Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s never a pleasant sight to open the dishwasher and find out it is still full of water, try not to overreact just yet. You might have the means to fix the problem without having to call a plumber or invest in a brand-new machine.

Your machine declining to drain may be bought about by multiple issues some of which are simple to deal with. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a selection of possible issues you may troubleshoot on your own. Some of which aren’t even a fault of the dishwasher itself.

Ensure the dishwasher wasn’t interrupted mid-cycle

It is probable that there is nothing stopping your machine from emptying. Rather, the cycle may have been cut short.

The program could have been stopped mid-way for multiple of reasons. Children pushing buttons, mistakenly leaning against the buttons, a power surge or opening the dishwasher mid-program may all prevent the cycle from completing and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you believe this may be the situation, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run your machine again on a short cycle.

Some machines may have a drain program meaning it’s well worth having a look at your instructions or consulting google to make sure.

Examine the waste disposal

If you have a disposal check this before you do anything else as an obstructed garbage disposal will prevent the dishwasher from emptying. Run the waste disposal with plenty of water to make sure there are no obstructions.

If you do discover an issue drain cleaner or a natural alternative can be sought after to clear the obstruction and this could rectify the error.

Examine the sink waste for blockages

If you sink is draining reluctantly this could indicate a plumbing issue instead of an error with your machine.

If the sink is draining slowly you could try putting a little bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the drain, letting it sit for a few minutes and then rinsing it through with boiling water.

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

This may be sufficient to permit the dishwasher to drain so start a short program to check. If not you can remove the water by hand using a jug and also a towel and have a look at the next few possible issues.

At this point make sure you disconnect the machine to stay safe.

If in the process of one of these examinations you suspect you may have detected and fixed the fault there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just run an empty cycle to make sure your machine is once again draining as it used to.

Examine and rinse the filters

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

Remove the filter then give it a good clean before putting it back in place. Not all machines have their filter in the same location so you might need to refer to the manual for this.

Is the waste water pipe blocked?

The next component to inspect is the waste pipe. Many things could cause a blockage including a build up of food debris, a kink in the hose, or a crushed hose. All of which can all prevent your dishwasher from emptying.

Depending on the location of the waste hose (normally the corrugated one) you might be able to view it by means of lifting away the base alternatively you could be required to pull the dishwasher away from the wall.

Have a look at the hose first to discover if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You may manage manually straighten out any kinks which will most likely resolve the issue, however, be aware that once this has happened it is much more likely to happen again so you may need to order a replacement hose.

If you are unable to find an issue you can disconnect the waste hose from the dishwasher and blow into it to discover any blockages. Be sure to line the floor with newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as there might still be waste water in the hose.

If you are unable to blow through the pipe this might be the issue.

Remove the hose at the sink end and then give it a good flush through to clear the obstruction. If you can’t shift the blockage or the waste pipe is split or worn invest in a new one. If you may get rid of the obstruction then put the hose back and start a short program to double check that you have solved the problem.

You can also examine the point where the waste pipe connects to the waste disposal as well. This is a likely point for a build-up of gunk so if you do remove the waste hose give this area a thorough scrub as well.

Check the drain valve

You may examine the drain valve by hand to make sure it isn’t seized. The drain valve will most often be located in the bottom of the dishwasher on the valve bracket. Examine your manual if you can’t see it.

Pressing down on the valve or wiggling it a bit should be adequate to find out if it’s seized. If you are able to see any debris blocking it remove this. If you are unable to, this may be when you should get in touch with a repair person unless you are happy in ordering and swapping out the part on your own.

Inspect your pump is not broken

Your appliance pump makes use of impellers that could get obstructed by broken glass or other objects. Check your impellers aren’t broken by taking off the safety cover and making sure the impellers can rotate freely.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s running

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

Call a repair person

If none of the above examinations has solved the issue, or you suspect the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it could be time to get the professionals.

At least having done your best to investigate what is wrong you have prevented having to pay a big repair fee for a blocked hose.

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