Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s never a welcome sight to open the machine and find out the machine is still full of water, try not to panic just yet. You might be able to figure out the error by yourself, without having to call a repair person or buy a new dishwasher.

Standing water in your machine may have any number of of causes a number of which are straightforward to fix. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service try this lineup of probable components you can identify on your own. Some of which are not even caused by the machine itself.

Check the program wasn’t interrupted

It is probable that there is nothing preventing your dishwasher from draining. Rather, the program might have been stopped mid-way.

The cycle could have been interrupted for a number of of reasons. Kids pushing controls, mistakenly pushing on the controls, a power cut or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle may all interrupt the program and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

If you believe this might be the circumstance, or you think it could be a good idea to check run the machine again on a quick program.

Some machines may have a drain capacity meaning it’s worth having a look at your manual or consulting google to find out.

Inspect the garbage disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to a disposal check this before you do anything else as a blocked garbage disposal will prevent the machine from draining. Turn on the disposal using plenty of water to check there are no obstructions.

If you do uncover an obstruction drain un-blocker or a plunger may be sought after to unclog the obstruction and this may fix the problem.

Check the sink waste for clogs

If you kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently this may signify a plumbing issue as opposed to a fault with your dishwasher.

If the kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently you can try putting some bicarb and vinegar down the drain, letting it sit for a while, then flushing it away with hot water.

A plunger might also be utilized to try and remove the blockage.

This may be enough to let your appliance to empty so start a short program at this point. If this hasn’t sorted the issue you can manually drain the dishwasher using a cup and a towel and have a look at a few more likely causes.

Make sure you unplug the machine to stay safe.

If in the process of any one of these checks you suspect you have found and fixed the issue you don’t need to go through the rest of the steps. Just start an empty cycle to check the machine is fixed.

Inspect and clean the filters

Popcorn, paper from food jars, film covers and smashed glass, as well as scraps of food, may all obstruct the dishwasher filter. Clear film could also be hard to spot if you don’t look carefully.

Take out the filter then clean it thoroughly 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 waste pipe obstructed?

The next area to inspect is the waste water hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose may all prevent your dishwasher from emptying.

Subject to the location of the waste pipe (usually the ribbed one) you may manage view it by lifting away the kick board or you may be required to pull the dishwasher away from under the counter.

Look at the hose first to discover if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could have the means to fix these issues by hand which is likely to rectify the issue, however, it’s worth noting that when this has happened it is significantly more inclined to happen again so you may wish to purchase a spare hose.

If you are unable to see anything you could take off the drain hose from the dishwasher and blow into it to check for any blockages. Be sure to put down newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the machine there could still be dirty water in the hose.

If you can’t blow air through the waste hose this could be the problem.

Disconnect the other end of the hose and then give it a good flush through to get rid of the obstruction. If you are unable to dislodge the obstruction or the pipe is slit or degraded purchase a brand-new one. If you may clear the blockage then replace the hose and start a short program to make sure you have fixed the fault.

You could also examine the point where the pipe attaches under your sink. This is a typical place for blockages to occur so if you happen to take off the pipe give this connection a thorough clean as well.

Examine the drain valve

You may manually examine the drain valve to check it hasn’t got stuck. The drain valve will often be situated in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Check your manual if you’re not sure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle should be enough to find out if it’s seized. If you are able to see an object blocking it get rid of this. If you are unable to, this could be a good time to get in touch with a repair person unless you are happy in procuring and swapping out the part on your own.

Examine your pump is not blocked

Your water pump uses impellers that may become obstructed by broken glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t broken by taking off the cover and ensuring that the impellers can rotate freely.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual noises

If it sounds unusual your pump or motor could be broken and need replacing.

Call a plumber

If you have been through the above list and the problem persists, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it may be the moment you need to call for help.

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