Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always annoying to open a dishwasher and find out it hasn’t drained properly, don’t panic just yet. You could be able to solve the error by yourself, without having to call a plumber or purchase a brand-new dishwasher.

Standing water in your machine may be bought about by multiple components some of which can be simple to solve. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a list of possible components you may correct on your own. A proportion of which are not even related to the machine itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-cycle

It is probable that there is nothing preventing your machine from emptying. Alternatively, the cycle might have been stopped mid-way.

The cycle might have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Little fingers pushing controls, inadvertently pressing against the buttons, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle may all prevent the program from completing and mean your machine doesn’t drain.

If you believe this could be the case, or you think it might be a good idea to check start the dishwasher again on a quick program.

A number machines might have a drain function meaning it’s worth checking your instruction manual or checking online to make sure.

Examine the garbage disposal

If your dishwasher is attached to your garbage disposal examine this before you move on as an obstructed disposal will block the dishwasher from draining. Turn on the disposal with plenty of water to check there are no obstructions.

If you do uncover an obstruction drain cleaner or a plunger may be sought after to clear the obstruction and so this might fix the issue.

Check the plumbing for blockages

If you kitchen sink is emptying slowly this may suggest an issue with the pipes instead of an error with your dishwasher.

In the case that the sink is emptying inefficiently you could try putting a little bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the drain, letting it sit for a few minutes, then rinsing it away with boiling water.

A plunger could also be used to attempt to shift the obstruction.

This might be all you need to do to permit the appliance to work again so run a quick rinse and empty program at this point. If not you can manually empty the dishwasher using a bowl and also a sponge and have a look at the next few possible issues.

Make certain to unplug the dishwasher to stay safe.

If in the process of any of these examinations you believe you may have detected and solved the error you don’t have to go through the remaining steps. Just run an empty cycle to check your machine is fixed.

Inspect and scrub the filters

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

Remove the filter then give it a good scrub before putting it back in place. Not all filters are obvious and easy to remove so you could need to look at the instruction manual for this.

Is the waste hose obstructed?

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

Depending on the position of the waste hose (usually the corrugated one) you could be able to look at it simply by removing the base alternatively you could have to move the machine away from under the counter.

Look at the hose in the first instance to find out if it has been crushed or kinked. You could be able to manually fix any kinks which should deal with the issue, however, it’s worth noting that when this has happened the probability of it happening again is significantly increased so you might wish to buy a spare hose.

If you are unable to find anything you may disconnect the waste water hose from the pump and blow into it to check for any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the dishwasher there may still be water in the hose.

If you are unable to blow air through the pipe this might be the reason your machine isn’t emptying.

Remove the other end of the hose and give it a good flush through to remove the obstruction. If you are unable to dislodge the obstruction or the hose is slit or worn purchase a new one. If you may remove the blockage then put the hose back and start a short program to check that you have repaired the fault.

You can also check the point where the waste pipe attaches under your sink as well. This is a likely place for blockages to occur so if you happen to take off the pipe give this connection a good clean as well.

Examine the drain valve

You can manually check the drain valve to ensure it isn’t seized. The drain valve will often be situated at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your instruction manual if you can’t see it.

Pressing down on the valve or giving it a wiggle will likely be enough to find out if it’s seized. If you can see something stopping it from moving get rid of this. If you can’t, this might be the right time to get in touch with a repair person unless you are confident in procuring and swapping out the part on your own.

Check your pump is not broken

Your water pump makes use of impellers that can become obstructed by pieces of china or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t obstructed by removing the safety cover and checking that the impellers can rotate freely.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s running

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

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the problem remains, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it might be the moment you need to call for help.

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

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