Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s always annoying to open a machine and discover the machine is still full of water, don’t panic just yet. You may have the means to solve the fault by yourself, without having to call a plumber or acquire a new dishwasher.

Your dishwasher failing to drain may be bought about by multiple things a number of which are easy to figure out. Therefore, in advance of calling a dishwasher repair service try this selection of possible things you can correct on your own. A proportion of which are not even related to the machine itself.

Ensure the dishwasher wasn’t stopped mid-program

If you’re lucky the standing water you have discovered may not be a problem at all. Alternatively, the program could have been stopped mid-way.

The cycle could have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Kids pushing buttons, inadvertently pushing on the control panel, a power surge or opening the machine mid-program could all interrupt the program and mean your dishwasher doesn’t empty.

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

A few machines could have a drain program meaning it’s worth checking your owners manual or checking online to check.

Examine the waste disposal

If your dishwasher is plumbed into your garbage disposal inspect this before you do anything else as a blocked garbage disposal will prevent your dishwasher from draining. Turn on the disposal using plenty of water to make sure there are no blockages.

If you do discover a blockage drain unclogger or a natural alternative could be employed to clear the obstruction and this may resolve the problem.

Inspect the plumbing for clogs

If you sink is emptying inefficiently this might indicate a plumbing issue rather than an error with your machine.

In the case that the sink is draining reluctantly you could attempt putting some bicarb and vinegar down the drain, leaving it for a few minutes, then flushing it through with boiling water.

A sink plunger may also be utilized to try and shift the blockage.

This may be all you need to do to allow the dishwasher to work again so start a quick rinse and empty cycle now. If this hasn’t solved the problem you may manually drain the dishwasher using a jug as well as a sponge and troubleshoot a few more possible issues.

At this point make sure you turn off the dishwasher to avoid electrocution.

If during any of these examinations you think you have found and solved the issue you don’t have to go through the rest of the steps. Just complete an empty cycle to make sure the dishwasher is once again draining as it used to.

Check and wash the filters

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

Take out the filter then wash it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all machines have their filter in the same location so you might need to look at the instruction manual for this.

Is the waste water pipe blocked?

The next component to examine is the waste hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose could all stop your dishwasher from draining.

Depending on the position of the waste hose (normally the corrugated one) you could manage look at it by lifting away the base or you could need to pull the machine away from the wall.

Look at the pipe in the first instance to find out if it has been squashed or kinked. You might manage manually remove any kinks which should rectify the issue, but it’s worth noting that when this has happened it is significantly more likely to happen again so you may wish to buy a replacement hose.

If you can’t see an issue you may remove the drain 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 there may still be dirty water in the pipe.

If you can’t blow through the pipe this could be the issue.

Disconnect the other end of the hose and then give it a good clean to remove the obstruction. If you are unable to dislodge the obstruction or the pipe is slit or worn buy a new one. If you can get rid of the obstruction then replace the hose and start a short program to double check that you have fixed the error.

You can also inspect where the hose connects to the waste disposal. This is a typical spot 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 could examine the drain valve by hand to make sure it hasn’t stopped working. The drain valve will usually be found in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Consult your instruction manual if you can’t see it.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle will likely be sufficient to find out if it’s seized. If you are able to see anything blocking it get rid of this. If you can’t, this could be the right time to call a plumber unless you are happy in purchasing and repairing the component yourself.

Examine your pump is not broken

Your appliance pump makes use of impellers that can be blocked by pieces of china or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t blocked by removing the cover and checking that the impellers are free to move.

Listen to your dishwasher while it’s on

If the dishwasher doesn’t sound right your dishwasher pump or motor could be faulty and need replacing.

Call a repair person

If you have been through the above list and the error remains, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are damaged, it could be a good time to get the professionals.

At least having attempted to fix the problem yourself you have managed to avoid needing to pay a big repair fee for a blocked hose.