Be sure to put down newspaper or towels first as there might still be water in the hose.

If you can’t blow through the waste pipe this may be the issue.

Take off the other end of the hose and give it a thorough clean to get rid of the blockage. If you can’t get rid of the blockage or the waste pipe is split or worn invest in a new one. If you can get rid of the obstruction then put the hose back and run a quick program to check that you have fixed the issue.

You could also inspect the point where the waste pipe attaches to the waste disposal as well. This is a common point for a build-up of gunk so if you happen to remove the waste pipe give this point a thorough clean as well.

Inspect the drain valve

You may check the drain valve by hand to make sure it isn’t seized. The drain valve will usually be located in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Consult your manual if you’re unsure.

Pressing down on the valve or giving it a wiggle will likely be enough to tell you if it’s seized. If you are able to see something blocking it carefully extract this. If you can’t, this might be when you should ring a plumber unless you are undaunted by procuring and repairing the component on your own.

Check your pump is not blocked

Your dishwasher pump uses impellers that may get blocked by pieces of glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t obstructed by taking off the safety cover and checking that the impellers can rotate freely.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual noises

If the dishwasher sounds unusual your pump or motor could be damaged and need to be repaired.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the issue persists, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it might be a good time to call in the professionals.

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