Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always annoying to open the machine and discover it hasn’t drained properly, try not to panic just yet. You might be able to figure out the problem before you have to call a repair person or invest in a brand-new dishwasher.

Standing water in your machine could be bought about by a number of components a number of which are straightforward to figure out. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of possible things you may identify by yourself. A proportion of which aren’t even caused by the machine itself.

Check the program wasn’t stopped mid-way

If you’re fortunate the standing water you have discovered may not be an issue at all. Rather, the program might have been cut short.

The cycle may have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Little fingers pushing buttons, accidentally leaning on the buttons, a power surge or opening the machine mid-program may all stop the program from completing and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you suspect this could be the circumstance, or you feel it might be a good idea to check run your machine again on a short program.

A proportion machines could have a drain capacity so it’s well worth checking your manual or consulting google to find out.

Examine the waste disposal

If you have a garbage disposal examine this first as an obstructed waste disposal will prevent the machine from emptying. Run the disposal using fast running water to make sure there are no obstructions.

If you do find a blockage drain cleaner or a plunger could be used to clear the blockage and this may solve the issue.

Examine the sink for blockages

If you kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently this may signify a plumbing issue as opposed to an error with your machine.

If the kitchen sink is draining reluctantly you could try putting a little bicarbonate of soda and vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a few minutes and then washing it through with hot water.

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

This might be enough to allow your appliance to empty so run a quick rinse and empty cycle now. If this hasn’t solved the problem you can manually empty the dishwasher using a jug as well as a sponge and troubleshoot a few more possible issues.

Make sure you unplug the dishwasher to stay safe.

If while you are carrying out one of these investigations you think you have found and repaired the error you don’t have to go through the rest of the steps. Just complete an empty cycle to make sure the machine is repaired.

Inspect and wash the filters

Corn Kernels, labels from jars, film covers and smashed glass, plus scraps of food, may all block the dishwasher filter. Clear glass can also be hard to see if you don’t look closely.

Remove the filter and give it a thorough wash before replacing it. Not all dishwashers have their filter in the same location so you might need to refer to the instructions for this.

Is the drain pipe blocked?

The next component to inspect is the waste pipe. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose can all prevent your machine from emptying.

Contingent upon the position of the waste pipe (normally the corrugated one) you could manage view it by taking off the base or you could be required to move the machine out from under the counter.

Visually inspect the hose in the first instance to find out if it has been squashed or kinked. You could have the means to fix these issues by hand which is likely to resolve the issue, but it’s worth noting that when this has happened it is much more likely to happen again so you could wish to purchase a spare hose.

If you can’t see any obvious kinks or obstructions you may remove the waste pipe from the dishwasher and blow through it to check for any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels first as there might still be dirty water in the hose.

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

Remove the hose at the sink end in order to give it a good clean to get rid of the obstruction. If you are unable to dislodge the blockage or the pipe is slit or damaged acquire a new one. If you could get rid of the blockage then re-attach the hose and start a short cycle to find out if you have solved the fault.

You could also check where the waste pipe attaches under your sink. This is a typical place for blockages to occur so if you do take off the hose give this point a thorough scrub as well.

Check the drain valve

You can examine the drain valve by hand to check it hasn’t stopped working. The drain valve will most often be located in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Examine your instruction manual if you’re unsure.

Pushing down on the valve or giving it a wiggle will likely be adequate to tell you if it’s seized. If you are able to see an object stopping it from moving carefully extract this. If you can’t, this might be when you should get in touch with a repair person unless you are happy in ordering and repairing the valve on your own.

Examine your pump is not blocked

Your water pump uses impellers that can become blocked by pieces of glass or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t obstructed by removing the cover and making sure the impellers can be easily rotated.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual noises

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

Call a repair person

If none of the above checks has solved the error, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it might be the moment you need to call your local repair person.

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