Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s never a welcome sight to open your dishwasher and discover the machine is still full of water, don’t overreact just yet. You could manage rectify the problem without having to call a plumber or buy a brand-new machine.

Standing water in your dishwasher could have a number of of causes a proportion of which are easy to figure out. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a list of potential things you could correct by yourself. A number of which are not even related to the dishwasher itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-program

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

The cycle might have been cut short for any number of of reasons. Kids pushing buttons, accidentally pushing on the control panel, a power outage or opening the dishwasher mid-cycle might all interrupt the program and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

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

Some dishwashers might have an empty function so it’s well worth consulting your instruction manual or consulting google to make sure.

Examine the waste disposal

If your dishwasher is attached to the disposal check this before you move on as a blocked garbage disposal will prevent the dishwasher from draining. Run the disposal using fast running water to ensure there are no blockages.

If you do find an obstruction drain cleaner or a plunger may be used to remove the blockage and this could rectify the issue.

Examine the sink for issues

If you sink is draining slowly this may indicate an issue with the pipes instead of an issue with your machine.

In the case that the kitchen sink is draining reluctantly you could attempt putting a little bicarb and vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a few minutes, then washing it away with boiling water.

A sink plunger might also be utilized to attempt to shift the blockage.

This might be enough to let the dishwasher to empty so start a short rinse and empty program at this point. If this hasn’t worked you may remove the standing water by hand using a jug as well as a sponge and check the next few possible issues.

At this point make certain to unplug the dishwasher to stay safe.

If while you are carrying out any one of these examinations you believe you have discovered and repaired the problem there is no need to continue to the next step. Just run an empty cycle to make sure the machine is fixed.

Examine and scrub the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, labels from food jars, plastic film covers and broken glass. Clear plastic lids may also be hard to spot if you aren’t looking for it.

Remove the filter and scrub it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all filters are obvious and simple to remove so you may need to refer to the manual for this.

Is the drain hose obstructed?

The next area to check is the waste pipe. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose may all stop your machine from draining.

Subject to the location of the waste hose (generally the corrugated one) you could have the means to view it simply by taking off the base alternatively you may need to move the machine away from under the counter.

Have a look at the hose in the first instance to see if it has been crushed or kinked. You could manage fix these issues by hand which should deal with the issue, but it’s worth noting that when this has happened the probability of it happening again is greatly increased so you might need to purchase a spare hose.

If you can’t see any obvious kinks or obstructions you can take off the waste water pipe from the pump and blow into it to figure out if there are any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the machine there may still be water in the hose.

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

Disconnect the other end of the hose and then give it a thorough clean to clear the obstruction. If you can’t remove the blockage or the waste hose is split or damaged acquire a brand-new one. If you may clear the blockage then re-attach the hose and run a short program to make sure you have repaired the problem.

You may also check the point where the hose connects under your sink as well. This is a common point for a build-up of gunk so if you happen to remove the waste pipe give this connection a good clean as well.

Examine the drain valve

You may manually inspect the drain valve to ensure it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will generally be situated at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Check your owners manual if you can’t see it.

Depressing the valve or wiggling it a bit will likely be enough to tell you if it’s seized. If you can see an object blocking it carefully extract this. If you are unable to, this may be the right time to get in touch with a plumber unless you are undaunted by ordering and repairing the component yourself.

Check your pump is not blocked

Your water pump makes use of impellers that may become blocked by broken glass or other debris. Check your pump isn’t blocked by taking off the cover and ensuring that the impellers are free to move.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

If the dishwasher 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 fault remains, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it may be a good time to get the professionals.

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