Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always irritating to open the dishwasher and realize the machine hasn’t emptied fully, try not to panic just yet. You could have the means to deal with the issue without having to call a plumber or invest in a brand-new dishwasher.

Standing water in your machine could be bought about by a number of things some of which can be straightforward to resolve. So, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service try this list of probable components you could correct yourself. Some of which aren’t even related to the dishwasher itself.

Check the program wasn’t cut short

It is possible that there is nothing stopping your dishwasher from emptying. Instead, the cycle may have been stopped mid-way.

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

If you think this may be the case, or you feel it may be a good idea to check run your dishwasher again on a short cycle.

A few dishwashers may have an empty program so it’s well worth checking your instructions or consulting google to make sure.

Inspect the waste disposal

If you have a garbage disposal examine this before you do anything else as an obstructed waste disposal will prevent the machine from draining. Run the disposal with lots of water to make sure there are no issues.

If you do uncover a blockage drain unclogger or a plunger can be used to clear the obstruction and this may fix the error.

Inspect the sink for blockages

If you kitchen sink is draining slowly this could signify a plumbing issue instead of an error with your machine.

If the kitchen sink is draining inefficiently you can attempt putting some bicarbonate of soda and vinegar down the plughole, letting it sit for a while and then rinsing it through with hot water.

A plunger could also be employed to attempt to remove the obstruction.

This could be enough to let your appliance to drain so run a quick rinse and empty program at this point. If not you may manually get rid of the dirty water using a jug and also a towel and troubleshoot the next few possible issues.

At this point make certain to unplug the dishwasher to avoid electrocution.

If during any of these examinations you think you have found and solved the problem you don’t have to go through the remaining issues. Just run an empty program to check the machine is now draining as it used to.

Examine and rinse the filters

Popcorn, labels from containers, film covers and broken glass, as well as scraps of food, could all block the dishwasher filter. Clear glass could also be difficult to spot if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove the filter then give it a thorough wash before putting it back in place. Not all dishwashers have their filter in the same location so you may need to look at the instruction manual for this.

Is the waste hose blocked?

The next area to examine is the drain hose. Many things could cause an obstruction including a build up of food debris, a kink in the hose, or a crushed hose. All of which could all stop your dishwasher from emptying.

Contingent upon the position of the hose (generally the ribbed one) you may have the means to view it by removing the kick board alternatively you might need to move the machine out from under the counter.

Visually examine the pipe first to see if it has been crushed or kinked. You may have the means to fix these issues by hand which will most likely fix the issue, but be aware that when this has occurred the chance of it happening again is significantly increased so you may need to purchase a spare hose.

If you are unable to see any obvious kinks or obstructions you can disconnect the waste water pipe from the pump and blow into it to check for any blockages. Make sure you put down newspaper or towels first as there may still be water in the hose.

If you can’t blow air through the waste hose this may be the reason your dishwasher isn’t emptying.

Disconnect the other end of the hose and then give it a thorough clean to get rid of the obstruction. If you can’t remove the blockage or the waste pipe is slit or damaged purchase a brand-new one. If you may get rid of the blockage then replace the hose and start a short cycle to check that you have repaired the issue.

You may also inspect where the hose connects under your sink as well. This is a common point for debris to build up so if you happen to take off the hose give this area a good scrub as well.

Check the drain valve

You may manually check the drain valve to ensure it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will usually be located at the base of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your manual if you can’t see it.

Pushing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit should be adequate to let you know if it’s stuck. If you are able to see an object stopping it from moving get rid of this. If you are unable to, this could be the right time to call a repair person unless you are happy in procuring and repairing the valve on your own.

Inspect your pump is not blocked

Your appliance pump uses impellers that can get blocked by pieces of china or other objects. Check your pump isn’t broken by taking off the cover and checking that the impellers are free to move.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual sounds

If it sounds unusual your pump or motor may be faulty and need to be repaired.

Call a repair person

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 might be time to call for help.

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

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