Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one wishes to open their dishwasher and discover it hasn’t drained fully but, try not to lose it just yet. You might have the means to solve the problem by yourself, without having to call a repair person or acquire a new dishwasher.

Standing water in your machine can be bought about by multiple components a proportion of which can be easy to fix. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a lineup of probable components you can troubleshoot by yourself. A proportion of which are not even caused by the machine itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t interrupted mid-cycle

If you’re fortunate the standing water you have discovered may not be an issue at all. Rather, the cycle may have been stopped mid-way.

The program could have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Little fingers pushing buttons, accidentally pushing against the control panel, a power surge or opening the machine mid-program might all stop the program from completing and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

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

Some appliances may have a drain capacity so it’s worth consulting your instruction manual or checking online to make sure.

Check the disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to your garbage disposal inspect this before you move on as a blocked waste disposal will stop the dishwasher from emptying. Turn on the waste disposal using fast running water to ensure there are no obstructions.

If you do uncover a blockage drain unclogger or a natural alternative could be employed to unclog the blockage and so this may resolve the issue.

Inspect the sink for issues

If you kitchen sink is emptying reluctantly this may signify an issue with the drains instead of a problem with your machine.

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

A sink plunger could also be employed to try and shift the blockage.

This may be all you need to do to permit the dishwasher to drain so start a short rinse and empty cycle now. If not you can remove the water by hand using a cup and a sponge and have a look at a few more possible issues.

Make sure you disconnect the dishwasher to prevent electrocution.

If during one of these checks you believe you may have detected and fixed the fault there is no need to continue to the next step. Just complete an empty program to check your machine is once again emptying as it used to.

Check and wash the filters

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

Take out the filter and give it a good wash before replacing it. Not all dishwashers have their filter in the same location so you might need to look at the instructions for this.

Is the waste hose blocked?

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

Subject to the position of the waste pipe (usually the corrugated one) you might have the means to view it by lifting away the kick plate or you might be required to move the machine away from under the counter.

Look at the pipe in the first instance to see if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could manage manually straighten out any kinks which should deal with the issue, however, it’s worth noting that when this has happened the chance of it happening again is greatly increased so you may wish to order a spare hose.

If you can’t see an issue you could disconnect the waste hose from the machine and blow into it to check for any blockages. Make sure you put down newspaper or towels first as even if you have emptied the machine there may still be waste water in the hose.

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

Take off the other end of the hose and give it a thorough clean to get rid of the blockage. If you are unable to get rid of the obstruction or the waste hose is split or degraded purchase a brand-new one. If you may get rid of the blockage then replace the hose and start a quick program to check that you have repaired the problem.

You can also inspect where the waste pipe attaches to the sink as well. This is a typical spot for blockages to occur so if you happen to take off the waste pipe give this point a good clean as well.

Examine the drain valve

You can examine the drain valve by hand to ensure it isn’t got stuck. The drain valve will most often be situated at the base of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Consult your instruction manual if you can’t see it.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle should be sufficient to let you know if it’s seized. If you can see an object stopping it from moving carefully extract this. If you are unable to, this might be the right time to ring a plumber unless you are happy in procuring and repairing the component on your own.

Inspect your pump is not blocked

Your dishwasher pump uses impellers that could become blocked by pieces of glass or other objects. Check your pump isn’t blocked by taking off the cover and checking that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s running

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

Call a repair person

If none of the above investigations has solved the problem, or you have reason to believe the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it might be the moment you need to call in the professionals.

This way though you will at least have the means to give them more information and have prevented having to pay a hefty repair charge for a clogged filter.