Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

No-one is happy to open their machine and discover it hasn’t drained fully but, don’t overreact just yet. You could be able to rectify the problem by yourself, without having to call a repair person or invest in a new dishwasher.

Standing water in your machine can have a number of of causes a number of which can be easy to solve. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service here is a list of probable issues you could troubleshoot by yourself. A number of which aren’t even a fault of the dishwasher itself.

Check the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-cycle

If you’re fortunate the fact your dishwasher hasn’t drained may not be an issue at all. Instead, the cycle might have been stopped mid-way.

The program could have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Little fingers pushing controls, inadvertently pushing against the control panel, a power surge or opening the machine mid-program could all interrupt the program and mean your dishwasher doesn’t drain.

If you think this could be the situation, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue run the machine again on a quick cycle.

Some appliances may have an empty capacity so it’s well worth having a look at your instructions or doing a quick internet search to find out.

Examine the disposal

If your dishwasher is plumbed into a waste disposal examine this before you move on as a blocked disposal will block your dishwasher from draining. Run the waste disposal using plenty of water to ensure there are no blockages.

If you do discover an obstruction drain cleaner or a natural alternative could be sought after to unclog the obstruction and so this could resolve the error.

Check the plumbing for issues

If you kitchen sink is draining reluctantly this might indicate a plumbing issue as opposed to a fault with your dishwasher.

In the case that the kitchen sink is emptying slowly you can try putting some bicarb and vinegar down the drain, leaving it for a few minutes, then flushing it through with hot water.

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

This might be all you need to do to permit your appliance to work again so start a short rinse and drain program at this point. If this hasn’t sorted the issue you may remove the standing water by hand using a cup as well as a sponge and have a look at a few more likely causes.

Make certain to disconnect the machine to avoid electrocution.

If in the process of one of these investigations you suspect you may have discovered and repaired the fault you don’t have to go through the rest of the issues. Just complete an empty cycle to make sure the dishwasher is repaired.

Check and clean the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, labels from tupperware, plastic film covers and smashed glass. Clear film can also be difficult to see if you don’t look closely.

Take out the filter and clean it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all filters are obvious and straightforward to remove so you may need to refer to the instruction manual for this.

Is the waste pipe obstructed?

The next area to check is the waste water hose. 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 could all impede your machine from draining.

Contingent upon the position of the waste hose (normally the corrugated one) you could be able to look at it simply by taking off the base alternatively you might need to pull the dishwasher out from under the counter.

Visually examine the hose in the first instance to find out if it has been squashed or kinked. You may be able to manually straighten out any kinks which is likely to resolve the issue, but it’s worth noting that once this has occurred the probability of it occurring again is greatly increased so you could wish to purchase a new hose.

If you are unable to see anything you can remove the waste pipe from the pump 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 can’t blow through the waste pipe this could be the reason your dishwasher isn’t draining.

Disconnect the hose at the sink end and then give it a thorough flush through to remove the blockage. If you can’t get rid of the obstruction or the waste pipe is slit or degraded purchase a brand-new one. If you may clear the blockage then put the hose back and start a quick program to make sure you have repaired the fault.

You may also examine the point where the waste pipe attaches under your sink as well. This is a typical point for blockages to occur so if you do take off the pipe give this point a good clean as well.

Check the drain valve

You can manually examine the drain valve to ensure it isn’t stopped working. The drain valve will often be situated in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Consult your manual if you’re unsure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle will likely be adequate to find out if it’s stuck. If you can see an object stopping it from moving get rid of this. If you can’t, this may be the right time to get in touch with a plumber unless you are happy in purchasing and replacing the component on your own.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your water pump makes use of impellers that can become obstructed by broken china or other objects. Check your pump isn’t obstructed by removing the safety cover and making sure the impellers can be easily rotated.

Run your dishwasher and listen for any unusual sounds

If the dishwasher sounds unusual your dishwasher pump or motor might be faulty and need replacing.

Call a repair person

If none of the above examinations has solved the error, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are broken, it may be time to get the professionals.

At least having attempted to investigate what is wrong you have managed to avoid having to pay a big repair charge for a blocked hose.

More Dishwasher Problems: